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Posted by RBM on July 27, 2006, 4:07 pm
While you certainly need to adhere to the AHJ in your local, but, personally
I'd use a 2" pvc standpipe into the meter and 2" sch 80 from meter to panel
which is technically equal to steel, then I'd use #2/0 copper THWN as THHN
is not NEC compliant in wet locations and copper will last longer and it's
easy to pull. You will however need a mortgage to buy it right now
> Folks:
> First, I am not a sparky. I do my own electrical work, as we are
> allowed to do here. I follow the relevant Code provisions, pull
> permits, and submit it for inspection. I am in perfect agreement with
> any pros who look down on homeowners who do careless electrical work,
> as about 50% of that which I've seen is questionable and 10% is
> abhorrent.
>
> Okay. At present, I am upgrading my service from a relatively nice 60A
> fuse box to a 200A CH series panel, which is a new job for me, and the
> usual practices around here leads me to wonder about some things.
>
> First, around here, cable electrical services are usual. It is also
> common to run the SE cable in a short length of conduit below the meter
> socket, through an LB into the house, because the lower length is prone
> to physical damage, from cars if on a driveway, from the wild hedge
> trimmer if not. Theoretically the PVC is Sch 80 but frankly a lot of
> houses have whatever Big Blue or Big Orange carry.
>
> Here's the problem: SE cable is not the greatest thing for use inside
> raceway.
> If the raceway is big enough, the code allows it, but it's stiff and
> hard to pull and certainly
> not as suitable as, say, XHHW. Unfortunately, I can't use that...the
> local AHJ doesn't want
> raceway leading right from the meter pan to the box, because it's too
> easy for water to get in.
>
> I suppose my own question is answered...stop the raceway just inside
> the wall & pull in the SE cable. Sigh. I just don't like it. Has
> anybody else run into this problem?
>
> What I would really like to do is run a Sch 80 PVC mast with XHHW
> conductors, and Sch 80 conduit from the meter pan to box.
> Unfortunately they look at you like a madman when you ask for XHHW
> around here and suggest THHN for use in a conduit mast. I will
> probably have to go with the cable, which does not make me happy...not
> because I hate cable. The cable's fine. It's the watertight connector
> that bothers me. You're not supposed to trust these to actually *be*
> watertight, and you are to press sealant around them to keep water out.
> Alas, this sealant never lasts long -- from expansion or sun or
> whatever, it tends to dry out and not stay stuck to the cable and
> connector, and seems just like a major kluge to me. And right
> below the watertight conn. the nice aluminum conductors run to the
> nice lugs, with a coat of Penetrox to keep the aluminum from attempting
> to return to nature. Urk. And this is supposed to last for 30 yrs.
> without maintenance...and frankly, it usually works very well,
> but...the whole business makes me very unhappy.
>
> Cordially yours:
> Gerard P.
>
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