What Would YOU do?

[busman]

The following happened to a good friend of mine. He was called for dimming lights and strange smell. When he gets there, the panel is starting to melt-down. He throws the main breaker, but the short continues. What do you do?

 

[SEO]

What you should do is evacuate everyone and call the fire department.

 

[iwire]

Depending on the severity I would call the FD, let them deal with it.

They have great phone numbers for fast action from the POCO and can deal with any progression of the problem.

On the other hand if you try to pull a meter or cut a drop that is under fault conditions you may be successful or it could blow up in your face. My safety rates higher to me then someones property.

 

[480sparky]

Burn, baby, burn.

Sorry. But my arse is more important than someone else's property. Besides, they have insurance for these kind of things.















































They do have insurance, don't they?

 

[busman]

I don't want to reveal my friend's choice yet, but my choice was call the FD and clear the building.

 

[byourdesky]

I don't want to reveal my friend's choice yet, but my choice was call the FD and clear the building.

I'm guessing he cut the overhead feed then:-?

 

[480sparky]

I don't want to reveal my friend's choice yet, but my choice was call the FD and clear the building.

I'm guessing he cut the overhead feed then:-?

Probably more along the lines of "My buddy's an electrician... he'll fix it!"

 

[busman]

Actually. He cut the seal and pulled the meter. My first reaction was that if I was in that situation, I'd get the ladder, gloves and sleeves and cut the overhead drop. For some reason, pulling the meter just felt wrong.

A side question might be: what if you were in this situation and the FD wouldn't go in the residence until the power is off and the PoCo isn't there yet. People may be inside. Which would you do?

Mark

 

[byourdesky]

A side question might be: what if you were in this situation and the FD wouldn't go in the residence until the power is off and the PoCo isn't there yet. People may be inside. Which would you do?

Mark

How big a house we talking here?....I guess I would clear the house and do what I could....but I've never been in that situation so it's a tough call

 

[electricmanscott]

I'd have to see what exactly the situation was and how it was playing out but it is possible that I would try to pull the meter.

 

[SEO]

If the panel were melting down you would have probably have time to evacuate everyone before the house became fully engulfed.

 

[fireryan]

I am on a fire department and we are equiped with one of those power company meter pullers that are made of plastic. They sometimes have a fit when we do it but we have also waited for 2hrs for them to show up. Its actually a akward situation but when you have someone in a burning house time is of the essence. Was wondering why you felt more comfortable cutting the overhead rather than pulling the meter

 

[1793]

I would call the POCO and or FD and let them cut the Service.

 

[fireryan]

I would call the POCO and or FD and let them cut the Service.

a fire dept would never cut the overhead service.

 

[iwire]

I am on a fire department and we are equiped with one of those power company meter pullers that are made of plastic. They sometimes have a fit when we do it but we have also waited for 2hrs for them to show up. Its actually a akward situation but when you have someone in a burning house time is of the essence. Was wondering why you felt more comfortable cutting the overhead rather than pulling the meter

Both are dangerous, if I had to make a choice I would rather cut the drop from the safety of a bucket truck.

Meters are not designed to open a load and if you have a serous fault on the load side of the meter it may have several hundred amps passing through it. When you pull it you could cause an arc that would result in a flash over.

 

[busman]

I am on a fire department and we are equiped with one of those power company meter pullers that are made of plastic. They sometimes have a fit when we do it but we have also waited for 2hrs for them to show up. Its actually a akward situation but when you have someone in a burning house time is of the essence. Was wondering why you felt more comfortable cutting the overhead rather than pulling the meter

I really don't know. Instinct I guess. Part of the reason for the question. I guess I felt that a quick cut out in the open (from a few feet below the conductors) was preferable to opening the meter can and pulling it. I've seen the plastic meter pullers. They would make me feel a little better about pulling the meter.

Mark

 

[fireryan]

Both are dangerous, if I had to make a choice I would rather cut the drop from the safety of a bucket truck.

Meters are not designed to open a load and if you have a serous fault on the load side of the meter it may have several hundred amps passing through it. When you pull it you could cause an arc that would result in a flash over.

evem with the main breaker shut off? You may be also talking about a fault from the load side of the meter to the main of the panel

 

[don_resqcapt19]

a fire dept would never cut the overhead service.

Actually some have the correct hot stick and cut the overhead at the pole. Or just pull the cutout on the line side of the pole transformer.

 

[fireryan]

I really don't know. Instinct I guess. Part of the reason for the question. I guess I felt that a quick cut out in the open (from a few feet below the conductors) was preferable to opening the meter can and pulling it. I've seen the plastic meter pullers. They would make me feel a little better about pulling the meter.

Mark

I see where your coming from. I wasnt thinking about a fault in the actual service conductors

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

If there is any fire and/or the Main breaker does not open, call the fire department, call the fire department....did I mention to call the fire department.

It becomes their responsibility. While doing so, try to evacuate the house/building without putting yourself or anyone at too much risk.