Utility Side

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In some cases we have to share a box. Such as CT meter box.
However the utilities has their own set of code rules they go by that are different from the NEC.
 
Our utility will not allow metered and non metered conductors in the same raceway. the cases where they are in enclosures are meter sockets and CT cans and those are sealed by the POCO.
 
And the NEC does not allow conductors protected by OCPD at the service disconnect or later to share raceways with unprotected conductors such as service conductors upstream of the service disconnect.


Between NEC and POCO the sharing bases are pretty much covered.
 
I can remember taking lots of services apart where the cable (before the meter and after) are both in the same conduit.

Where the inside panel in the house was higher up, The electrician would bring the rigid conduit down from the weatherhead, install a T fitting to the inside panel. Then continue the conduit down to the meter base,
They would pull the cable straight from the weatherhead , down to the meter. Then in the same conduit, back up to the T fitting and into the house panel.

I pulled one meter and the panel was still hot. The cables had melted together on the same phase. They didn't have much of an electric bill.:happyyes:
 
DBoone said:
What does CT stand for?
Click to expand...
Current Transformer.

A typical transformer is a VT or Voltage Transformer.

A current transformer is used so the meter doesn't have to carry the full current being used. Instead, the load wires pass through a coil, so the meter only sees a representation of the actual current, but is matched to the CT measure the actual current.
 
It has been in the last ten years that the POCO in this area provides a down loop only to the meter socket. The owner has to provide the conduit and wire back up for loads fed overhead.

Used to be up/down loops were standard.

Back when we were allowed to pull meters, I just happened to test the load side lugs of meter can and it was still hot. Melted insulation in the up/down loop on one leg. I had the privelage of telling the customer to expect a higher POCO billing each month.
 
I would say 2 conductors inside of a raceway melting together, but not to neutral or the other phase or to ground and short out, and, just happen to short to another conductor on the same phase, would be a small miracle, but, I guess I'll take your word for it.

What exactly would make the insulation on (2) different conductors inside of a raceway break down, in the exact same spot, where they would short together and magically be on the same phase and not cause any other damage? I want some of that picky stuff.

Now,

If your talking about the line and load terminals melting together due to a loose connection or the like on the same phase in a meter base where you could jerk the meter and still have power on one leg, that's not so uncommon.



JAP>
 
Surprised the heck out of us and the POCO, too. We pulled the wires out of the riser with some difficulty because the insulation had stuck to the conduit as well.

Sometime prior to us, they had had some problems with the overhead load wires shorting Line to neutral. Blew a transformer fuse and POCO corrected the problem prior to putting in new fuse. IDK the full details,we weren't involved with that.

Yes, the POCO used to work on the customers overhead occasionally.
 
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