Service upgrade
- Thread starter jhaley24
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
Could you be more specific as to what you are looking to gain from this discussion? :-?
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
This is a simplified version of our basic routine:
1- Shut off main CB
2- Pull out meter
3- Cut away old SE cable at service drop
4- Install a fused drop with GFCI protection for temp power at drop
5- Run out extension cords for temp lights & power at panel (for radio)
6- Two men, one inside one outside remove all of old service
7- Inside guy installs new backer board and panel
8- Outside guy installs SE cable, meter pan and does all new grounding
9- Install meter
10- Disconnect temp, tie-in new service, test at line side of main for proper voltage
11- Energize circuits
12- Make panel directory
13- Get paid
14- Load trucks
15- Get cold beer
1- Shut off main CB
2- Pull out meter
3- Cut away old SE cable at service drop
4- Install a fused drop with GFCI protection for temp power at drop
5- Run out extension cords for temp lights & power at panel (for radio)
6- Two men, one inside one outside remove all of old service
7- Inside guy installs new backer board and panel
8- Outside guy installs SE cable, meter pan and does all new grounding
9- Install meter
10- Disconnect temp, tie-in new service, test at line side of main for proper voltage
11- Energize circuits
12- Make panel directory
13- Get paid
14- Load trucks
15- Get cold beer
Last edited:
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Trevor forgot the important things like get a permit and check with the podco and see if you are allowed to pull the meter. Also,call for inspection ( I do this before I start the day before) and make sure podco gets a call from the inspections dept.
stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
I do the same as Trevor, except NOT allowed to reinstall meter, we just install meter jumpers.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Dennis Alwon said:
Well the permit was a given, and inspections are called in after the job is complete. We've been pulling meters for 20 years without a problem. The POCO will even give you an adapter for the old 60 amp meters to reinstall them on the new meter pan. The inspector sends a cut-in card to the POCO after it passes. We almost never deal directly with the POCO on a service upgrade.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
jhaley24 said:
Smart cookie that teacher.
As Celtic said, spend time here and you'll learn a lot.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
celtic said:
Good question, if I were a teacher I would be sending my student here too.
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Service Manager
I'm sorry for questioning your motives.jhaley24 said:
I joined exactly three years before you did, yesterday, and it has advanced my knowledge of the NEC and trade practices exponentially. I hope you participate and make full use of this place; welcome to the forum.
brantmacga
Señor Member
- Location
- Georgia
- Occupation
- Former Child
i think membership here should count towards our CEU's. its that informative. only we don't get the crappy food that comes along w/ one of those classes.
In AZ....our services are always outside and include all branch circuits.
Charge all your batteries the night before. You are working with no power.
Start early, haul ass, bring your lunch and be well stocked.
POCO crew won't disconnect before 8AM. Drive your ground rods before they disconnect so you dont have to drag out a generator.
Make sure power is OFF
Take wiring apart making note of anything unusual like white "hot" wires, colored neutrals etc that have been added by less than professionals over the years.
If there are MWBC's that are not identifiable by color, mark them or pair them up somehow.
Leave as much wire as possible...you will need it.
I generally cut all wires close to the terminals for speed but if it's REALLY tight I disconnect to save that extra inch.
Remove cans etc. A flatbar and good straight clawed framing hammer is your friend.
Layout new panel so you know where to cut holes. PLAN AHEAD and you will save wasted effort. The manner in which you assemble ANYTHING greatly affects the productivity.
Run your bonding and GEC wiring and start terminating STARTING with the bond/grounds. The inspectors want to at LEAST see that done.
After terminatins, temp label the panel with masking tape on the deadfront for the inspector. Label it permently/accuratly when energized.
City inspector has to OK completed work. They WON'T give a time and often show up before NOON. Once in a while they refuse to come back....too busy. Learn to schmooze. It's easier for us old guys.
Then POCO inspector has to OK it, They also show up whenever. Again, take a minute to schmooze them.
THEN the line crew will re- energize......IF they get the dispatch. Crews change at 3PM so if it's after that we have a 50% chance that it will get hooked back up.
One of the 2 POCO's only do this on Tue and Thur.
