Underground service entrance expansion

[mudcat555]

I understand the use of a slip joint device before entering the bottom of the meter housing, but in a case where there is future ground settling what keeps the wires inside the conduit from becoming taught and causing a problem?

 

[mdshunk]

Nothing. Yes, this does sometimes cause a problem.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

This is a legitimate question that gets asked quite a bit on jobs. What some will do is try to leave some kind of slack in the meterpan. It is not easy, as the terminations are at the top of a bottom fed meter, with not too much spare room in most meterpan designs.

 

[lpelectric]

Depending, of course, on the style of metering enclosure, I require the Line-side conductors (Source) to be installed entering the lugs at the top-most entrance to the lugs and the load-side conductors to enter their lugs at the bottom-most entrance in the lugs. "Top to the top, bottom to the bottom" is our rule of thumb. This goes a long ways toward providing enough flexibility and length of conductor to provide strain relief. :smile:

 

[iwire]

I require the Line-side conductors (Source) to be installed entering the lugs at the top-most entrance to the lugs and the load-side conductors to enter their lugs at the bottom-most entrance in the lugs.

Require?

Where does the NEC give you the option of requiring this?

 

[lpelectric]

Require?

Where does the NEC give you the option of requiring this?

Replace the word "require" with "insist until I get pressed too hard, then have to give in". :smile:

One poco we have in the area actually has drawings depicting this exact hookup. That one is actually enforceable thru the inspection agency's contract with that poco.

 

[iwire]

Replace the word "require" with "insist until I get pressed too hard, then have to give in". :smile:

Now that has to be one of the most honest and direct answers I have read here in a while.

Thanks :smile: