ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
UL 508A SPACING
by ale348 - 03/29/24 01:09 AM
Increasing demand factors in residential
by tortuga - 03/28/24 05:57 PM
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
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
1 members (ale348), 302 guests, and 14 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,682
Likes: 3
Admin Offline OP
Administrator
Member
(submitted via Joe Tedesco)
Quote
Joe, are you familiar with "test" meter sockets? This is the second one that I have come across. The basics are that the meter clips have spring loaded contacts that come forward when the meter is pulled to provide uninterrupted service to the customer. Problem as I see it is that if the utility company serviceman is not aware of the circumstances, the service continues after a meter is pulled and the socket glassed over. Could be a real surprise for an emergency response team that thought the house was deenergized. This was a three phase that looked like it only fed the air conditioning unit, but the double lugged extra wiring extended into the garage to a sub panel with breakers. No disconnecting means at the service panel for the extra wiring.

Tom Erfert (codeenforcementguy)
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,143
D
Member
Quote
Originally posted by Tom Erfert (codeenforcementguy:

This was a three phase...

If it was a three phase, it was probably intended that the meter never serve as a D/C - we've gotten instruction about that from our PoCo at the Fire Department. You usually see this on bigger commercial/industrial services, where the service D/C is inside, in a marked dead-front panel. On these installs, the meter reads the current, but isn't the primary flow path (Inductance read?).

Recently the PoCo (or a thoughful EC) here has started labeling the meter boxes as "NO SERVICE DISCONNECT - REMOVING METER WILL NOT SHUT OFF POWER", but the labeling has been pretty sporadic.

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,391
I
Moderator
That would be a nasty surprise. [Linked Image]

Is it possible this type of socket is already discontinued?

Any bypass meter that I have installed works manually, you have to deliberately move a lever into bypass.


Bob Badger
Construction & Maintenance Electrician
Massachusetts
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 697
D
Member
One more reason to test for power even though it appears to be disconnected.

Dave

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 29
C
Member
I like that Idea of marking the panels that have the test sockets, but agree that it is a big case for always testing for voltage. The first one that I ran across was on an older commerical structure that came into question when no one knew who was paying the utility bill. The business owner rented from the city and said they were, the city PoCo said that the business was, turned out that the utility company was by default.

Make that all user's by default because I am sure the cost was passed on in some form or another.

ERFERTT > codeenforcmentguy

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,527
B
Moderator
Out West, EUSERC-style 125-320A manual test-bypass meter sockets are fairly large, but have embossed (paint-proof) notice: “Do not break seal—No fuses inside.”


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