How does this disconnect work?

[Smiles79]

I've posted about my pole top disconnect previously in regards to hooking a generator up, but now I'm just mainly curious how power flows through it. It looks to me like power comes from the road to the disconnect, down the pole to the meter, back up from the meter in the same conduit (this doesn't seem right but I only see one conduit going down the pole) then to the house. Does that sound correct?

Which side of the disconnect is the meter on?

https://imgur.com/a/DpYe1I5

 

[LXCam]

I’ve got 40yrs in this trade and I’ve never seen anything like that. Then again I’ve never really been a resi guy either.

I’m sure it’s nothing more than a disconnect. It looks to me like the actuating lever is on the right, what’s at the bottom of it? If it is, up or down should open the disconnect if that’s what it is.

After posting this the other picture finally loaded. Sure as heck, that’s what that handles for. Do you have any idea how old this service is?

 

[fitter30]

Meter could be reading from ct's current transformers. Conduit is to small for main wiring. Need to call your electric company.

 

[RPH]

Meter could be reading from ct's current transformers. Conduit is to small for main wiring. Need to call your electric company.

This and handle is connected to a disconnect on the secondary side. That will isolate the feed from that point.
Better pictures front on their angles should show it.

 

[Smiles79]

Do you have any idea how old this service is?

No I do not.

Meter could be reading from ct's current transformers. Conduit is to small for main wiring. Need to call your electric company.

That's what I was thinking. How does CT monitoring work?

 

[sparky 1971]

Line/load, in/out, on/off is all done inside the disconnect. Metering is done through ct's.

 

[sparky 1971]

No I do not.

My brother has a pole top, he built his place in 2007. I am unaware of any newer installs around me.

That's what I was thinking. How does CT monitoring work?

This does a better job than I can.

How Is A Current Transformer (CT) Used In Metering?

Role of Current Transformer (CT) in Submetes

blog.intellimeter.com

 

[wyliesdiesels]

That is not a feed thru meter. As said above, the conduit is too small for 2 sets of conductors

Meter is only reading current from the CTs in the disconnect.

 

[Firebrick43]

There are quite a few pole top disconnects in the surrounding areas, mostly installed with above ground wires to wooded areas which is common here in the creek valley. The REMC is really pushing below ground leads off of the poles with the transformer setting right beside the meter base . This has been pushed for 20 years here and only recently have a seen some pole transformers/disconnects because they have been having issues getting the ground set transformers.

It took 4 months for duke to get a ground set 3 phase transformer for a remote fill site that was built in march for our company.

 

[fitter30]

Main wires run through a current transformer get converted to watts for the meter. Like a clamp on amp meter. Jaws around the wire and there's a read out.

 

[Bert_]

It has a current transformer. Looks like a 200A Burmeister.

I've got a couple used ones at the shop. I'll grab a picture of the inside sometime

 

[Bert_]

This one had most of the wire pulled out for whatever reason but you can see the ct and the terminals of the switch

 

[Smiles79]

Thanks for the info everyone! Would it be easy to have an electrician come out and run a separate feed for a future shop? Or would I need a disconnect that has two breakers; one for the shop and one for the house?

 

[Bert_]

Thanks for the info everyone! Would it be easy to have an electrician come out and run a separate feed for a future shop? Or would I need a disconnect that has two breakers; one for the shop and one for the house?

What are you running? Underground, overhead? Either way you don't need anything additional, a single disconnect for everything is fine and much more economical. Crimp the new wire in on the load side of the pole top along with the wires going to the house.

 

[Smiles79]

How exactly would that work? One lug with two wires?

 

[Bert_]

You don't run anything inside the pole top. Even when they are new it comes with with 3' of wire already attached. All connections are crimped together in the air.

 

[Smiles79]

Ah, I understand. What kind of connector would be used to do that?

 

[Bert_]

H tap is best, but you do need a crimper. Any electrician that does poles or overhead wiring will have one.

 

[Bert_]

You could use a split bolt but they aren't a very reliable connector when out in the weather

 

[Smiles79]

Glad to know this should be relatively easy. Is this a quick job for an electrician?

 

[Bert_]

Glad to know this should be relatively easy. Is this a quick job for an electrician?

Doing what? Running the wire? Making connections?

 

[Smiles79]

Probably making the connection and just running it down the pole.

 

[Bert_]

Yes if you are going to trench a wire just leave plenty of wire at the bottom of the pole. Could be ran up and connected in an hour. Hopefully you already know the electrician. It's definitely not a job I would give much priority if I didn't know the guy