electric service

[john michael]

Hi everyone. I have a detached garage with its own service. Back when i had new service installed, all i could afford was alum, wire. Now its not making good contact. I know i will have to have a electrician do the replacement. this time with copper wire. Now to the questions, the mast pole is 21/2 stories tall, will i have to supply wire to the top of the mast, or from where the line enters from the meter to the Panel. the panel is right behind the meter. the panel is 100amp, what size wire will i need to feed the panel.? Is now a good time to have the panel replaced? Thanks in advanvc for any help. I live i KY.

 

[offroadsteve]

The wire itself is probably not the problem, its most likely a connection issue somewhere. If the problem is on the power pole side of the meter, most likley the power company owns it, and is their responsibility to maintain.

I say most likely because in some jurisdictions, the property owner owns the wire up to the mast-head where it transitions to aerial triplex.

Either way, step #1 is call the Power Company.

If its on your side of the meter, it is your problem, but you should start by checking all the connections to be sure they are tight. Unless the service was originally installed more than 30 years ago, there is likely nothing wrong with the wire. AL wire is used for service entrances almost everywhere.

 

[john michael]

OFFROAD STEVE I think you are right about a loose connection. Electric co. is closed, but i went out to the garage and checked the connection coming to the panel from the me The screw holding one cable is stuck and wii not tighten or loosen. Thank for the information.

 

[john michael]

Looks like a new panel for me.What is a good brand?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Get something with copper or tin coated copper bus bars. Siemens makes both aluminim and copper bus bars as do some other mfg.

 

[justsam]

OFFROAD STEVE I think you are right about a loose connection. Electric co. is closed, but i went out to the garage and checked the connection coming to the panel from the me The screw holding one cable is stuck and wii not tighten or loosen. Thank for the information.

Is there a disconnect ahead of this such that you can work on it safely?

I would drill out the offending screw and re-tap if necessary, or better yet buy the replacement terminal strip where it ties down if it is available as a separate component for your panel.

 

[john michael]

Justsam thier is no disconnect at all . the screw that is messed up is the one that holds the live wires coming in from the outside

 

[Falcon67]

Not sure about where you are, but here the customer is responsible for the mast, wires, weather head and meter box. Poco only supplies meter and drop.

 

[CNGsaves]

Gotta SEE what you're talking about.

 

[volleyball]

So you want to replace the feed wires because of a bad connection? Seems overkill.

 

[john michael]

I finaly broke down and got a new Murrey panel. The electric will come out and disconnect the meter and then when im done they will come back and replace the meter.

 

[sberry]

What store did you find this panel in?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

AL is used for service entrance all the time. A number of things could have happened. The lug was torqued incorrectly, lug not rated for AL wire, NoAlox wasnt used when it was required by manu., etc. when was this wire installed? CU service entrance wire is gonna cost a pretty penny!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Put in an outside disconnect at the meter while you are doing the work. Get a combo meter/disconnect panel.

Charles

 

[john michael]

The panel was installed 25years ago.How do i go about installing a disconnect box or meter plus disconnect?

 

[john michael]

sberry i bought the panel at Lowes.It was a value package with 100amp main breaker and 6 15amp breakers for 72.00 and some change.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The panel was installed 25years ago.How do i go about installing a disconnect box or meter plus disconnect?

U would either have to replace the whole panel, or add a disconnect in between the meter socket and wire feeding your panel. Either way u would have to schedule a disconnect/reconnect with the PoCo...