QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

[nift21]

SORRY about the caps everybody

im rasing a service mass, because a local contractor built a catwalk right under the serice drop, the wires are actually rubbing it, So basically im replacing everything above the meterpan.

Heres the hard part. The service goes through the roof and according to my calculations i have to go about 8ft out of the roof with pipe for it to be 5 ft over the peak of this catwalk.

now, has anyone used a guide bracket im nervous to bolt into the rafters, i do not want to have to put a claim into my insurance company about someones roof leaking. i bid the job at 550 plus inspection.

ANY input will be apreciated, im going to the supply house in the morning.

How high can i come out of the roof without the cables? do i need 2 cables or one? how shoudl i attach them, a backwards point of attachment?? lol

Ive done plenty of services, but none like this

THANKS SO MUCH GUYS
=)

 

[mdshunk]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

I've only done one even remotely like this, and not eight feet. It was on the back of a convenience store, and clearance was needed for delivery trucks or garbage trucks or something. The building was concrete block, and the roof was flat. I through bolted a piece of H beam through the block at several places, and the H beam rose alongside the service mast. The service mast was attached to the H beam. Didn't look too bad in an alley behind a convenience store, but might not be appropriate for your job.

 

[nift21]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

MD sounds like a god idea, this wouldnt be appropraite the house was freshly sided and a 2 car garage added. There very picky and i wanted to to a rope service to the top of the house bring it far above the height i need to be, for looks they dont want it done that way, they want the service to be where it is just raised.

thanks for the reply

 

[mdshunk]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

Starting to sound like going underground might have been the "prettier" option. Not for $550 bucks, though. I have ZERO experience with guy wires on service masts. That gets into engineering I'd rather avoid.

 

[bill addiss]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

nift21,

I suggest that you get with your local utility asap tomorrow morning to explain the situation. They're the ones that have to be happy with it.

Bill

 

[jimwalker]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

Had something like it .The guy bought one of them metal carports,and you guessed it ,the drop hit the roof.No way would i add to a riser that much to clear the roof.(liability is just to much not to mention looks).We relocated a new service and then fed the original as a sub.If they didn't plan well that's there problem.I am willing to bet they won't like what they will see.And at 8 ft you know the wind will keep moving that riser.Think i would find a better way (maybe underground).Might be wiser to walk away from this job or redesign.

 

[nift21]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

i know, i wanted to walk away from the job, i wish i was involved from the start, i would have done an underground service. To late =)

does anyone know the specs on how high the wires have to be over the ridge of the catwalk to pass inspection? a fellow electrician told me 8 ft , someone else says 5, and a few more say as long as its not rubing because the wires are nowhere where a human being can reach the wires. Material is already purchased, everything besides the guy wire.

I would be so happy if i could avoid the guy wire totally, i hate roofing and LEAKS.

How high can i go without any extra support?

HELP!!!!!
lolol

 

[pierre]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

230.28 does not give any specific height maximums before a guy wire is required. Some POCOs do - our POCO has a maximum of 59 inches for a mast before the guy wires are required.

230.24 is where you will find your height requirements.

If the customer is as picky as you mentioned, I would review the installation with them again.

Pierre

 

[tonyi]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

SE up to a peak sounds like a lot cleaner hassle free installation...

Perhaps mentioning to them that if something rips the masted service down its going to rip up their roof, soffits, and probably trash the meter enclosure might change their mind. When a mast gets torn off, its ugly.

A tree falling on the lateral did it to my parents old homestead about a month ago...cleaned the meter right off the place, the shattered hub sliced through the drop and made a heck of an arcing mess of everything. There was no clearance reasons for the mast to be there (old 2 story 1880's farmhouse, plenty high, no windows close by) so I roped the new service.

 

[jimwalker]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

Does he need to clear that catwalk by 8 feet ?
Just asking as i had enough egg.

 

[nift21]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

good question do i need to clear the catwalk by eight feet? can i cross over 5 ft of roof line??? (if the roof of tyhe catwalk is even considered roof line).

Got all the material, Im going to use an i hook for the guy cable, i got some tar, anyone have any advice on finding the rafters which are 4 inches wide, THANK GOD. if i miss they have a nice **** auger from the bottom of the i hook in there tongue and groove ceiling.

 

[bennie]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

Drill a 1/4 inch hole next to the rafter(s), from the inside. Install a 1/4 inch cable through the hole, with a pitch pocket, and attach the cable to the rafter. This will never leak and the cable will not pull out of the rafter.

 

[jimwalker]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

Why do i feel lucky that i am not on this job.Can't help but see an unhappy customer.If you can could you take some pictures to post here ?

 

[bennie]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

This job is a piece of cake. There should be no problems. I have done some riser extension work.

I hope this is 2 inch rigid metal conduit. If this riser is over 10 feet, thread the nipple and place the coupling at the meter end.

The tension of the guy wires has to equal the tension of the drop.

 

[tonyi]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

Bennie, this sounds like a finished cathedral ceiling with no access from the bottom where you could punch a feeler bit up (a sharpened piece of 1/16" music/piano wire works well for this kind of thing).

 

[bill addiss]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

nift21,

Please be advised that some information given here does not meet approval in all areas. Save yourself some headaches and ask your local POCO what they'd recommend.

Bill

 

[iwire]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

I am with Bill, call your POCO or they may even have the info on a web site.

The POCOs are so different in what is acceptable I would want to get the right info the first time.

JMO, Bob

 

[bennie]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

PGE and PP$L,here in Oregon, require the guy wires to be attached inside the attic space, to the side or bottom of the rafters. The top of rafters and roof sheeting have a tendency to rot.

The riser must be high enough to allow the service drop to connect a foot below the weatherhead, and attain proper clearances.

Your local provider may have a manual stating these same specifications. If any of my information is in error please tell me by responding. This is not brain surgery.

 

[iwire]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

No it is not brain surgery but doing a job twice costs money.

Here are some strict requirements from the local POCO out of their "Green Book"

Customer is responsible for structural integrity of service mast.

Other than asking for the point of attachment 18" above the roof line it looks like they do not think it is brain surgery either.

But finding a mast type service around here at all is tough, we just do not use them out here.

 

[bill addiss]

Re: QUESTIONS ON A TRICKY SERVICE, JOB SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY

If any of my information is in error please tell me by responding. This is not brain surgery.

Bennie,

You specified 2in Rigid Conduit. My POCO does not accept anything smaller than 2-1/2in. You would be doing it over again if the job was on Long Island.

Bill