ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Electrician vs. POCO Engineer

I often wonder why I spend so much time learning code and theory when the poco gets to call the shots and it's normally against everything i have been taught. I deal with four different pocos in this region but 90% of our work is supplied by two here locally.

One of the companies is a dream to work with. I say I need 15KVA 480/277 3ph xfmr bank, they say no problem. Meet the engineer, sight the line, it's a done deal.

The other poco tells me what they're going to bring and how far they will bring it (and 99% what they deliever is undersized).

I called today and said I needed to get an order written on a a job so they could move forward on getting the pole and xfmrs set up. I requested a 120/208Y for a 400A UG service. They then told me it would have to be a 120/240 open delta. I said "hey I have plans that show a Y system and I priced it as a Y system blah blah blah".

My request got denied. I guess it might be penny pinching by management. I don't know. I was just wondering if you guys have to play these games too?

Is it because that's all that's readily available to the POCO? DELTA. I know a lot of factories I see here are all DELTA and we had installed 480x480 delta to WYE transformers in the buildings.


[This message has been edited by Wirenuttt (edited 01-05-2005).]

I have almost never had to deal with this sort of thing so if I sound stupid it's because I am.

Does this amount to you having to get your own transformer to get the configuration you need?

Wirenutt, Three phase primaries run across the sight so no prob there. They said it did not "qualify" for a wye system. I think they are just trying to save a buck buy installing two xfmrs instead of three IMHO.

around here if you say are a new construction or major remodel and say "hey i need this system or that system" both poco's will comply willingly. it seems the architects rule around here.