Pull meter to disconnect power to top of panel?

[brother]

Got another vandalism job a buddy of mine working on, while im working on seperate one. More vandals have cut and stole wire and copper. Hes asking arent they suppose to pull the meter at the service to kill power inside since the vandals had cut and and took the copper at the service panel per nfp 70e since the top of buss is still hot. They at least shut the breaker off, but the panel still has power.

He says their foremen claims they need it on to 'test' things. But it will be a while before they get to the point of testing everything because of re installing wire and and runs and testing the runs in the field. I know we all have worked on the panels with the top feed still hot, but technically unless we are testing for voltage, amps etc.. it should be off in my opinion.

What do you think?

 

[jaggedben]

Locking out the main breaker should be sufficient in my opinion. Assuming the issues are only on the load side of it.

 

[jaggedben]

Also how big is the service and does it have a bypass or a CT meter? Sometimes pulling a meter doesn't do anything.

 

[drcampbell]

You're routing new conductors through the panel and hooking them up, and wondering whether it's safe to leave part of the panel energized?

 

[brother]

Also how big is the service and does it have a bypass or a CT meter? Sometimes pulling a meter doesn't do anything.

No bypass. Just a meter. I think it's a 200 amp service they got.

 

[brother]

You're routing new conductors through the panel and hooking them up, and wondering whether it's safe to leave part of the panel energized?

I'm not doing it. They are.

 

[garbo]

In area they used to pull the meter and Install clear plastic insulators on single phase residential meters to mostly prevent nogoodnics from stealing power but it does secure power to a building. You & your friend might want to ask the AHJ in your area if you allowed to use think its called CCA NM cable in #12 & 10 guage. It has a 10%copper content bonded to aluminum wire and read it has no scrap value because as of the present time there is easy or cheap method to separate the copper from the aluminum. Contractors place signs on jobs stating it to hopefully having people stealing their wire. This new type of cable can be used on any CU rated device.

 

[hillbilly1]

In area they used to pull the meter and Install clear plastic insulators on single phase residential meters to mostly prevent nogoodnics from stealing power but it does secure power to a building. You & your friend might want to ask the AHJ in your area if you allowed to use think its called CCA NM cable in #12 & 10 guage. It has a 10%copper content bonded to aluminum wire and read it has no scrap value because as of the present time there is easy or cheap method to separate the copper from the aluminum. Contractors place signs on jobs stating it to hopefully having people stealing their wire. This new type of cable can be used on any CU rated device.

Georgia power would use insulating sleeves on the meter stabs when they would disconnect the power, but the power theives would rock the meter back and forth enough to tear the insulation. That was back before smart meters.