Residential Service change outs

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ShockedMonkey

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What's the best way to do a clean looking install?


I feel silly asking this as an EC, but all my experience has been 480v light industrial (i.e. CNC shops, injection molding plants, and new schools.)

I've been looking at houses and some range from an abomination of 4 pull cans, to a single, nice, new, meter-service.

My question is more 'mechanical' and 'workmanship' not electrical with regard to both underground and aerial service drops; with branch circuits entering both the top and bottom of the existing service.

I realize every install will vary, but I'm looking for a practical method that both looks clean and minimizes disruption of service to the homeowner.

Thanks!
 
ShockedMonkey said:
What's the best way to do a clean looking install?.....

Thanks!
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Experience is the best way.

Besides, what looks good to you may be the worst to me. If it looks good to you and you are proud of your installation because you did your best, then it looks good.
 
edward said:
Experience is the best way.

Besides, what looks good to you may be the worst to me. If it looks good to you and you are proud of your installation because you did your best, then it looks good.
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With the cover on, who can tell?

I try to do a neat, but not too time consuming installation just to impress the next person that may be taking the cover off. The electrons can't tell the difference.

When I was doing industrial panel work, it was an art form. When I got done with a particularly nice panel, I took pictures of it and put it in my albums.

When I moved into the residential field, the artwork was replaced by neat, rapid (rapid being the focus) installations. My industrial background helped, but sometimes slows things up when I forget that form follows function in res work to a much greater extent than it does in industrial.
 
It depends on a lot of things and if you're talking about the outside service and inside service panel or just the outside service.
For example: A surface mounted indoor panel in an unfinished basement or garage, it's simple and easy to change out most of the time.

A flush mounted panel is not so easy. You either take extra time and try not to damage sheetrock or you have to cut it and either you patch it or make it clear it is to be repaired/patched by others.

Also, if it is just a surface mounted meter base on a flat wall it's pretty simple to change.
But if it is on a wall with vinyl siding and J channel then it is more difficult.

In a nut shell, it depends on circumstances, but do your best all the time to make it look neat.
 
I should have been more clear. I forget regional differences.

These are all exterior res services/panels and they are typically flush mounted in either siding or stucco.

Older ones are overhead drops and often the mast goes down the exterior of the building.



If the POCO wants a different location, I suppose I don't have a choice but to run all the old romex into a pull-can and then extend it to the new service.

But if I can swap it into the same place just wago or wirenut extensions in the service to reach the new breakers?



K8Mhz: Good info. I too took pride in the work that only other sparky's would ever see.
 
Use retrofit panels for interior flush mount installs.

The cover is longer than the can; the ends of the can are removable.




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Anytime I see a really neat panel, it slows me down at least a few minutes as I stand in awe of a previous electrician's work. Most panels look like someone overloaded a wire shredder, jammed it, threw it in reverse, and set the discharge to go to a panel. Maybe not that bad, but if you make the panel neat, it will be noticed.

Taking your time to figure it out is the best way short of someone showing you. You can't teach pride in workmanship. There is a member here, whose name I cant remember right now, who has pictures of panels he's done that are like artwork. Scratch that, they ARE artwork.
 
In my experience, they always take more time than you think they will, and having a second person to help is essential. I have done a few by myself and it's a very long day.
 
JFletcher said:
Anytime I see a really neat panel, it slows me down at least a few minutes as I stand in awe of a previous electrician's work. Most panels look like someone overloaded a wire shredder, jammed it, threw it in reverse, and set the discharge to go to a panel. Maybe not that bad, but if you make the panel neat, it will be noticed.

Taking your time to figure it out is the best way short of someone showing you. You can't teach pride in workmanship. There is a member here, whose name I cant remember right now, who has pictures of panels he's done that are like artwork. Scratch that, they ARE artwork.
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Hah-ha

I've always found the inspectors seem to notice and have confidence that the rest of the work has the same attention to detail.

Good advice. I'll look closer at the pretty installs.

I've always been better seeing electrons flow than with bending and assembling. Everyone has their skill-sets, I suppose.

Thanks!
 
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