Old Meter Box/Disconnect Cob-Job

[JRC3]

Sort of a long read, so bear with me...

Last year I bought a foreclosure to live in. It was built in 61 and had a detached garage built in the mid 80s. The electric comes in from behind the property and when they built the garage they ran new service line to the garage and installed a new meter and a 200 amp breaker box. From there, using the old above ground service line, they run it from a mast at the garage to the original mast on the house and left the original service meter box in place removing the meter. Basically the 100 amp breaker box inside the house is a sub panel.

So I finally moved in 2 months ago and I've noticed some lights dimming and whatnot. I remembered when I cleaned up the house breaker box and replaced all the 20 amp breakers with 15 amp, how loose most of the wire set screws were and it got me thinking I should check how tight the main breaker is, and also check every connection all the way to the house breaker inside the main box.

Sure enough one of the hots on the 100 amp main breaker inside the house wasn't even finger tight. I tightened both and checked the main breaker too. Then it was off to check the old meter box on the house and this is what I found when I opened it up. *see pics*

The county inspector made me ground all three masts and clean up a few things in both breaker boxes (mostly missing knockouts) and add another ground bus bar in the 100 amp so the box itself wasn't the only means of grounding the second neutral bus bar. The power company was also out to check things and they insulated all the above ground crimp connections. Anyways, neither of them checked the old meter box with the half-*** connection.


So what do I do to properly fix this? Do they make something to just install in the original slots? Something appropriate or something that works like an A/C service disconnect? I want to leave the old box up and don't want to install a new box and have it inspected. I also would prefer not to have to mess with the old wires too much because of their age. Eventually I will run new service underground but that is a few years down the road.


Thanks for reading.

 

[JRC3]

Two options:

100 amp fuse.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Cooper-Bussmann-100-Amp-Fast-Acting-Cartridge-Fuse/1269495

Bypass links.
https://www.dealerselectrical.com/ProductDetail.asp?InventorySys=991249

I think the fuses could offer added protection.

 

[dw1]

Personally I would rip it out and replace it, specially if I was going to live there. I cant believe an inspector let you keep that in place?? Can you replace with an underground feed from your garage to house with a 4 wire feed? Maybe replace meter base with a Jbox

 

[the gypsy]

I am no electrician but I THINK those wire linking the 2 poles must have a FUSE. So 2 wires 2 fuses obviously the appropriate amperage and not over.

 

[cmanningjr]

That's an old meter can that's been jumped out with copper wire..

It needs all ripped out and redone..the condition of the wire isn't the best..




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JRC3]

I should've been more specific and short in my OP. Yes, the copper wire jumper is exactly what I want to make right.

I do plan to run bigger and new underground service when time and money allow it. For now I want to make a proper bypass of the old meter socket and ditch that cob job piece of wire.

 

[ard]

You could also just split bolt the wires together, tape.

Is this box covered with a weather proof cover?

 

[JRC3]

Is this box covered with a weather proof cover?

Not weatherproof...It is the meter box on the house in the photo below.

I'm thinking real hard about the 100 amp cartridge fuses for now. Much better than a piece of 10 or 8ga wire.

 

[Norcal]

Doubt that fuses will fit the meter jaws, & would not use them even if they would. There are meter jumpers available but a used KWH meter might be the easiest way to go.

Edit: jumpers are cheap & easy. http://www.hialeahmeter.com/4majbar2.html Plus a cover. http://www.hialeahmeter.com/4macovplate.html

A used meter is cheap. http://www.hialeahmeter.com/spwm.html

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Since that house panel is now a sub, it should be fed 4-wire and the neutral bus bars need to be isolated.

 

[JRC3]

Edit: jumpers are cheap & easy. http://www.hialeahmeter.com/4majbar2.html

I saw those and thought it would be a good way to go. I think I'd like to ditch the old jaws/slots altogether and I don't like the crappy steel lugs for the service wires. This was suggested to me. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UKG81GO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I also like it because it will insulate evrything.

Since that house panel is now a sub, it should be fed 4-wire and the neutral bus bars need to be isolated.

Someday it will be, but for now I have to deal with what 1983 had to offer using a 1961 meter box and service wire.

The old wire has seen it's day. I think that's why the inspector made me ground all the masts. He probably knew it was old and sub par, but it was existing. I'm surprised he didn't make me ground the old meter box too.







The photo in the previous post was taken before I purchased the home. Look closely at the tamper seal on the box at the bottom. There was a new seal on it meaning the power company replaced it. Did they even look in the box before turning on the power? I know it may not have been their responsibility but why even replace a tamper seal on something that isn't theirs?

 

[ard]

in the photo below.

.

The photo in the previous post was taken before I purchased the home?

In two follow up posts you've seemingly referenced additional photos...all I see is photos in the first, original post. FWIW


Maybe Im missing something.....

 

[JRC3]

In two follow up posts you've seemingly referenced additional photos...all I see is photos in the first, original post. FWIW


Maybe Im missing something.....

Are these not showing up?

http://i.imgur.com/FdIuHnL.png?1
http://i.imgur.com/Qry3M4U.jpg?1


I didn't attach them because they get fliped.

 

[dw1]

Are these not showing up?

http://i.imgur.com/FdIuHnL.png?1
http://i.imgur.com/Qry3M4U.jpg?1


I didn't attach them because they get fliped.

An error when I try to open the links above ? But, back to your issue. You can take the meter lugs out with the four screws, the Polaris taps in the link above mentioned will work great and definitely be a better setup and safer than what you have now.

 

[JRC3]

Here is my temporary fix. I will order the insulated splicers and ground the box when I change them out.

I could tell one leg had been fairly hot at some point. This house had a family of four living in it and the septic guy told me at one point there was seven. Surprised it didn't completely fail. Not to mention someone had installed 10) 20 amp breakers in the breaker box. Probably because it kept tripping the 15s for some odd reason. *scratches head*


I'll be glad when I can update and discard it all.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I saw those and thought it would be a good way to go. I think I'd like to ditch the old jaws/slots altogether and I don't like the crappy steel lugs for the service wires. This was suggested to me. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UKG81GO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I also like it because it will insulate everything.

Someday it will be, but for now I have to deal with what 1983 had to offer using a 1961 meter box and service wire.

The old wire has seen it's day. I think that's why the inspector made me ground all the masts. He probably knew it was old and sub par, but it was existing. I'm surprised he didn't make me ground the old meter box too.

The photo in the previous post was taken before I purchased the home. Look closely at the tamper seal on the box at the bottom. There was a new seal on it meaning the power company replaced it. Did they even look in the box before turning on the power? I know it may not have been their responsibility but why even replace a tamper seal on something that isn't theirs?

The thing is once u start changing things around u have to bring it up to current code.

Im surprised the inspector disnt make u update it.

In two follow up posts you've seemingly referenced additional photos...all I see is photos in the first, original post. FWIW


Maybe Im missing something.....

The pics didnt load. There are only 2 squares.