ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 255 guests, and 16 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#190457 11/19/09 12:55 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,682
Likes: 3
Admin Offline OP
Administrator
Member
Quote
...interesting photo of a DIY leaving his aluminum ladder up at a vacation home. Could have been there for weeks. A short and possible fire was 3/32” away (wire insulation)

12 Tinker (Dan)


[Linked Image from electrical-photos.com]

[Linked Image from electrical-photos.com]

Admin #190458 11/19/09 01:20 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 144
Member
looks to me like the DIYer was adding onto the service drop... look at all the tape on the wire!


-Joe
“then we'll glue em' then screw em'”
-Tom Silva
TOH
JoeKP #190466 11/19/09 11:30 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
I agree, there is more than a little goofy about that drop. I'd start thinking 'power theft.'

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 939
F
Member
Unless this place have main meter disconnect at the pole location that will be not a issue but ampcapity now that diffrent story due some peoples abuse the tap rules.

Merci,Marc


Pas de problme,il marche n'est-ce pas?"(No problem, it works doesn't it?)

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 984
Likes: 1
G
Member
I think that it's theft of power.

The original drop down the side of the house goes to a meter, so the new connection is ahead of the meter. So...free power (until the first time that the meter reader looks up, then whammo).

Plus this guy doesn't know how dangerous this is, not to mention using an Aluminum ladder to do it; and then leaving it up there for the wind to grab a hold of.


Ghost307
ghost307 #190486 11/20/09 02:09 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
That may have just been where the ladder was left after he was shocked and fell off.
I wouldn't be in a big hurry to grab it and try to move it.
Maybe with a rope.


Greg Fretwell
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Member
Could be my eye-sight, but it looks like there is RTV-filled PVC conduit on them line conductors.
I also note there is no neutral connection (that I can see), for the "new connection".
It definitely screams DIY! mad

Trumpy #190489 11/20/09 04:56 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
It really looks like they converted the downstairs to a separate unit and this is the service tap. There is a meter at the bottom of that raceway that starts around 3 rungs down from the top (you can see the svc head). If you look behind the 6th rung up from the bottom you see the metering equipment.
The neutral loops in from the bottom.
You really need to blow the picture up to see all of this.

That still doesn't answer the question of what the guy was doing up there.


Greg Fretwell
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3
O
New Member
Yes, a legal install. You can't see that there are two services on this duplex dwelling. The left SER cable is hidden by the wall corner. If you look hard you can see the right. What actually happened was the handy homeowner dude in the left unit was doing some siding repair and left the ladder up for the wind to take it and went home for the week! I was called to remove it! A little more chafing and who knows what would happen?

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 853
L
Member
You did wear gloves,I hope!! blush

By the way, Welcome to the forums Neighbor! smile

Last edited by leland; 12/14/09 10:43 PM. Reason: Welcome

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5