Hi,
I’m renovating an old house and need to install siding and trim where the electrical service entrance is. I spoke with the power company about turning off my service while I’m working in that area of the house and they said they would do so at no charge. As you can see from the photo, the current service is just SE cable coming out a hole in the sidewall with the cable support attached through the rafter. It continues through the attic, laying on the ceiling joists, then comes down in the back room where the meter is (grandfathered in to have a meter inside, but it’s read remotely).
I know if I leave it as is, they will disconnect and reconnect me no problem. But while I’m there, I’d like to better secure the entrance cable with a proper weatherhead secured either to the side of the house or even better, with a mast through the roof.
I know it will depend on the individual I work with at the power company, but I was wondering if anyone had insights as to what modifications the power company will allow, if any, to the service entrance without a permit. I spoke to a few electricians and they told me that the power company would not hook me back up if I made any changes to the setup unless I had a permit, and if I got a permit, they would not allow the cable to run through the attic as it does now, and since the house is gutted inside, every inch of wiring would need to meet code and basically I’m looking at $6000 for a complete rewire.
Thanks,
Jon
Replies
Different inspectors have different bugs up their respective heinies, but generally if you install the mast you'd probably have to move the meter outside and install an outside disconnect. And new wire from the disconnect to your current panel. But no reason why the wire couldn't run through the attic, if properly secured and protected (not a difficult task).
But, while it seems unlikely that you'd be required to rewire the entire house, if you've already got it gutted it would be stupid to not do a major overhaul, or at least install a new panel and a few new circuits for the kitchen, laundry, etc.
(You can always call the electrical inspector's office and ask what they'd require.)
Everything on your house is under the authority of the building department - power company won't have anything to do with it.
I can't imagine an old house remodel and not upgrading the electrical.
If you mess with what's existing you'll have to meet current code, at least as far as everything to the circuit pannel goes. I don't think they would make you go through the entire house if you're just upgrading the pannel.
Also keep in mind that electrical service doesn't have to go to your main house, but can be run to an outbuilding, then run underground to your house. That's a common way I've used to keep a client's house less cluttered. In that case the meter is on the outbuilding.
If you do upgrade the pannel if you are required to make a uffer (ufer?) ground, it's often ok to bury a length of rebar, and you don'
t actually have to modify the existing foundation. The length and depth of burial will be up to the building department, but it's often a 20' piece of 1/2" rebar a couple of feet down laying next to the existing foundation.
Good building!
Weatherhead
The SE cable from the pole to the house ussually belongs to the POCO. In your photo, that is to the three splace bugs you see below the insulated eye bolt in your rafter. The remainder of the SE cable going inside the house to the meter generally belongs to the HO. In your case that may be questionable because of the meter location and who originaly installe the interior SE cable.
Here the HO supplies the wire from the meter to the top of the mast with enough extra to form a drip loop for the poco to make the splice. That might also be your situation, in which case changing from an insulate eye to a weatherhead should not effect any of the interior grandfathered wiring. That is as long as you have enough SE cable inside the house to allow you to pull it through a new mast and weatherhead without adding anymore splices. The SE cable from the poco connection to the meter base must be continuouse.
If I was the inspector, you would be installing a disconnect outside if I understand the situation correctly.
I think a disconnect located "inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors." 230.70(A) means right inside the wall, not through the attic and down the wall. That would also move the meter outside.
New Meter Panel
You really should install a meter panel with a main switch circuit breaker on the outside of the dwelling; unprotected (unfused) service entrance wires should not be running horizontally through the attic. Unless the circuit wiring and load center is so bad that it might be condemned as an imminent safety hazard, you shouldn't have a problem with the inspector.
Thanks for all the input. I really would like to upgrade it and get the meter outside. I had the service in the house I live in upgraded from 60 to 200 amps about 10 years ago and it cost $1900. I know that's 10 years ago and copper has gone way up, but I just don't see where the money goes for $5500 to upgrade a gutted house (which I thought would be an electricians dream). I was prepared to pay $2500 no brainer, maybe up to 3k. I've already wired half the house from the circuit panel. I know some of my wiring might have to be redone, but it's a 2br, 2ba house, 1100 square feet, 8 rooms, no drywall. Do I just have my head in the clouds thinking I could get that upgraded for $2500 - $3000?
Thanks,
Jon
Around here you can find under employed electricans working for $20 an hour - that's an aweful lot of wire running for cheap.