The local power company is replacing my very old meter with a new one, and wants me to put in conduit from the meter up to their wires. Presently it’s just SE cable. I can’t find in my code book whether it’s OK to simply put the old SE inside about 3 feet of (PVC) conduit, or not. The PVC is significantly bigger than required for the number and size of these conductors. No inspectors in this area to ask.
Thanks.
Thon
Replies
NM can go into conduit and I suspect taht SE can also.
But why not just replace it with wire?
And just what is the configuration. I am having a hard time visualizing where you could get by with only 3ft for a riser. That is unless you want to use the triplex for a clothes line.
<But why not just replace it with wire?>Only because I have SE that's big enough, though old. It's similar to what's there now but has been inside all of it's life.The meter will be about 5.5 feet up, so the service entrance wires will be about 9 feet above ground level. (I know should be 10, but...)Thanks.Thon
How old?Friend of mine bought a house that had been built in the 50's. And had one or two addions by the 70's.Orginal wiring seemed to be good, but with much remudeling over the years and with the additions. Boxes in walls, spices with boxes in walls. No romex connectors on sub-panel in the new additon, wrong size breakers, etc.At sometime the panel had been replaced with a 100 amp breaker panel. But the SE cable appeared to be orginal.It was upgraded to a 200 amp service and in the processes the old meter/SE cable was moved aside, hot, to maintain service.As the electricain did that the old SE cable started arcing at the top.
If this is a 300 foot run then there might be a financial consideration. Otherwise get new service entrance wire to fish. Time, heat, & physical abuse are no good for wire. Whaddya talking here? 30 bucks? Let the smoke out of the wire and it'll cost you far more.
HD or an electrical supply house will have the correct gauge and type for your new (probably larger) meter socket being installed. Generally it is a 60 amp service being increased to 100a or better...hmm more amperage - thus heat, nicked up undersized old crappy wire...? Yea maybe you ought to buy a new set of wires...heck even spring for a new ground wire & Rod!
Edited 4/25/2006 11:23 am by booch
The 'you might as well's tend to get expensive, fast. Been there--many times. Don't mind doing it if it HAS to be that way, but otherwise I'll recycle when it's safe and legal.Thanks.
Call the local electrical inspector for the city you live in.
The OP stated "No inspectors in this area to ask."
Unless your SE is so cracked that you can see copper thru the insulation, OK. Bend the SE, if the inner insulation does not crack you are OK.
Put new service into Gramdma's house last year (she died in 73, brother uses house for storage) and reused the SE cable that ran to the old electric stove - better shape than some new stuff, good solid flexible rubber insulation.
From 1922.
I happened to run into the best electrician in a neighboring town and asked about putting the SE into conduit: No problem. I'll check the insulation on what I've got, as advised.Thanks for all the advice.Thon
Around here, conduit seems to be standard practice for new SE cable. It does look somewhat 'bulkier' coming down the sides of houses than a plain cable.
Around here you only see exposed SE cable on "tacky" homes.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison