Replacing panels in dark basements

[mdshunk]

That was an old song by LL Cool J.

I thought that was Aaron Tippin? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nOl3OcjSPI

 

[steelersman]

The first fire was caused by an electrical failure in an exhaust/whole house fan or something :-? ....we had nothing to do with it

The second fire...well, that was all us....:roll:

It was a nice steamy August day....clipped the power at the POA, clipped Mr. Ally Gator on with a cord attached. Shoved the end to the man in the basement and proceeded to "git 'r dun".
Later in the afternoon, CHUD starts screaming ... there is smoke billowing out the basement casement window....the grass is on fire....the cord is on fire...WTFD????

CHUD had but one 60w lamp on and nothing else.

Why this fire started....not really sure....maybe the cord laying on aluminum siding on the sunny side in August.

Now the house once again stank like fire...the HO's were not too happy about the smell ~ but at least the FD didn't have to come back.
I don't think we'll be getting very many referrals from this one.
LMAO

what is POA and CHUD. I'm pretty sure I know what WTFD is.

 

[steelersman]

Put me down in the alligator clip user category. Matter of fact, the linemen get a little provoked if I don't have them out and ready for them when they're there to cut the drop so they can install them for me. Number 6 in the photo below:

what is #7? Nevermind.

 

[celtic]

what is POA and CHUD. I'm pretty sure I know what WTFD is.

POA= Point of Attachment [the hook]
CHUD= Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dweller [the guy who gets the basement work]
WTFD= What the faq, dude?

 

[steelersman]

I thought that was Aaron Tippin? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nOl3OcjSPI

nope not even close. This is more like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqu7tcZTfCg

 

[steelersman]

POA= Point of Attachment [the hook]
CHUD= Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dweller [the guy who gets the basement work]
WTFD= What the faq, dude?

what does faq mean? Frequently Asked Questions?

 

[lucky1974]

I put red boots on the red and black wires, and black boots on the neutral and green wires.

I also am an alligator clipper. Larry am i understanding that you have 4 seperate alligator clips.Wouldn't the ground and neutral under one clip be sufficient. Sorry just don't understand what seperating them ,and then attaching them to the neutral anyway would do for you.

 

[TOOL_5150]

Yes, and if they want the 4 cents worth of electricity I'll use while doing the service change, I'll gladly give it to them tenfold. Before cell phones became real popular, I would just clip onto whatever with the butt set and make phonecalls to the office to save a dime too.

Yeah, I have done both as well... Just wanted to make it clear to the DIY'ers that read this to not get any ideas.

The cookie comment was quite funny BTW.


~Matt

 

[iwire]

In the past I have tapped the unmetered conductors and I used a butt set as Marc described. But both of those actions are stealing. The fact it may only be stealing a little bit of money does not change the fact it is stealing. It kind of surprises me a Church guy like Marc has no problem stealing.

Considering that professionals like ourselves have batteries, inverters, portable generators etc. I have changed my ways and no longer steal power just because it is easy and it is how we all used to do it.

I also will mention that OSHA and 70E really do not allow us to cut and reconnect service conductors. In some areas it may be years before 70E has an effect, in other areas I bet 70E will start being enforced and the fines can be high.

Understand I am just throwing this out there, how you all choose to work is of course up to you, but you should at least be aware of the rules. :smile:

Not preaching just putting it out there for something to think about.

 

[steelersman]

Not preaching just putting it out there for something to think about.

There's a radio commercial around my area where the pastor of the Mclean Bible Church will give a quick reference about something that could be troubling one in today's world and uses a snippet out of the Bible to help with it and at the end his slogan if you will is: "not a sermon, just a thought."

 

[djcrzysounds@yahoo.com]

Okay I pop the meter and hot wire a receptacle to the meter base-- no ocp -- I know shoot me. I do use a GFCI

I went as far as to build a board with a small panel with 2- 120 Volt GFI receptacles and 1- 20amp 220V receptacle just in case. Even has a meter socket... (I know an over achiever.)

 

[masterinbama]

Ryobi makes an 18 volt charger that plugs into the 12 volt power ports in your truck. Comes in real handy on service changes.

 

[fishin' electrician]

Alligator clips with fuse protection.

In my neck of the woods it can be weeks, sometimes months before the POCO returns with the new meter. We install jumpers and the customer is billed by the POCO on an estimation basis, therefore no theft of service involved.

 

[LLSolutions]

I think My PoCo has a unofficial don't ask, don/t tell policy. Kinda call when you're done, fax the inspection and they'll forget that you took a grinder to their meter lock if you forget that they're not going to show up for years to change the drop. You can request the bug nuts and dust caps for free from them. As for the temp I have a 12/3 Extra heavy usage cord with large alligator clips going to one of those 2 circuit panles with 2 20A gfci breakers feeding 4 cords. About as safe as I could get it without driving a ground rod.

 

[stickboy1375]

Okay I pop the meter and hot wire a receptacle to the meter base-- no ocp -- I know shoot me. I do use a GFCI

I'm on this boat as well.

 

[iwire]

I'm on this boat as well.

Ever seen a rubber cord burn like a wick?

I have, I suggest OCP at the very least.

 

[stickboy1375]

Ever seen a rubber cord burn like a wick?

I have, I suggest OCP at the very least.

I use NM. :grin:

I do agree with you though, about the OCP. Need to build a better setup.

 

[mdshunk]

I use NM. :grin:

Well....

well....

I use tinsel cord wrapped in cannon fuse.

 

[B4T]

Don't try this at home..

Don't try this at home..

For doing service changes, I took a pair of battery jumper cables and wired one end into a 4x4 junction box and put in to 2 receptacles. I clip the red onto POCO hot and BLACK onto NEUTRAL. It also works great in the meter pan for doing panel changes. I also have a Sportsman's battery jumper that has a converter to 120V. I put a CFL in the clip on light and I have 8 hours of work time.

 

[electricmanscott]

Okay I pop the meter and hot wire a receptacle to the meter base-- no ocp -- I know shoot me. I do use a GFCI

Mee too. Soo hard core.