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
#25513 05/11/03 07:57 AM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 89
E
Member
Hello

What are guys using for service drop wire?

The installation I'm working on is directly exposed to sunlight most of the day and by the looks of the old service coming out I need to worry about resistance to the elements.

#25514 05/11/03 08:25 AM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 59
S
Member
The "service drop" is supplied and installed by the poco. The "service entrance conductors" on the other hand are installed by the EC. I use THHN.
Richard

#25515 05/11/03 08:39 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
ah,
the 'ol sunlight resistant 310.8(D)

note 'marked' vs. 'listed' there....

anyone care to comment on quadriplex URD 3 ph risers?

#25516 05/11/03 11:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,457
E
Member
Do you mean the drop to the house or the riser on the house. The drop is supplied by the poco and is whatever they feel like installing at the time. For the riser I use triplex aluminum run in pvc. In Mass there is no requirement for sunlight resistant wire for drip loops.

#25517 05/11/03 12:50 PM
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 89
E
Member
"Service entrance conductors" is what I am asking about. From weatherhead down to meter socket.

THHN doesn't do very well in direct contact with sunlight. I have seen many an installation where the clear cable cover (not insulation) is falling off from exposure to the elements. Do they make a sunlight resistant THHN?

Thanks for the replies

#25518 05/11/03 01:16 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 558
C
Member
Using THHN for this application would be a violation since THHN is not rated for wet locations. I would have to admit that all of the THHN I have seen is rated as THHN/THWN but make sure you are using THWN. I pretty much gave up using CU THHN/THWN for any thing #2 and larger quite a few years ago and switched to XHHW. The insulation on XHHW does not start to fall apart within a couple of years after being installed when exposed to sunlight and it also holds up much better in underground application. Many of the high tech company's and schools in my area will not permit any THWN to be used for underground applications.

E-Scott - Why did MA decide not to adopt 310.8(D)?

Curt


Curt Swartz
#25519 05/11/03 02:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,391
I
Moderator
For the most part MA. has a common sense approach to the code, if something has worked for years without trouble they will not make a change.

We can still feed down to a switch using the white of two wire cable and return on the black.

Qualified people know this, so why change now.

We also have a less restrictive derating chart we use for more than 3 current carrying conductors in a raceway.

We use the NEC with about 70 to 80 changes to it.

Bob, South of Boston, MA


Bob Badger
Construction & Maintenance Electrician
Massachusetts
#25520 05/11/03 09:08 PM
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,233
H
Member
Iwire,

I met Shawn ( or Shaun?) From CES the other day. He said that he knew you and now he met me. He is going to be the foreman on the next big building here in the complex. I then ask Gary if he knew you. He said, Yes. I then started telling him stories about how you want me to watch over him to make sure that he doesn't screw up. Then after goofing with him for several minutes, I told him how we know each other on this web site. They are doing a terrific job down here and they are moving along quite rapidly. That is the name of the game sometimes, hurry up and get it done.


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