Water in panel.

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jes25

Senior Member
Location
Midwest
Occupation
Electrician
I have had a number of service calls or panels swaps were water has got into the panel. I think the water runs down the SE (or in it) and into the panel obviously causing problems. (this is a problem in houses with basements were the panel is below the cable entry point)

The caulk never seems to hold up or work. I think I am going to start making a loop or maybe like a U before the cable enters the house to make like a drip loop of sorts.

Thoughts?
 
Re: Water in panel.

Are you using ENOUGH caulk?

A buddy of mine (EC, also) uses 1 tube per service...1/2 on top of meter/connector; 1/2 where cable makes penetration into building. He never uses duct seal because of callbacks/failures.
 
Re: Water in panel.

It's most likely that this is rain entering the meter base at the top, and traveling within the SE cable, as you surmised.

I'd try sealing the top cable entrance well, and drill a couple of 1/8" holes in the meter-base bottom.

One more thing: is there a properly-installed weatherhead at the service drop?
 
Re: Water in panel.

I am aware of these variables. All of these installs are existing, I just dont feel 100% confident mine wont do the same in a few years.
 
Re: Water in panel.

jes25,

This happens alot when the weatherhead is lower than the point of attachment,just like you figured,the water will flow thru the SE cable all the way to the panel.

Keep your w.h. higher than POA make a good drip loop,and your services won't do this.
 
Re: Water in panel.

If the SE cable outer sheathing is worn away anywhere water will get in too. If this is the case the only remedy is to change the cable.

Bill
 
Re: Water in panel.

I always do my service entrances in conduit, and I like to do a couple of things to prevent water from coming in.

Where the conduit enters the house I have an LB, and I drill a couple of small holes in the bottom of it to drain out any water that makes its way in.

Also, where possible, when I drill through the house to run the conduit to the panelboard, I try to drill from the outside at a slight upward angle, so if any water did make it into the conduit, it would have to flow uphill to get inside the panel.

So far, everything that is supposed to be dry has stayed dry.
 
Re: Water in panel.

I found a problem on one service where the weather head was higher than the point of attachment, but the water still traveled all the way from the pole at the street, which was higher than any other point on the service, siphoning through the service drop wires down through the service entrance cable into the panel.

I had the utility company redo their connections at the pole and changed the open barrels at the weather head to water stop butt splice connectors and this solved the problem...

shortcircuit2
 
Re: Water in panel.

Water is very tenacious if there is any weak point it will come in. Thanks for the replys.
 
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