We’re running our wiring in our house, and the electric company is coming over the next few days to dig the 1000 foot trench for our line. They say we need a meter socket, and that we should call an electrician to have it installed because they require a lever by-pass and a main disconnect.
Is this something we can do ourselves after the line is run?
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Replies
Call them and ask. Usually the utility needs he meter box in place, with the load side cable installed into the meter box and ran to the main disconnect.
Then when they run the cable from the transformer to the house, they wire up the meter box. In my area, Customers/electricians are not allowed to wire up the meter box (line or load sides). Anything after the meter (load side) is the customers property, and can be done by the customers electrician.
if you're not familiar with electrical work, get an electrician to do it - if you're having a 1000 ft supply line installed, just the distance calls for quite a bit of power
safer for you and the future - get an electrician
good luck
A thousand feet of buried cable does not come with more power, but the utility will decide if they prefer to run higher voltage cable underground and a ground level transformer near the house, or a transformer at the start of the trench (assuming overhead to that point). Longer runs mean a higher diameter (and more expensive) wire. The solution they choose will also depend on what equipment is installed already, and what they anticipate for the future.
The details of the interface to the house will not be any different for a longer trench.
Uncle Mike is correct.
uncle mike
you did a much better job of clarifying the concerns of a 1000 ft run than me
thanks
Good advice, and we've hired one. :)
You can do the work, but need to understand the requirements.
The meter socket needs to meet the utility requirements.
It is up to the utility if they would be willing to lay the cable and leave it disconnected until you have the required equipment installed and secured.
If you have a blank wall, they may run the cable and leave it, or (more likely) they may head for another job and tell you to reschedule and be prepared to stand in line. (You might be on the hook for an additional charge as well)
This is one of the joys of a DIY house build.
Contact a local electrical supply place and they should be able to sell you the required connection equipment. (Or even the desk at a local home improvement store. They should know what has worked for others in your area)
Thank you for your kind advice. We've decided this was a bit too much for us, and hired an electrician for the job.
Totally understandable.
How much of the rest of the wiring do you plan to do yourselves?
None of it. LOL
That makes it easy.
The utility will have a list of approved meter boxes. Some utilities will supply them to you, others will require you to buy them.
As stated, call the utility for their final say
If your electrician works w/you, you can do the labor part of running the wires from the panel location to the outlet/switch box, & the electrician makes the connections. have the electrician spec the type of wire to run
good luck