Another Question for electricians...

[ultrarunner]

Understood, but everything can't be about what easiest for police and fire. Some people might not like the idea that just anyone can walk up to the outside of their home and turn off their electricity.

This kind of government overreach (IMO) gets written into codes and unfortunately, people aren't aware of it until it negatively affects them. Then, it can be a problem to get it back out of the code, particularly if the public safety people are lobbying for it.

This is an ongoing problem I have encountered with tenants and criminals in the city are known to flip outside breakers to get someone out of the house.

With tenants it’s been a disgruntled boy or girlfriend the most often.

Locking is not much of a deterrent as bending a few times often enough to break the tab.

 

[Runner]

Locking is not much of a deterrent as bending a few times often enough to break the tab.

Also, bolt cutters and battery grinders.

 

[ultrarunner]

My standard old 950 to 1200 square feet home upgrade consists of a weather head and combo exterior meter base and circuit breakers… and then the old 30 amp panel becomes a sub-panel.

Plus the ground rod and add bonding and GFCI where required.

Often the request is electric dryer driven and sometimes range.

The last few I was also required to install Edison Safety fuse inserts to limit replacement fuses to appropriate 15 and 20 amp.

800 amp residential is bigger than anything I have ever seen… the conductors must arrive by armored car.

 

[JRH02]

In addition to dressing up the inside of the panel, grounding comes to mind as I look through this thread. Especially when it comes to the water well pump. A lot of crazy things / symptoms that are hard to troubleshoot end up being related to grounding.

No, I'm not an electrician but I have done a LOT of 120 / 240 wiring and DC as well. Some things stick out to me even though I can't explain why it bothers me.

 

[Oaktree]

Understood, but everything can't be about what easiest for police and fire. Some people might not like the idea that just anyone can walk up to the outside of their home and turn off their electricity.

This kind of government overreach (IMO) gets written into codes and unfortunately, people aren't aware of it until it negatively affects them. Then, it can be a problem to get it back out of the code, particularly if the public safety people are lobbying for it.

That was one of my concerns, another is just the thought of having to go outside in inclement weather to reset a breaker. Not sure I'd want to do that in the pouring rain.

As far as a quick way for first responders to kill power, it's not very hard to pull a meter...

 

[grsthegreat]

Understood, but everything can't be about what easiest for police and fire. Some people might not like the idea that just anyone can walk up to the outside of their home and turn off their electricity.

This kind of government overreach (IMO) gets written into codes and unfortunately, people aren't aware of it until it negatively affects them. Then, it can be a problem to get it back out of the code, particularly if the public safety people are lobbying for it.

Tell that to a firefighter that needs to kill the power to a burning structure before pouring water on it. A main breaker deep within structure doesnt help. Here in idaho the fire dept simply cuts and pulls meter off if necessary.

Having a required exterior disconnect isnt deep state conspiracy.

 

[grsthegreat]

That was one of my concerns, another is just the thought of having to go outside in inclement weather to reset a breaker. Not sure I'd want to do that in the pouring rain.

As far as a quick way for first responders to kill power, it's not very hard to pull a meter...

Sometimes it is. Power companies are starting to use very heavy duty locking rings that require a special key to open. Im not sure if fire depts have access to these keys. Not sure every power company uses same key either. These tabs are so thick, a sawzall would have issue with them. There having to do this due to idiots that pull meters and hook up their welders and such to do projects without spinning the meter.

 

[ultrarunner]

That was one of my concerns, another is just the thought of having to go outside in inclement weather to reset a breaker. Not sure I'd want to do that in the pouring rain.

As far as a quick way for first responders to kill power, it's not very hard to pull a meter...

Are Meters Locked down with steel ring and keyed lock typical where you are.

The days of just a lead seal or snap plastic seal have been superseded with armor.

I’ve seen multifamily where the fire department just cuts the two hots from the aerial because it faster than dealing with a dozen meters.

 

[Runner]

That was one of my concerns, another is just the thought of having to go outside in inclement weather to reset a breaker. Not sure I'd want to do that in the pouring rain.

As far as a quick way for first responders to kill power, it's not very hard to pull a meter...

Somehow, they've managed to fight fires all these years without a switch to turn off the power from the outside. Now, all of a sudden, it's essential.

 

[ponytug]

Somehow, they've managed to fight fires all these years without a switch to turn off the power from the outside. Now, all of a sudden, it's essential.

Yes, by doing what @grsthegreat pointed out, cutting the wires to the meter. It takes time, and it isn't exactly safe.

As he wrote, it is really about helping save lives. Time matters.

All the best,

Peter