Service change today......pics.

[220/221]

Typical late 50's early 60's service. Stock NM had cloth like sheath. Some with small gounds, some with no grounds. Lots of stuff added over the years including AC, pool equipment and about 6 20A 120V circuits.

Drove the gnd rods @ 7AM before POCO disconnected power (for the driver). Scratched my head for a few minutes when I found I still had power with the meter pulled out. (other post)

Close up of the old panels. Very odd setup. It's the double whammy Zinsco/FPE combo :grin: The Zinsco on the left had factory looking jumpers installed from the top of the bus, down to the bottom. It was fed from both ends. On leg was two bare twisted copper wires inside an insulated tube, kin of like shrink tube. The ther phase as solid wire inside the same tubing. Strange.

Demo'd old stuff and hung new service. Gas bond went up thru/across the attic. Phone box was in my way.

Ran all the conduits back in place, POCO reconnected and I rolled out @ 2PM

Spot the violation.

It had been a while since I had done one like this. I am supposed to center the panel on a rafter so my JB in in the next bay over from the riser. I could have easily moved it over 10" to the right but by the time it hit me, It was pretty much done.

The cover still comes off but the accessibility is somewhat restricted

 

[LarryFine]

The Zinsco on the left had factory looking jumpers installed from the top of the bus, down to the bottom. It was fed from both ends. On leg was two bare twisted copper wires inside an insulated tube, kin of like shrink tube. The ther phase as solid wire inside the same tubing. Strange.

Looks and sounds like it was originally a split-bus panel.

Spot the violation.

The cover still comes off but the accessibility is somewhat restricted

I was gonna say . . .

 

[ultramegabob]

that is an interesting support bracket, how much does it cost, who is the manufacture?

 

[220/221]

Looks and sounds like it was originally a split-bus panel.

That was my first thought but I pulled out all breakers and took this pic. It goes from top to bottom of the bus. :-?

that is an interesting support bracket, how much does it cost, who is the manufacture?

Beats me. We just call it a mast brace. I'd have to check on a price but I'd guess 10 bucks??? . Slip a piece of 3/4 rigid between the rafter tails (either thru drilled holes of stand off brackets) and tighten it back to the bird board. I have installed hundreds of them but???? I never read packaging/instructions

 

[LarryFine]

That was my first thought but I pulled out all breakers and took this pic. It goes from top to bottom of the bus. :-?

If the connections are all factory, then they were put in to maximize the bus ampacity, i s'pose.

 

[Cow]

Beats me. We just call it a mast brace. I'd have to check on a price but I'd guess 10 bucks??? . Slip a piece of 3/4 rigid between the rafter tails (either thru drilled holes of stand off brackets) and tighten it back to the bird board. I have installed hundreds of them but???? I never read packaging/instructions

Never seen one before. Wouldn't strut be easier and cheaper? I usually look at straps below the roofline as purely cosmetic(installed to meet code) since the roof sheathing is what's really holding it.

 

[ItsHot]

meter

meter

That was one high mounted meter socket!:-?

 

[ultramegabob]

Never seen one before. Wouldn't strut be easier and cheaper?

most guys around here just cut a 2x4 and nail it in for a brace. that contraption looks pretty sturdy, and it appears to be somewhat adjustable for distance off the wall....

I usually look at straps below the roofline as purely cosmetic(installed to meet code) since the roof sheathing is what's really holding it.

I have seen riser pipes ripped through the roof decking when a tree limb falls on it

 

[220/221]

Wouldn't strut be easier and cheaper?

Our strut must be thru bolted. If the service is on a gable end or a flat roof w/parapet, we use strut.

I usually look at straps below the roofline as purely cosmetic(installed to meet code) since the roof sheathing is what's really holding it.

I have seen cases of water damage that destroyed the roof at the riser penatration. Of course, I have seen the tails rotted out from neglect also.

That was one high mounted meter socket!

We see that a lot too. Now it's 6' 3" max

 

[NolaTigaBait]

did you cut a new hole in the roof for the riser?...if so, what did you patch the roof with?

 

[220/221]

I cut a new hole and used a roof jack.

I usually temp patch the old hole by slipping a 4s blank cover under the shingles and screwing/caulking it down.

 

[peter d]

I've noticed a theme developing in all of your service changes.

 

[220/221]

I've noticed a theme developing in all of your service changes

Ya seen one, ya seen em all?



Oh wait....you mean the code volations, right?

 

[peter d]

Ya seen one, ya seen em all?



Oh wait....you mean the code volations, right?

I'll just leave a little mystery to my remark.

But yeah, they all seem to be pretty similar, just like our service changes with our deadly SEU cable are all pretty much the same. When you do it like that all the time, hacking a new service in is second nature.

 

[ericsherman37]

most guys around here just cut a 2x4 and nail it in for a brace. that contraption looks pretty sturdy, and it appears to be somewhat adjustable for distance off the wall....



I have seen riser pipes ripped through the roof decking when a tree limb falls on it

I saw a 2" Rigid mast folded over double (big ol' kink) from a tree fall. Roof held just fine though.

 

[ultramegabob]

I saw a 2" Rigid mast folded over double (big ol' kink) from a tree fall. Roof held just fine though.

construction varies..... how far the riser is set in from the edge? thickness of decking? was is OSB, plywood, or solid 1x material? also if the roof boot leaks the decking wont last long at all....

 

[Sharpie]

I'll just leave a little mystery to my remark.

But yeah, they all seem to be pretty similar, just like our service changes with our deadly SEU cable are all pretty much the same. When you do it like that all the time, hacking a new service in is second nature.

Enlighten us on the mystery Peter!

 

[chris500]

That is an interesting mast bracket. Is that a piece of 1?" across the rafters?

Who is the manufacturer and maybe a part number?

 

[220/221]

That is an interesting mast bracket. Is that a piece of 1?" across the rafters?

Who is the manufacturer and maybe a part number?

3/4" rigid/imc I will look up the mfg tomorrow for you. It is and has always been the standard method here.

Enlighten us on the mystery Peter!

 

[peter d]

It's the double whammy Zinsco/FPE combo :grin:

Now that is one for the history books.