Recent Findings

[360Youth]

I have been sitting on these photos for a little while now and finally get around to posting them. The first is one that I know we have all seen but it goes even beyond the norm and the second I came accross while surveying a potential generator install.


I call this "the world's safest receptacle" and maybe the prtotype for Tamperpfoof technologies. :grin: But it is hard to get shocked if you an't actually plug anything in. :roll:

On this one, after arriving at the house I began to scope out the electrical service. Finding three 200 amp panels with a trough below and 4" pipe from the floor. I then went to look for the service, anticipating a CT set-up so I could plan my install for ATS and disconnecting means. I did 2 laps around the house before finding this in the woods just off the driveway.

Apparently the service lateral goes directly to that trough and taps to each of the main breaker panels. I have never seen this design before and the two inspectors I have talked regarding any questions I had have not either. Just wondering how common this is anywhere else.

 

[480sparky]

...I call this "the world's safest receptacle" and maybe the prtotype for Tamperpfoof technologies. :grin: But it is hard to get shocked if you an't actually plug anything in. :roll:

That's actually an early government prototype test model of a stealth receptacle. Although it was a failure, it's R&D eventually led to a truly invisible receptacle:










































:grin:

 

[beanland]

POCO Standard

POCO Standard

You can tell by the flex conduit to the meter that the meter is CT rated. There are window CTs on the transformer bushings. The entire transformer output is measured by the CTs and meter.

The service lateral from the transformer to the trough is POCO jurisdiction. The POCO allows multiple panels fed from the same service lateral. This is not uncommon.

From the NEC perspective, the meter does not exist. It is POCO stuff.

 

[LarryFine]

That's actually an early government prototype test model of a stealth receptacle. Although it was a failure, it's R&D eventually led to a truly invisible receptacle:










































:grin:

That's not an invisible receptacle; it's a polar bear in a blizzard.

 

[wdemos]

The picture 480sparky posted looks exactly like the finished and painted drywall I saw yesterday in a small work/storage room before the two hidden receptacle boxes were located, cut out, box extenders added and trimmed out .

 

[360Youth]

The service lateral from the transformer to the trough is POCO jurisdiction. The POCO allows multiple panels fed from the same service lateral. This is not uncommon.

From the NEC perspective, the meter does not exist. It is POCO stuff.

Agreed. I just have never seen it directly from the pad transformer. There is usually a customer connection at or on the structure. Maybe is was done to avoid the necessity of a separate/additional disconnecting means ahead of the house panels. (Although, since the panels are fed straight from underground and do not entire the premise anywhere else, the disconnect would not be necessary.) There is quite a bit of structural fencing and lanscaping around the entire house, maybe somebody got tired of trying to find a place to locate additional equipment.

 

[benaround]

360,

I thought that service conductors, considered outside, had to terminate as

soon as they entered the building, into the service disconnect.

 

[360Youth]

360,

I thought that service conductors, considered outside, had to terminate as

soon as they entered the building, into the service disconnect.

They enter the building where they come through the slab floor into the trough, in this case. (I have never done this type of install where it fed house panels w/o a single disconnecting means, but it is still a fine and legal set-up) The lateral is still considered outside of the premises as long as they are underground. I do not know off the top of my head if a slab foundation is required to meet these conditions. I know you cannot enter a crawl space before hitting a disconnecting means, but I am not sure you can have a conduit underground of a raised floor structure and still not be required to have the service disconnectings first. I don't believe that qualifies, but not sure.