A breaker disguised as a meter
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- Опубліковано 11 кві 2022
- Hey Everyone!
I started off planning on simply showing the breaker meter, thinking it was going to be a 2 minute long video. Then well, 20 minutes later....🤣😁.
Not sure if many people use a device like this, but it sure is handy!
Be safe Everyone. Cheers! 🥂
** Only trained and certified individuals are allowed within the boundaries of a substation. (except for extenuating circumstances of course, ie: snow clearing). These video's are NOT intended for training or D.I.Y. Only properly trained and authorized personal are allowed to work on this equipment. Always adhere to work methods and procedures particular to the company you are working for. **
Don't forget to drop a 👊 along with where you're watching
➡ / bobsdecline
Music courtesy of:
"All good in the wood" by Audionautix
UA-cam audio
#Bobsdecline, #Beingalineman, #Lineman
I started off planning on simply showing the breaker meter, thinking it was going to be a 2 minute long video. Then well, 20 minutes later....🤣😁.
Also keep in mind everyone...
➡➡Procedures are different depending on where and who you work for. These tasks must also only be preformed by those whom are both certified as well as authorized to do so.
Be safe out there everyone and have a great week! 💪👊🍻
I would insist that the breaker box main (100-200amp) is open BEFORE I put in the meter or the test meter/breaker.. If you don't, you are assuming that the owner has not left a screwup somewhere in the house that will be bad for you and the installation.
If you want to be really helpful, strip the breaker box load breakers and test with the box main closed. You could close each of the less than 30 amp load breakers one at a time to ensure that the installation is not screwed up somehow, but that is really the owner/electrical contractor's responsibility with code enforcement inspection and acceptance.
Is that temporary meter breaker fixture something that your shop knocked together out of an old meter? It looks like something the field invented because it is so obviously useful, so I had to ask. Well made, too, I must add.
someone know in Canada which kind of formation someone with an industrial electrician formation with the 5000 hours of expr gathered, would need to work on either residential or lines ? its a 1800 hours in electromecanic not the electrician one but we get to gather hours with more experienced personel (who need to be done with the 5000 hours and a test)
Gloves, gloves, gloves don't skimp my friend. I always overrate any safety dielectric.
so when are they going to flip the 4+1 G kill switch?
Hey man idk if you'll ever see this but I'm studying Lineworking in Colorado and every week part of our homework is to watch a handful of your videos and take a test about them. You've taught me a ton and I just wanted to say thank you! I graduate next month, wish me luck!
Hey Larry! That's awesome, glad I saw this and thank you so much for sharing 👊. I wish you the best, but luck you won't need ... Just hard work and determination. Always follow your safety rules and remember 👉 No job is ever urgent enough to justify no taking the necessary steps and time to ensure safety. Cheers Larry! 🍻🤝
@@Bobsdecline Sounds like a stable, reliable job. I could never do it, though. I'll admit that I'm scared of heights.
Ah man, I'd want some compensation if a for-profit school was using my content as teaching materials.
@@T1nTodd eh at the end of the day just teaching people is enough, at least for me personally i love having people learn new things.
@@Anon54387 I have mild acrophobia and was able to climb poles for comms for a couple years, but never had to climb over 25 feet, but anything over 15 feet was tough. My first on the job climb was 20 feet, halfway up my leg was shaking and I stopped, and my foreman asked why, I said well, my legs shaking, and I'll never forget what he said to me "that's cuz your're scared, dumbass" and I was like, oh yeah, and finished climbing, drilled out the pole and finished the job. Never quite got used to it but we did have trucks for most of the job which was never hard for me to deal with, bucket work was like a cakewalk by comparison. Working on power lines? not for me, too high up sometimes, plus the danger factor, I'd be putting other people at risk and just never worried about it.
It's nice to know that not all the linemen that work on top, look down on other's !
👍😉
Really interesting !
Thanks !
Be Safe !
As an electrician, I was wondering why most jurisdictions now require ringless type meter boxes, you are the first person I have seen point out how the cover could cause a dangerous situation when putting it on if it slips.
It’s not the slipping so much, it’s more if one of the lugs goes bad and pulls out with the meter. Then you’re stuck unless you got a partner that can pull the fuse.
I’ve seen ring type short out when POCO was changing meter or disconnecting. The ring can also make contact. Also I’m surprised no one called them on that 70 year old socket. Those porcelain base can break and meter jaws pull out w the meter, and the cover clearance is rather tight. As for ringless requirements I work in Wash DC as residential electrician and it’s all about the locks. Ringless is good for single family but ring type is required for multi family so they can use ring locks on stacks.
@@davidhargrove1648j
Your quick connectors just blew my mind. I'm going to introduce this to my team.
I've been binge watching as well. 28 year electrician, and always had big respect for your end of the job.
By the way, here in National Grid NY territory, they have a rigid policy: Main breaker not off, no meter gets installed.. period. I think their logic is also that many meters got installed while a homeowner's stove was left on.. one too many fires happened. They want inf ohms (on a basic Fluke like yours) from L1-L2, L1-N, L2-N.
Thanks!... Keep up the great teaching!
I do hvac and have a serious respect for electricity. You guys have a lot of balls.
Hairless too! Electricity > Nair
I like your avatar--Donald Sutherland in _Kelly's Heroes?_
@@sanityassassin8161 yes sir. you nailed it.
