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Sloppy Production Quality Meter Box Install

justsam

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My sister in law is buying a newly built home in Jordon Utah. I went with her to see progress on her home, and also to look at some of the models. I saw this fine piece of work on one of the models and thought it was worthy of a photo. Needless to say I will be paying attention and helping her with final work through.

IMG_1391.JPG
 
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Fasthotrod

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sparky 1971

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I see that quite often around here on homes that are 30+ years old. Here at least, it's from ground heave due to winter and a piss poor job of running the wire combined with not carefully backfilling. The locknut and bushing are inside the can and the wires are probably pulled tighter than a banjo string. They slip right off the threads.

I left out that the POCO installs the service laterals, but when the pipe pulls out, they tell the homeowners to call an electrician.
 
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wyliesdiesels

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Is there some kind of local settling? Could be as simple as that... and the need for an expansion coupling.

where did the lock ring go?
 

Norcal

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Is there some kind of local settling? Could be as simple as that... and the need for an expansion coupling.

The OP's photo looks like it is in a EUSERC area, & EUSERC requires a 3" conduit.

EUSERC https://www.se.com/us/en/faqs/FA108341/

https://ckm-content.se.com/ckmContent/sfc/servlet.shepherd/document/download/0691H00000EGjTJQA1
 

sparky 1971

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where did the lock ring go?
It and the bushing are still in the can and over the wires. The pipe pulls straight down and the lock nut slips right off the threads. I've had to repair a couple of them and I couldn't get the nut to tighten back down because the threads had been shaved off. I had to dig them up and replace the whole effing thing. I won't do it anymore, too many good jobs to do.

Blow the picture up and you'll see the mangled threads.
 
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Chuckster in NJ

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VERY COMMON on new homes where trench soil is loose and not compacted. Just drive down the road in a sub division after five years and you will see this "soil settling" problem.
Install a expansion coupling.…… They come in all sizes.

TIP! Proper compaction of the trench with a "jumping jack" prior to conduit is key because the wire will NOT stretch even with an expansion coupling installed.
 

slimpickins

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The local requirement here is Saskatchewan now is for an expansion joint, plus a cable loop box to provide slack if the ground settles. It's ugly as **** but it makes sense. The cable expansion box is below the meter and simply contains a loop of the feeder wires. In the pic, I don't have a generator installed yet. Also, if you are wondering about the foundation, it is the original foundation placed 110 years ago. I'm told that the house originally had a 48 volt battery system with some kind of generator. Electrical service was installed later. When I got the house, it had 80 amp fused mains, and an overhead service drop. I have upgraded it to a 200A service (way overkill - but the panel was the same price as the 100A, just a different main breaker). And I moved the service underground, with the panel for a whole house generator. Oh and the second LB fitting below the cable loop box is an empty conduit for a future detached garage. :D
20220923_151526R.jpg
 
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OP
J

justsam

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Thanks to all for the possible explanations. I did find it hard to believe this was installed in this manner and even considered earthquakes but this really is not a known seismic activity area. I guess if there is a "blame" it is more to do with improper soil compaction. I believe this model home is about one year old.
 

Jim greengo

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Is there some kind of local settling? Could be as simple as that... and the need for an expansion coupling.

Even with an expansion joint somebody forgot the lock nut and bushing.
 

sparky 1971

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Even with an expansion joint somebody forgot the lock nut and bushing.
I bet the lock nut and bushing are still inside the can. I've seen it a lot. As the ground settles, the pipe pulls down and the nut pulls off of the threads. Blow up the picture and you can see how screwed up the threads are. You're not that far away from me, I can't believe you haven't seen this happen. Maybe you don't have Mid American Energy running around screwing up the installs over there..
Thanks to all for the possible explanations. I did find it hard to believe this was installed in this manner and even considered earthquakes but this really is not a known seismic activity area. I guess if there is a "blame" it is more to do with improper soil compaction. I believe this model home is about one year old.
Wow. I have never seen it on that new of a home. Of course, I get called out to all the old dumps and the conduits I've seen pulled out may have been that way for 25 years before anyone decided to do something about it. I think the two that I actually fixed were caught by a home inspector of all people.
 

klassenl

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Southern Alberta
The local requirement here is Saskatchewan now is for an expansion joint, plus a cable loop box to provide slack if the ground settles. It's ugly as **** but it makes sense. The cable expansion box is below the meter and simply contains a loop of the feeder wires. In the pic, I don't have a generator installed yet. Also, if you are wondering about the foundation, it is the original foundation placed 110 years ago. I'm told that the house originally had a 48 volt battery system with some kind of generator. Electrical service was installed later. When I got the house, it had 80 amp fused mains, and an overhead service drop. I have upgraded it to a 200A service (way overkill - but the panel was the same price as the 100A, just a different main breaker). And I moved the service underground, with the panel for a whole house generator. Oh and the second LB fitting below the cable loop box is an empty conduit for a future detached garage. :D
20220923_151526R.jpg
In what part of SK are you. Back in MB we put a frost box in the ground below the meter to take up the slack.
 

Norcal

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I bet the lock nut and bushing are still inside the can. I've seen it a lot. As the ground settles, the pipe pulls down and the nut pulls off of the threads. Blow up the picture and you can see how screwed up the threads are. You're not that far away from me, I can't believe you haven't seen this happen. Maybe you don't have Mid American Energy running around screwing up the installs over there..

Wow. I have never seen it on that new of a home. Of course, I get called out to all the old dumps and the conduits I've seen pulled out may have been that way for 25 years before anyone decided to do something about it. I think the two that I actually fixed were caught by a home inspector of all people.
If you look closely one tooth of the lock nut is visible in the photo.
 
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