jrclen

I did a service change out today. From 100 to 200 amps. The POCO wanted $1800. to bury a new lateral to a pedestal on the house, so the customer elected to keep the meter on the post 60 feet from the house. He buried the new service entrance wires to the house. Check out the violations in the old meter can. My fairly new apprentice got a good look at how not to do something.

thom

Ok, I'll bite.

Why did you leave the old posts and plywood backing? Is the new service physically attached? If so, why didn't you prime and paint first.

Our utility will not allow the meter base to be installed on plywood. They require solid lumber or approved siding materials.

jrclen

The treated plywood and posts are fine here. The temperature was 15 degrees. Ever prime and paint in 15 degrees? Would you have done it free standing or what?

thom

Since plywood isn't legal here, no, I wouldn't have left it, it would have failed inspection then I would have to re-do it.

If the meter base is approved free standing, it would be fine left alone. If not, I would hav replaced the plywood with solid 2 X ? treated lumber screwed to the posts. It would also be acceptable here to put 2 2X4's across the back then covered (face) with primed and painted siding (t-111) Treated lumber would not require painting, untreated would require prime and painting.

But, that's the local rules. We have some that I think are dumb. On underground service, we are required to strap the lozer to the house. The fact that it is buried 36" into the earth doesn't seem to make it rigid enough. The strap is installed when the service is installed, prior to the installation of the stucco exterior. You end up with an illegal penetration through the stucco in order to have a legal service. Go figure.

jrclen

Interesting. I'm not sure if that pedestal is listed for free standing. It goes down 2 feet. I usually use a single 6x6 treated post or 2x treated lumber as you mentioned with 2 4x4's. In this case, the wood was already there and handy. And it will pass inspection here. But now that you mentioned it, I should have tore off the ratty looking plywood and replaced it with a couple 2x6 pieces like I usually do. A single post wouldn't work with this meter as the back needs to come off for the the POCO connections. I think we must use treated wood here, paint won't comply. I hear you about dumb rules. They are everywhere. And some rules that I think we need, aren't rules.