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Posted By: Admin Meter Problems - 05/27/04 12:13 AM
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Called out to a home where the homeowner stated his power keeps going on & off... I went to check the panel & noticed the meter installed almost sideways! Moving the meter made the lights go off & on... Poco notified.... The rest are things I noted as needing attention from an electrician..

-Randy
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Posted By: electure Re: Meter Problems - 05/27/04 01:35 AM
Faaaantastic. An additional service disconnect!
Did you happen to see the date that the service was connected/how long it's been like this?
Did that PVC into the pool light j-box ever have a male adapter on it?
I'll guess on the 2nd one. A packing crate that has an overhead #10 service and a gas water heater? (Look at the nylon shedding from the wires)...S [Linked Image]
Posted By: Lostazhell Re: Meter Problems - 05/27/04 06:15 AM
Scott,
The last entry on the SCE tag was from about 2 weeks ago.. This must've been on a friday right before quitting time! [Linked Image] Ironically when SCE called me back to confirm the problem, it was the same guy whose name was on the tag LOL... No MA on the PVC for the pool light box ever AFAIK...
The overhead lines to the garage.. No drip loops, #12THHN , [Linked Image] The timer box was a major rats nest!, 4 wires terminated under some of those screws! (The one on the far right melting!)

-Randy
Posted By: BigJohn Re: Meter Problems - 05/27/04 07:52 AM
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...4 wires terminated under some of those screws!

I think you're being too generous with your words. "Terminating" 'em is a process that would've required at least a little skill and thought. They just crammed the conductors under there and cranked on down. [Linked Image]

-John
Posted By: iwire Re: Meter Problems - 05/27/04 08:49 AM
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I think they reached a new record. [Linked Image]

Randy and Scott, you two seem to consistently run into some pretty hacked up electric work.

I run into some but not nearly the amount you guys do.

Bob
Posted By: iwire Re: Meter Problems - 05/27/04 09:05 AM
Is this 120 or 240?

It looks like there may be one white wire at the clock motor terminal.
Posted By: electure Re: Meter Problems - 05/27/04 11:48 AM
Bob,
Randy & I both do lotsa service/repair work. We usually don't see an installation until it breaks.
A Los Angeles/Orange County population of more than 12 million helps to keep us in a constant supply of hacked up stuff. [Linked Image]
(Add to that trips to Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties, and....well, you get the picture)
Posted By: Texas_Ranger Re: Meter Problems - 05/27/04 01:06 PM
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I think they reached a new record.

Definitely. Before backstabbed devices came up switches and receptacles here in Austria used to have such terminals, and about first thing I learned was: NEVER put more than 2 wires under such a terminal. And only same gauge, never mix solid and stranded either.
Posted By: Dave55 Re: Meter Problems - 05/27/04 02:21 PM
Not only no drip loop, but where is the support cable (fork bolt, etc.). Is this really strung between the pole and the entrance cap without support?

Dave
Posted By: Mean Gene Re: Meter Problems - 05/27/04 07:40 PM
Randy,

How does the meter wind up twisted like that?

Is the socket broken off the back of the pan? [Linked Image]
Posted By: stamcon Re: Meter Problems - 05/28/04 01:58 AM
Is the rain cap on the flue pipe flattened, to give clearance to the aerial wires?
Posted By: Lostazhell Re: Meter Problems - 05/28/04 05:23 AM
Electure wrote...
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Add to that trips to Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties

I'm lucky if I can stay in those! These pictures are from San Bernardino (city).. For anyone thats familiar with CA, we're a state-wide service company.. I've been from Imperial to Humboldt counties... (not in the same day! [Linked Image] ) Thank God I dont pay for gas!

Anyways, Bob... The clock is 240V.. Controlling a pool pump motor & who knows whatelse! the HO told me the pool light doesn't work.. It might be tapped off this mess somehow!
Dave- The lines out the weatherhead are between the garage & the house.. House-side pictured.. The Poco lines went for what seemed about 150', through 2 trees, to a pole on the other end of the neighbors yard!
Gene- SCE (the poco here) installed it cock-eyed, so some of the meter stabs were probably sitting on the side of the meter clips instead of actually being in them! I came across this once before & the meter was melting because of a bent stab that was on the side of the meter clip.. The original meter installer must've just beat the thing in so he could get the lockring on! [Linked Image] [Linked Image]
Steve- Hella good eye there! I didn't even notice that! But it sure looks like it!

-Randy
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