Weatherhead

[mrkcrne]

Anyone see an issue with this weather head? When we receive rain with high wind, the aluminum ground wire wicks rain into my panel. All three wires are looped before they enter the weather head see second image and then of course at the meter the ground is broken but as you can see in image 3 they line up perfectly vertically so water can transfer.

 

[roger]

Since this is not a "How Too" remedy type question we will allow the thread for opinions.

 

[retirede]

I don’t see how water could wick up a drip loop. I suspect the cable jacket is compromised someplace.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

To help avoid water from entering the WH I typically have the WH above the point of attachment, silicone the inside of the WH, anywhere from a three to four foot DL,

 

[AC\DC]

In are area with wind the rain goes uphill.
Around here you have to silicon the entire mast to keep water out.
Going completely down use jacket well that’s different than pipe. Compromised jacket like post -_#3

 

[Fred B]

If the cable jacket is not compromised second most likely source is the cable gland at the top of the meter pan. Seen it flood bad enough that it followed right through into the panel

 

[hbiss]

If the cable jacket is not compromised second most likely source is the cable gland at the top of the meter pan. Seen it flood bad enough that it followed right through into the panel

Bingo!

Here, we are required to pack a bead of Dux Seal around where the SE enters the connector as an inspection requirement.

-Hal

 

[ptonsparky]

The crimp connection to POCO overhead must be lower than the weather head. Consider it a weep hole.
I've seen it travel +40'. I couldn't change the connection location so I nicked the insulation at low spot for a drain. All outside in a restricted area.

 

[kec]

SE hubs are worthless for a waterproof seal unless they are siliconed or less effective, duct seal.

Guaranteed this is the source of water penetration.

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

SE hubs are worthless for a waterproof seal unless they are siliconed or less effective, duct seal.

Guaranteed this is the source of water penetration.

I agree.
I don't believe the wet connector is designed to be used alone without the aid of some sort of sealant.
At least that's how I have witnessed it since the late 1970's

 

[ptonsparky]

Well now I see the other picture. Duh.

 

[farmantenna]

in addition to the silicone at the WX head and load side cable I usually try to bend the neutral in a U or loop also on the load side breaking the directvwater path. But I have not done an overhead in years

 

[shortcircuit2]

I have used an underground meter can and routed the SE cable from overhead to tie in the bottom of the meter can.

 

[JohnE]

I've seen water follow the neutral through the weatherhead, through the SE cable, through the meter, and into the main breaker panel plenty of times on installations with this same weatherhead. If the weatherhead were higher it could help, no guarantee.

I've had PVC risers allow water in as well. Not sure if the rain was driving or it was following the conductors with surface tension. On those, I used a Raychem inflatable duct seal to solve the issue. https://www.te.com/commerce/Documen...S_EPP-0569-EN_1304_EPP_0569_EN.pdf828695-000

 

[Fred B]

I've seen water follow the neutral through the weatherhead, through the SE cable, through the meter, and into the main breaker panel plenty of times on installations with this same weatherhead. If the weatherhead were higher it could help, no guarantee.

But if a proper drip loop is provided the open strand Neutral shouldn't be able to wick UP. If water, driven or otherwise, enters the Weather head it will follow through the sheath. Same true at any entry point (damaged) along the sheath.

The weather head pictured I've never seen but does look like an installation error as it looks like a portion of the sheathing is outside of the weather head. Maybe even slid down an inch after installation based on a difference in the UV discoloration on the sheath at the clamping device on the weather head.

 

[ptonsparky]

But if a proper drip loop is provided the open strand Neutral shouldn't be able to wick UP. If water, driven or otherwise, enters the Weather head it will follow through the sheath. Same true at any entry point (damaged) along the sheath.

The weather head pictured I've never seen but does look like an installation error as it looks like a portion of the sheathing is outside of the weather head. Maybe even slid down an inch after installation based on a difference in the UV discoloration on the sheath at the clamping device on the weather head.

Good catch.

 

[JohnE]

But if a proper drip loop is provided the open strand Neutral shouldn't be able to wick UP. If water, driven or otherwise, enters the Weather head it will follow through the sheath. Same true at any entry point (damaged) along the sheath.

The weather head pictured I've never seen but does look like an installation error as it looks like a portion of the sheathing is outside of the weather head. Maybe even slid down an inch after installation based on a difference in the UV discoloration on the sheath at the clamping device on the weather head.

I agree, water shouldn't be able to wick up. At least not as far as a foot above the point of attachment. But I've seen it enter the cable many times through the weatherhead over the years. On cables where the outer sheath was absolutely not compromised. Well I guess I didn't actually see it enter the weatherhead, but I've seen it dripping into the meter then following the SEU that exits the bottom of the meter and saw it dripping into main panel. IDK if it wicked through the open neutral strands, along the surface of the open neutral strands, or just drove through the weatherhead directly.