AboutRick Miell Expertise Past County electrical inspector, hold St. of Colorado Master license, will try to answer any electrical question with Code related answers.
Experience State of Colorado Master Electrician. Past County Electricial Inspector (15 years)
Question After a electrical inspection requested by my insurance company on my 80year
home, the inspector reported that the service entrance cable was not up to
code. He stated that the cable was not in code due to not being protected by
conduit down to the meter. This has caused my insurance company to promptly
drop my coverage until the matter is resolved.
My problem is I'm getting multiple opinions from electricians and don't know
which way to go.
One electrician says the meter has to be directly beneath the point of
connection to the home, another says that conduit can be installed through
the attic and back outside to run down to the meter, and another says that
the cable only needs to have a protective covering installed from the meter
to under the eave.
No one seems to be in agreement.
Of course I like the idea of only having to add protection over the cable,
but I don't know if this will pass inspection.
My second preferred method would be to run conduit from the point of
connection, through the attic, and then run back outside and down to the
meter. Again, I'm not sure this is to code.
My least preferred method would be to install the meter on the front of the
house and install a feeder to the existing panel. I really don't want to
have the meter on the front of my home.
Here's the scenario:
Service cable comes from pole to the front peak of my home. (This is the
only space on the house that is visible from the utility pole). From the
attactchment on the front of the house the cable is clamped to the house and
runs under the eaves and down to the meter. The cables are bound together
and enclosed in a single sheath. The run is about 50'. As stated in the
inspection the cable is not in conduit down to the meter. The meter has some
type of weather-proof connector on top that the cable enters the meter
through. From the meter the cable is in conduit and runs down to the panel.
The panel and all internal wiring has been updated.
Also, all local electrical codes are based on the 2002 NEC with no
variations.
Thanks in advance,
Joe M.
Answer Hi Joe.
1st off, I'm not sure the inspector can apply the current code to an existing installation. Was this inspector a home inspector, or an Electrical Inspector? Either way, I would ask for the code referrence that they are quoting.
If the cable is in bad shape, and is indeed a hazard, that is a different thing.
You never run the service entrance conductors into a home, without overcurrent protection on it.
I would opt to have new conduit installed, running from the same point of connection, to a new meter can, located wherever the power company requires it. From this meter can you should install a new electrical disconnect, which could be just a disconnect, or it could be a breaker panel. If you opt to install a new service, go with a 200amp, and use the correct wire for this size service. You could get by with 100amp, but for a few dollars more, you can have the 200amp version, and not have to change everything out in a few years.
A little history. 80 years ago all that was required was a 60amp service, which could have been supplied by service entrance cable, like you have. 60amps is not much of a service nowadays, so the new minimum size is 100 amps. This too could be fed with a service entrance cable, or conduit. Both are allowed by the code.
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