ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Photos for General Discussion Meter Enclosures

Sparky our poco won't allow that here.

We have an EMC and when you become a member by having a meter set,the paperwork states something to the effect of" No structure,regardless of access doors is allowed enclosing BREMC service equipment,meters,risers etc"

Nice pictures Steve,
You're becoming quite the Photog!

Do they give any idea of expected longevity of these?

Bill

Hmmm.
Only in Fine HomeBuilding Mags could you find an example like this.
I think it's really well done, but as Bill said How long will one of these fine constructions last?.
As in, what will the same thing look like in 10 years time?.

thanks Bill,
i figure it beats my usual 1000 words.


as i read it , when there is an OCPD, it violates art 110 space requirements
(unless they are built to a 30" width.)

my code observations are fairly drowned out on this, and as the poco wishes the metering to primarily be on a viewable side of a residence ( when they or the FF's roll up) it becomes a compromise around these 1 mil 'astheically correct' McMansions.

the local poco does not come out and state they are prohibited, but i have talked to one line foreman who claimed they wouldn't 'live long' if he and his were to work on them.

New services in England are put into plastic boxes set into the outside wall, but the majority of homes still have meters indoors.

I've seen all sorts of interesting cupboards, sliding panels, and other assorted covers that people have devised to hide what they regard as "all that ugly wiring" (and it's certainly not as neat as the typical U.S. service entrance).

I don't see a big problem if there is easy access, but some of the cabinets I've come across have been built right across everthing so that you can't even get to the fuses properly without half dismantling it.

Paul.......those is fightin' words!

LOL!

Yeah, some people have no appreciation of the art in a bunch of wires!

Wouldn't the 4th picture(open white doors) show a violation of 110-26(a)(3)? The cable TV termination box is located in the "working space" of the service panel.

that's the phone co's box stamcon.

and your perfectly right

....but i didn't put it there......

btw~ i should post a few pix of all the service masts they also invade....

Is that an expansion joint on the PVC going into the bottom of the cabinet?
If so, it is a nice touch.
I have seen a few KOs busted, and meter sockets being pulled off the wall from ground heaving.

Hmmm...I'd be a little hesitant to open one of those enclosures.



[This message has been edited by ThinkGood (edited 08-05-2003).]

I was working EMS one day when we received a call for a severe bee-sting/anaphylaxis victim. An EC was called to a residence to look at doing a service upgrade. On the outside of the house was located one of these "dog-houses" containing not only a meter and two discos, but a LARGE colony of bees and an even larger honeycomb - so large in fact that it almost completely covered the meter can and the discos! This was one of these setups where the equipment was not actually fastened to the exterior siding of the house, but instead was mounted inside the wall, between the studs, and the doghouse built out over the whole affair with only a poorly fitted round hole for the protruding meter face - excellent bee entry. I don't know if they ever got all the bees and honeycombs out of that house...I certainly never returned to find out, and the EC (a friend of mine) told me later that he never went back either.

Those little beasties proved to be a most unpleasent surprise... I guess no one noticed the little guys coming and going .

Mike (mamills)

The Fine Homebuilding asserts that these site-built cabinets do not violate the NEC.
Out west, we commonly use the "All-in-one" , where the meter, the main disconnect, and the branch circuit breakers are mounted in the same (internally partitioned) box.
While some say that these cabinets are OK, as long as the doors open at least 90 degrees, other opine that ANY such enclosure would violate working space requirements.
Any thoughts?

John,
technically i believe this violates 110.26(F)(2) given the term 'architectual appurtance' , as well as 'other equipment' (as previously mentioned), the former only correctable given a 30" door (which this is not)

however, (and i can't seem to pull it out of my 02' tonight) the 110.26 long standing arguement of an OCPD being prerequisite vs. outlets et all manner that does not rate such dedicated space would apply here due only to the presence of one.

feel free to unfuzz me...........

otoh,
poco's here being sticklers for gable end meters, due to metal roofs & snow and ice damage ( as well as meter reader damage :eek , will at times given unusal construction and circumstances, allow a meter on the 'snow drift' side as long as there is a 'doghouse' built around it.

btw~ it's a 200A milbank with a 100A (milbank) OCPD retrofit,(check the SER size barely visible there) milbank berated me on voiding thier warranty for what is really common practice here.

ps~thanks Redsy, never leave home without a frosty or two

~S

Why should they be upset? One less warranty to have to honor

An equipment manufacturer could make a lot of money if they design and make an approved meter and service equipment enclosure that looks pretty to the public. It would have to be the usual metal structure on the inside, but could have a wood looking finish on the exposed outside. Offer a variety of finishes to match that of the rest of the house. A developer could tell customers that "We even made the electric meter look pretty on our houses". And still be code compliant.

These are pics of a remodel I inspected back in 1990. Looks real "old school" compared to the pics above. Kind of neat way to do it though!

Rick Miell

[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 08-07-2003).]

Rick,

I've been meaning to ask, what type of panelboard was that under there? Was there a cover?

Bill

Bill, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. If memory serves, it is a Square D panel, with flush cover, not raintight.

Rick