What's new
By:
Filters

Main panel with meter replacement

Im still alive!
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20231102_003641706.jpg
    PXL_20231102_003641706.jpg
    4.9 MB · Views: 23
Beast said:
Shhhh.

Let nature take it's course. Stupid needs to have consequences.
Click to expand...

its work in progress. I taped the other end. I just couldnt tape it with the panel still on, no room.

New panel is on, but I need to get to the top of the pole to feed the wire down. No matter how ard I pull on it, it wont go lower, so I gotta go up to the weatherhead.

Problem is the bucket truck wont start. FML. Sleeping without a heater today. :laughing:
 
New panel is in, just need a new grounding rod. Will run #4 because I think it can be exposed and not armoured.

The old meter has an extra pin that the nre panel does not, for the neutral I guess.

What do I do? Im going to connect it anyway, with the white wire running to a neutral
 
called city. they said i need a permit. said a licensed contractor had to do this.

here we go, time to get fucked in the ass.

:mad3:
 
M92PV4U said:
It's a pg&e smart meter, they know it was pulled. They sent a trouble man out, he saw the metercan missing and cut the secondaries or pulled the pole fuses.
Click to expand...
If they're on the low voltage side of the transformer then what's the problem? OP is clearly already comfortable working hot. Reconnect that shit. In for a penny in for a pound. Fuck 'em.

Oh, and shoot a transformer because double fuck 'em. :flipoff2:
 
Last edited:
arse_sidewards said:
If they're on the low voltage side of the transformer then what's the problem? OP is clearly already comfortable working hot. :laughing:

Reconnect that shit and pay your utility bill like nothing happened and they don't have much angle to get at you from.

If it were me I'd do a damn good job making it look like work never happened (putty and paint screw holes from the old meter based and whatnot) and then call the utility and bitch that they turned it off for no reason. Then when they don't turn it on call the city and bitch the same tune to them. :laughing:
Click to expand...
Pole fuses are on the line side of the transformer, you need a hotstick to reconnect them. Secondaries are on the load side of the transformer.
Moot at this point though. The smart meter is switched off.
 
arse_sidewards said:
If they're on the low voltage side of the transformer then what's the problem? OP is clearly already comfortable working hot. Reconnect that shit. In for a penny in for a pound. Fuck 'em.

Oh, and shoot a transformer because double fuck 'em. :flipoff2:
Click to expand...
The panel is the interconnection point with PG&E, and PG&E is responsible and liable up to that point. They want to make sure there was no fuckery going on by the homeowner, that could come back later to bite them. Documentation from the permit and that a licensed electrician did the work, leaves a paper trail to pass liability to the owner or electrician should something go wrong.

Yeah, unplugging the SmartMeter was the bat-signal that something was going on there.....
 
GonPostal said:
The panel is the interconnection point with PG&E, and PG&E is responsible and liable up to that point. They want to make sure there was no fuckery going on by the homeowner, that could come back later to bite them. Documentation from the permit and that a licensed electrician did the work, leaves a paper trail to pass liability to the owner or electrician should something go wrong.

Yeah, unplugging the SmartMeter was the bat-signal that something was going on there.....
Click to expand...
Yeah I know.

I still say fuck it and do their job for them.
 
Power was NOT cut, I did this live, and everything is up and running.

called city because.. edison said I need an inspection for then to put their tag back on.

permit.. wasnt 100% sure on that and just went ahead and bit the bullet.

Luckily the city seems pretty friendly, but I dont predict issues
 
fordguy said:
Power was NOT cut, I did this live, and everything is up and running.

called city because.. edison said I need an inspection for then to put their tag back on.

permit.. wasnt 100% sure on that and just went ahead and bit the bullet.

Luckily the city seems pretty friendly, but I dont predict issues
Click to expand...

Calling utility and asking for a new security tag was a key violation :laughing:

Forget about that tag. Years from now some guy will come out there and see that and shrug before he puts a new one back on.
 
Wait, so everything is running and all you narc'd on yourself because the only thing missing is their stupid tag?

Tags get cut and not recorded all the time. I wouldn't even bother. As stated, nobody cares. It's just there so that they can blame you when they don't find it in the smoking rubble or some shit.

Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. :lmao:
 
Last edited:
GonPostal said:
Yeah, unplugging the SmartMeter was the bat-signal that something was going on there.....
Click to expand...
Has to be down for a few days I think before they care. When I worked for Tesla doing powerwalls and solar we yanked the meter every install for 6 - 10 hours and PG&E didn't care. Had they been on site they would have cared or bitched, but what they don't know won't hurt them.

Oh and yes we cut the tag, and put it back on...it's CA blame it on tweakers.
 
Twist the old security tag back on. Its mostly there for looks.
 
TheLivingBubba said:
Has to be down for a few days I think before they care. When I worked for Tesla doing powerwalls and solar we yanked the meter every install for 6 - 10 hours and PG&E didn't care. Had they been on site they would have cared or bitched, but what they don't know won't hurt them.

Oh and yes we cut the tag, and put it back on...it's CA blame it on tweakers.
Click to expand...
Our Reports right away, I can see it in real time on my laptop in the field, It does not report the exact meter to me, but it reports the transformer.
 
Stingray said:
Our Reports right away, I can see it in real time on my laptop in the field, It does not report the exact meter to me, but it reports the transformer.
Click to expand...
Do you (or the poco you work for,) usually inspect or just brush it off till you get a service call?
 
TheLivingBubba said:
Do you (or the poco you work for,) usually inspect or just brush it off till you get a service call?
Click to expand...
I don't, I have to be actively looking for it, The company might send out a meter tech to verify that the meter is good, But usually not.

If they get more than one meter off the same transformer then they send someone for sure.
 
Part 2.. need to change and upgrade my house panel

DIY again, or have someone licensed do it? Do I need access to the back side of it, ie. cutti g the wall open?

If lines are underground, can I even upgrade to 200a or will they need to be reran?
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20240608_193425467.jpg
    PXL_20240608_193425467.jpg
    3.7 MB · Views: 4
fordguy said:
Part 2.. need to change and upgrade my house panel

DIY again, or have someone licensed do it? Do I need access to the back side of it, ie. cutti g the wall open?

If lines are underground, can I even upgrade to 200a or will they need to be reran?
Click to expand...

You need to figure out the ampacity of the incoming conductors.

If that meter base is only 100A rated, it needs to go. Do yourself a favour and open the wall. Main panels are better inside, out of the elements.

I was lucky to have 145A incoming conductors for my 100A service size, so i took matters into my own hands. (No permit or utility consult.) Did a full 200A upgrade and limited it to 150A ocp. If I have to make it full legit-200A in the future, won't be a big deal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Back Refresh