Hey... there's your niche market!
With the right skills, you can compete with YESCO for the number of trucks on the street!
I doubt it!
Pulling residential meters....
- Thread starter Fulthrotl
- Start date
- Status
I doubt it!
electricguy61
Senior Member
Greg1707
Senior Member
- Location
- Alexandria, VA
- Occupation
- Business owner Electrical contractor
Potential for arcing
Potential for arcing
Assuming there is no load, i.e. all of the breakers in the panel are in the open position, what is the potential for arcing when removing or installing a residential meter?
Potential for arcing
Assuming there is no load, i.e. all of the breakers in the panel are in the open position, what is the potential for arcing when removing or installing a residential meter?
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Broken parts in the meter socket, or them breaking as you attempt to remove the meter.
Keeping in mind there's nothing between you and Hoover Dam to turn the power off automatically.....
electricalperson
Senior Member
- Location
- massachusetts
besides the cutouts on the poles protecting the transformers
But not you.
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Cutouts on the poles DO NOT protect the transformers, they protect the primary lines from a failed transformer. For instance, we use a 15 T primary fuse to protect a 15 kVA transformer on a 7.62 kV to neutral line. A 15 T medium voltage fuse will carry 150% of its rated current indefinitely. Therefore, 15 A X 150% X 7.62 kV = 171.45 kVA . . . HMMM. That is a lot of overload to pop the fuse so it will only open under fault conditions and will only protect the primary lines to keep as many customers in service as possible.
AV ELECTRIC
Senior Member
I have always found it puzzling on a service change out that edison wants you to pull the meter do the hot work ( where alot of guys are not trained in) and they wont give you a key for the lock ring on the meter.Ive never seen any requirement from edison written on any form that this is the way its done Its just the way its done. I wouldnt want somebody working on my equipment that ime responsible for what is the legality to that who is responsible if something goes wrong.
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Since they have the key, won't they pull the meter?
Nor should they give you a key. When was the last time you went into any store with a cash register and they let you open the cash drawer to get your own change? That meter is our cash register.
The procedure should be in writing somewhere. I suspect the field people want it done that way to keep from making multiple trips. If you were able to get it in writing, I doubt you are supposed to be pulling or setting the meter. Therefore, you are supposed to be doing the work dead.
Ultimately, you are. You are the qualified person who is responsible for following the OSHA rules and what is in NFPA 70E.
AV ELECTRIC
Senior Member
Since they have the key, won't they pull the meter?
Nor should they give you a key. When was the last time you went into any store with a cash register and they let you open the cash drawer to get your own change? That meter is our cash register.
The procedure should be in writing somewhere. I suspect the field people want it done that way to keep from making multiple trips. If you were able to get it in writing, I doubt you are supposed to be pulling or setting the meter. Therefore, you are supposed to be doing the work dead.
Ultimately, you are. You are the qualified person who is responsible for following the OSHA rules and what is in NFPA 70E.
i agree withyou 100 percent but thats not the way its done with sc edison my point with the key is you call them they come out unlock the ring and good luck call us when you want the ring back on they dont ask if your qaulified to do it ..maybe there should be a training program by your poco on doing this work to qualify you for a key and to do this type of work i was a linemen in the navy this is dangerous work theres no short circuit protection you short those wires out your in trouble .The post began with how do i pull out a meter safely thats scary in itself.
- Location
- Simi Valley, CA
Never have to contend with one of these brutes?
That's the one I'm talking about and no dremal tool is going to cut through that is it Sparky?
As for the key, they hold on to those tighter than they do their house keys. I've heard that it's the devil to pay if they lose one, and I thought that I had heard that there's a heavy fine if you get caught with one and are not a utility worker, but I'm not sure about that one.
parrkw@aol.com
New member
Watt lock key
Watt lock key
You can use a drill bit that's about the same size as the hole.........just tap it in gently and the balls in the pin will collapse and allow the pin to slide out therefore removing the lockring.And yes you can cut the ring with a dremel tool as long as you don't damage the meter...........hope this was helpful.....K.P.
Watt lock key
You can use a drill bit that's about the same size as the hole.........just tap it in gently and the balls in the pin will collapse and allow the pin to slide out therefore removing the lockring.And yes you can cut the ring with a dremel tool as long as you don't damage the meter...........hope this was helpful.....K.P.
MrMilbank
Member
- Location
- between LB and Head
So when I go to cut my hot conductors before the service head. What must I be wearing? and where do I buy it? and for how much? I will be doing a service in about 2 weeks and I want to be looking extra qualified, and alive thereafter.
Myself, I would use a cell phone. Call the utility and let them cut the power. Heluva lot cheaper than an arc suit (which, BTW, can be purchased at any reputable construction safety equipment outfit).
I have had the joy of two meter explosions on service changes...both times I was very lucky to escape with no more than some singed hair on my arms...I would no longer pull any meter hot, I would cut the drop first or have the POCO do it.
As others in my area have posted, SCE's policy has generally been to let the EC do it, and they also allow (sometimes prefer even) the EC to reconnect the drop on a service change.
Last service change I did for a family friend not only did the SCE crew essentially call me a wuss for not reconnecting the drop, they were kind enough to give me some meter socket blank covers, rings and seals.
As others in my area have posted, SCE's policy has generally been to let the EC do it, and they also allow (sometimes prefer even) the EC to reconnect the drop on a service change.
Last service change I did for a family friend not only did the SCE crew essentially call me a wuss for not reconnecting the drop, they were kind enough to give me some meter socket blank covers, rings and seals.
That's pretty spiffy. Beats close your eyes and pray.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
I don't think that the user of the meter puller has the proper PPE for that job. I would expect that he needs more flash protection as there is no overcurrent protection on the line side of that meter.
I meant the meter pulling contraption itself. I wasn't even getting into PPE.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
If the main disco is open, what on earth would explode from pulling a meter?
- Status