Bought a 1985 house in June that had some obvious electrical issues and some deeper ones that I am not 100% sure how to fix.
Worth noting that in VT there is no required residential inspection, and that my day job involves extensive interaction with multiple Master Electricians, the AHJ and the local utility. We're so busy that I don;t have time to ask them a ton of questions lately....
I have an overhead feed from the pole to 2 meters; 1 meter feeds the hot water (reduced rate) and the other feeds 2 panels (each panel has a 100A main). Herein lies the problem, the previous owner wired each meter with service entrance cable tied to a splitbolt off the main lug in the meter can. The wire between the main lug and the split bolt is unknown gauge and does not have a jacket, but it is wrapped in tape!
I have already replaced most of the interior electrical, and left enough slack in the new runs to replace/consolidate the panels into 1. My plan is to replace the 2 existing with 1 Homeline or OQ series. The utility has given me permission to pull the smart meter, so I I am good to go.
Questions I have:
Note that next summer I will be running underground feed from pole to meter, then an additional underground to garage.
Worth noting that in VT there is no required residential inspection, and that my day job involves extensive interaction with multiple Master Electricians, the AHJ and the local utility. We're so busy that I don;t have time to ask them a ton of questions lately....
I have an overhead feed from the pole to 2 meters; 1 meter feeds the hot water (reduced rate) and the other feeds 2 panels (each panel has a 100A main). Herein lies the problem, the previous owner wired each meter with service entrance cable tied to a splitbolt off the main lug in the meter can. The wire between the main lug and the split bolt is unknown gauge and does not have a jacket, but it is wrapped in tape!
I have already replaced most of the interior electrical, and left enough slack in the new runs to replace/consolidate the panels into 1. My plan is to replace the 2 existing with 1 Homeline or OQ series. The utility has given me permission to pull the smart meter, so I I am good to go.
Questions I have:
- Utility isn't sure of feed (100A vs 200A) without coming on-site, so far our schedules have not aligned. If I use a 200A main breaker, will this meet code if we later find that there is a 100A feed from pole?
- How should I run line from meter can to the panel? The can is level with my sill and mounted below the porch 7' from ground level. The run is about 5' total, with 2 90-degree bends. I think running conduit and THHN would be easiest, plus I can probably get this wire for free.
Note that next summer I will be running underground feed from pole to meter, then an additional underground to garage.