ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Photos for General Discussion What do you think?

This was submitted on another BB asking if it should be reported to the PoCo.

I think we all agree this needs to be fixed but I don't think I have ever seen the drop hung on the surface of the roof. (one anchor broke)

I assume the PoCo will swing a triplex from the mast when they get there.

Greg:
Is that the remains of the mast insulator on the tight upper wire?

It's hard to tell, but is that the neutral & other phase leg laying on the roof?

I zoomed this picture and it looks like the service drop was L/N/L across the edge of the roof and the Line insulator closest to the peak broke.
The white wire looping up over the roof looks like it might be TV cable. There is what looks like a 4 way splitter next to the service raceway on the gable end.

I am wondering if this 3 pack of insulators was originally on the fascia and the siding guy moved it when they did the re-skin.
I am sure we have all seen siding guys do strange stuff.

"Power theft" was my first thought, but ...

Two lines coming from one direction, and the third from another? There's something very wrong going on here. I doubt the connections to the PoCo wires were made by a linesman, even though it does look like crimp connections were made. I'll bet there was no permit on a service change.

By all means, drop a dime- to both city and PoCo. Better yet, e-mail them with this pic- I'll bet it gets their attention.

I seem to recall seeing some sort of roof mounted point of attachment thingy, but don't remember where.

POCO answers may depend on where this is.

On Long Island the POCO would not allow point of attachment to a conduit less than 2-1/2" GRC.

They'd have an issue with current point of attachment that can't be reached from a ladder placed on the ground. (looks like a small addition was added there to the right of meter.

My guess is (here) they'd want the POA moved up higher on the roof, or attached to Fascia (if solid support is there) in front of Mast.

Bill

I think FPL will allow the drop to go on a 2" GRC if there is a tieback brace behind it. I am not really sure what size that mast is tho.

Greg:
PSE&G minimum is 2" for a mast, unguyed max height of 2 feet above the point of penetration. 2-1/2" is 4', 3" is 7'

The disclaimer within their handbook (Exibit 4) is 'PSE&G assumes no responsibility for damage with this install.

Point of attachment must have 3/4" hole for drop, free conductor length of 24", and no other systems shall be attached to mast.

Editorial comment:

In doing service changes, I find moving the point of attachment from insulators on the structure to the mast a common task. If you have a mast, that's where the wires ought to be attached. Period.

In Nevada, the PoCo supplied the bracket. Here in Arkansas, I get one at the supply house. Either way, the cost is built into the job.

Is it required? Well, that's what the artwork in the PoCo standards shows ... looks like a requirement to me!

This is what FPL says



You own the pipe, they give you the hanger they want and the cable grip.

They actually bolted on the hanger at my house but they could have made me do it I guess. FPL also gave me the meter base and enclosure but I had to pick it up at their office. On my wife's houses FPL brought them out and installed them when they did the TUG. The builder paid the FPL contractor to run the lateral too. It was cheaper that way. A drop would have been free from FPL.

Here's LIPA's requirements (Drawings)

http://www.lipower.org/pdfs/commercial/redbook/Chapter11.pdf

They supply the Connectors

Bill

Greg:
PSE&G will provide meter pans 'free' upon presentation of a valid municipal permit (no copies). 100 to 320/400 single phase, and 200 amp, 3 phase.

They will throw in a drop hook, eye hook & fish plates, and on a good day, perhaps an insulator upon request.

Multi-meter (2 sockets are also available.
CT meter pans are PSE&G supplied only. CT cabinets are customer supplied.

JCP&L does not supply any resi equipment, only 3 phase CT meter pans. All customer purchased equipment must be on their approved list.

BTW, a PSE&G subsidiary recently aquired control of LIPA

The thing that always amazed me was how sloppy the FPL contractors were (watching them at my wife's place 2004-6). There was always a lot of the 4/0 conductor in the dumpster after a lateral install. In one case I saw over 50 feet. They just spooled off a bunch, built the pipe as they go with the wire in it and cut off the excess.
It went real fast that way but material was certainly wasted.
In those days material was wasted a lot anyway. Time was money.
I bet they run a tighter ship now and the scrappers would be raiding those dumpsters every night.

I've seen this on really old services before. 1920's-30's. In California, the POCO is responsible for the drop up to the riser conductors and they'd fix this free of charge.

Picture Test ...




Holy Moly ..

This was one of the other members shared images .. wow

No way ... really ..

sorry I just had to share some of these older pictures from this site ... unbelievable ..

Wow, those are some scary pictures. I think I might even have a few around here, I just forget how to post them.