After Service A Change, What Is Best Way For Temp. Connect Of Power

RandyMc

After upgrading a service, we reconnect power temp. till the inspector gives his blessing and the utility company returns and does a perm. connect of power. Some guys have actually said they use romex connectors with 2 romex connectors on the neutral and then tape them up. I am getting ready to purchase a greenlee crimper that will go up to 4/0. What is the norm.

B-MAN

I use ground rod acorns and tape the h*ll out of them.

Speedy Petey

Are places still doing this archaic policy?
I though we were in the dark era before we were able to make our own taps around here about 7-8 years ago.

We use Fargo bugs and covers.

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mdshunk

Since I do more and more overhead work lately on customer owned poles, I went ahead and bought H-Tap crimpers (Burndy MD6-8) a while back and an Ampact tool.

For services, depending on whether the particular utility uses H-Taps or Ampacts, I just go ahead and make the permanent connection with the same materials and methods as they would. H-Taps cost 85 cents each, and Ampacts are about 1.25 each. Just as cheap as any "temporary" method, and it's permanent. Puts you on the good side of the linemen too, which can be useful in the future. Most of the utilities around me will return later that day to retap anyhow, but I just reconnect as a convenience to myself and my customers.

fridaymean

We use fork bolts and about a roll of tape. Good enough till Comed comes.

ATS

I'll use split-bolts or romex connectors. I heard all sorts of opposition to the use of romex connectors for this purpose on other web sites. It's common practice in my area and I've personally never seen or heard of a single problem with it around here. I'm speaking of strictly residential here, would never attemt this on anything else. Just to clarify for those who may not know, this is only temporary as the poco usually comes within 2 weeks and makes their permanent connections. I will also kambric and tape.

mdshunk

I know some guys save those piece of crap Tomic connectors that come with range and dryer cords, and use those for temps. They cost you nothing (assuming you don't use them on ranges and dryers. Use a real connector on those, for crying out loud.)

CNC

i think we use what are called NSI connectors? the are fully insulated and have a hex sex screw to clamp the wire. here the utility company has threatend to fine us for connecting power, usually take the meter because they want to disconnect power. what a pain. so we have to schedule for disconnect so we can wait around for some guy to show up late, cut 2 wires that i guess they dont think we do every day. and proceed to take the meter. and they schedule to come back at so and so time, to reconnect. lets just say i have been stuck at a house till almost dark waiting for the smuck to come back with my meter. with a poor customer waiting, i just end up jumping the jaws on the meter then when i see the big blue truck coming down the street i remove them, so i dont have to hear him whine. the utility company hear is a joke somtimes. i hate dealing with them.

mdshunk

Yeah, I know what you mean. Some guys call them Polaris bugs, too. The generic term for them is "preinsulated pedestal lug". They are too expensive to use for temporary taps (around 15 bucks each), since you almost never get them back. Spring for an H-tap crimper, and put on the 85 cent permanent h taps.

RobertWilber

ROMEX CONNECTORS?

mumble, mumble [wanders away talking to himself ...]

sparkysteve

I usually put the new service right next to the old one. Then I swing some SE cable from the line side of the old meter socket to the load side of the the new meter socket. Then the power co. can hook up to the new mast or feed the new meter from underground. I'm not a big fan of hot-splicing service drops.

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Steve

Master Electrician/Self-Proclaimed Handy-Man

mdshunk

I curse your type. I like to put the new can right over top of the "old wound" to cover up the inevidable blemish on the house.

I have already built the new service, and left the old meter can hooked up but totally unfastened from the building. I lift it up and hang it near the new weatherhead temporarily. I take my "tails" from my new riser (SE cable or mast) and put them in the load side terminals of the old meter and put some jumpers in the new meter can. I did it that way for years, until the last 5-6 years I've just gone ahead and hot tapped with various methods. The last 1-1/2 years it's been with h-taps or Ampacts.

ATS

I've seen the guys that build the new service right next to the old one and just leave them there forever. Personally, I wouldn't want to put my name on jobs like that and don't really see the point. I'll just plan the job to have as little 'no power' time as possible and completely remove the old service entrance after cutting the conductors on the customers side of the drop (allowed in my area). Then I'll build my new service and make the temporary connections at the drop, get the job inspected and then the poco comes out and makes their permanent connections. Usually the customer is without power for 3-4 hours but nobody has ever complained. I never use the old panel as a j-box or anything like that, I'll just tear everything out and install all new, it just seems like a better quality job to me.

RobertWilber

Cut it loose
rip it down
hang the new service
tie it in
we get inspections whenever the inspector shows up
it can take days and weeks
PoCo [I guess that means power company] only does taps if we call and complain that their cable is bad or there is a voltage problem we can point at their transformer or neutral splice for [can take days and weeks, depending on scheduling and service load]
Don't get me wrong, I'm not griping. These folks are great and often amazingly helpful

Larry007

Split bolts