When they DO connect, they won;t turn anything on so we have to wait for them or come back. Turn main on, test voltage and turn the breakers on one at a time standing off to the side (old habit)
Label the panel and collect a check.
It's getting more difficult every day. I wanna work where POCO doesn't want to get involved.
Here is a recent underground panel change.
Jammed full of twins with some burning of the buss.
Remove wiring
remove cans
remove riser
replace panel
terminate wiring. Wait for POCO to terminate. Yes, they were energized.
Charge all your batteries the night before. You are working with no power.
Start early, haul ass, bring your lunch and be well stocked.
POCO crew won't disconnect before 8AM. Drive your ground rods before they disconnect so you dont have to drag out a generator.
Make sure power is OFF
Take wiring apart making note of anything unusual like white "hot" wires, colored neutrals etc that have been added by less than professionals over the years.
If there are MWBC's that are not identifiable by color, mark them or pair them up somehow.
Leave as much wire as possible...you will need it.
I generally cut all wires close to the terminals for speed but if it's REALLY tight I disconnect to save that extra inch.
Remove cans etc. A flatbar and good straight clawed framing hammer is your friend.
Layout new panel so you know where to cut holes. PLAN AHEAD and you will save wasted effort. The manner in which you assemble ANYTHING greatly affects the productivity.
Run your bonding and GEC wiring and start terminating STARTING with the bond/grounds. The inspectors want to at LEAST see that done.
After terminatins, temp label the panel with masking tape on the deadfront for the inspector. Label it permently/accuratly when energized.
City inspector has to OK completed work. They WON'T give a time and often show up before NOON. Once in a while they refuse to come back....too busy. Learn to schmooze. It's easier for us old guys.
Then POCO inspector has to OK it, They also show up whenever. Again, take a minute to schmooze them.
THEN the line crew will re- energize......IF they get the dispatch. Crews change at 3PM so if it's after that we have a 50% chance that it will get hooked back up.
One of the 2 POCO's only do this on Tue and Thur.
When they DO connect, they won;t turn anything on so we have to wait for them or come back. Turn main on, test voltage and turn the breakers on one at a time standing off to the side (old habit)
Label the panel and collect a check.
It's getting more difficult every day. I wanna work where POCO doesn't want to get involved.
Here is a recent underground panel change.
Jammed full of twins with some burning of the buss.
Remove wiring
remove cans
remove riser
replace panel
terminate wiring. Wait for POCO to terminate. Yes, they were energized.
Here is an overhead service upgrade from yesterday. Not the greatest pics. Pool fence was in my way.
Original panel. Upgraded once in the mid 60's..meter socket upper left.
Disconnect wiring and remove old cans. Tons of added on stuff over the years.
I was able to remove the bird boards, drill out some of the top plate, drill a couple of rafters and get everything in the wall!!
Installed new all in one panel. (It's a 2.5" plastic snap in bushing btw)
Make up branch circuits. Got green tag from POCO. I made my guys redo the GEC running down the wall because it looks like crap. (I left for about an hour for a service call ) I will take another pic tomorrow when I go back for some other work.
City came at 4PM, POCO hook up at about 5pm. Whew...no hotel room for the customer.
Original panel. Upgraded once in the mid 60's..meter socket upper left.
Disconnect wiring and remove old cans. Tons of added on stuff over the years.
I was able to remove the bird boards, drill out some of the top plate, drill a couple of rafters and get everything in the wall!!
Installed new all in one panel. (It's a 2.5" plastic snap in bushing btw)
Make up branch circuits. Got green tag from POCO. I made my guys redo the GEC running down the wall because it looks like crap. (I left for about an hour for a service call
) I will take another pic tomorrow when I go back for some other work.
City came at 4PM, POCO hook up at about 5pm. Whew...no hotel room for the customer.
Last edited:
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Hey! That last panel has a bus-mounted main breaker. If it's not marked line-load, couldn't it be used in those cases where someone wants to supply a greater-than-125a sub-panel feeder?
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
How are all of those branch circuit cables secured to the panelboard?
- Location
- Massachusetts
Neither of those panels would pass inspection here.
Each panel has clear 312.5(C) violation and IMO very likely 312.5(A) as well.
Each panel has clear 312.5(C) violation and IMO very likely 312.5(A) as well.
- Status