You are an a true teacher. Just because someone knows what their field/profession does not mean they can teach it to someone. Great job!👏 👍
Always fascinating to watch these vids as someone who is not in your trade.
One thing I have never liked doing is working from a bucket lift. I "had to" a lot of times in the USAF, but I never liked the experience. Much respect to those who can do it every day.
when I was a kid my father thought there was an issue with the meter reading and the utility came out with a special socket adapter - you remove the meter, put this adapter on and then the meter pops into it. It put a fixed load on the meter that then using a stop watch you would time how long it took the black mark on the wheel (this was years ago) to come around and you can verify that the meter was accurate.
I work in the M department and we still do this the black mark on the Wheel is equivalent to a certain amount of Watts for every rotation that makes. Generally on a single phase residential 200-amp meter at 7.2 but it can be many different numbers
@@96ej You mean watt hours?
@@namibjDerEchte yes
@@96ejWatts is a unit of power, not of energy. Watt causes speed here, energy (e.g. joules) causes revolutions.
@@96ej No, just no. You seem to need a refresher course in electricity and physics. "watts consumed per revolution" is a nonsense statement on multiple levels.
It's either joules per revolution or [kilo]watt-hours per revolution. The conversion is 3600 joules per watt-hour, or 3.6MJ per KWh.
(I suppose some smartass could make it foot-pounds per rev. but that would not be the industry norm.)
I've been binge watching your videos and really enjoying them. You obviously know what you're doing and are a great teacher. My husband is an electrician and I am far from being able to have an intelligent conversation with him, but at least I'll have a clue when he's talking at me. I'm looking forward to learning more from you. Thank you!
Thank you very much for taking the time to share Heather! 🙏🤝
Lol lol
@@Bobsdecline aaaa
@Jesus is coming. Read the Gospel. why would you post this here?
You can easily learn anything he has learned - if you're interested, then grab some books from the library!
You did an excellent job explaining this. I'm a retired Distribution Operations Technician. I've literally done it all in the Power Bidness.. 36 years I fought this battle. Retired 13 years ago. It was a good living, but I don't miss answering the phone everytime the weather was bad. But I still can't sleep when the weather is bad outside...
Guess there are some jobs you just don't get over. I am proud to see the 11 towns and Cities grow that I helped build over my years on the job.
Stay safe my Brother....
I know where your coming from. Retired in 2014 after 31 yrs. I still wake up when I hear thunder off in the distance, 😂. I loved my job. Grunt to climbing to bucket.
Watching this just makes me shake my head... You did everything perfectly!
I live part time in Mexico and they don't do any of these safety precautions! I literally watched a guy take the meter out and work with the live wires! With a pair of lineman pliers only!
Needless to say, I backed up far away! I can only imagine what would happen if he dead shorted those wires!
Love your video! Thanks for posting!
It is safe... just make sure you are not grounded!
@@bobbysmith5642 Dead short on the line side is called “available fault current” and “arc blast” not safe dude
Probably good to be standing in water . Cool off fast after the big fry
@@michaelhill1846 Yeah, barefoot preferably, you want to make sure your shoes don't get wet.
What would've happened if he got a shock would be a lot of Ayayayayyyy cabrons, some dancing and a few pendejos in between. I'm not even mexican and thats how i react to 240v🤣
I typically watch DIY car repair videos but this popped up and I watched it. This is such a specialized trade and that is what makes these videos valuable. Very cool channel!
Just seen this video ..first time viewer and will watch more
Thanks guys! 🍻🤝👊
“Thorough” is your Middle Name and that’s a Huge Compliment. 👍🙏
Got out of work early just in time for this one. 9 hours isn’t a bad day.
Not a bad day at all Mike! Long weekend coming up!
@@Bobsdecline I don’t think we get paid holiday for Easter where I work. Pretty sure we work as normal. I’ll have to ask tomorrow morning and see, thanks for mentioning that! Hope all is well Aaron.
I'm not not an electrical guy, but I always learn something about how people in the trades do things. Thanks Lineman Blogger!
I'm a lineman for an ISP and it's always a treat to watch these. Us telecomm guys have to have someone to look up to. Lol
_Literally!_
OK,... _someone_ had to say _it._
really irks me when comm guys call themselves lineman
@@hustlinharmon It's the best way to describe the job, I do all of the same shit at a different voltage.
I usually install the temporary electrical services for job sites at my company as we're going to work on. I haven't ever seen a breaker on a meter like that. I think that's a great idea! It would be nice if they made different breaker ratings for the service use.
I've seen similar meters, but they've only had 15a breakers on them for special cases where somebody was on "limited or restricted" consumption because of past due bill, but they'd allow them enough to keep the furnace and refrig running
@@davep6977 Encountered that all to often...
Speaking of catching things with the lawn mower, I was mowing my yard back near the utility pole and ran over one of those fused cutout doors (as Aaron calls them). It was quite a surprise. I didn't see it hiding in the grass. A crew was changing a blown one days earlier and must have dropped one in the grass.
They leave their trash - steel part laying around all the time. No brainer lawsuits laying around everywhere.
Just came across your videos. Found one by accident and now watch often. As an inside electrician, I’ve done quite a bit of 13.2 work and worked with our line crew. Awesome videos.
Thanks for being so detailed with everything, in doing so, you answer a lot of questions people may have. great job!
I work on local grid in Sweden, not much of the cabling and other materials is the same, but the way we view safety when working seems to be. We use the same typ of clamps on our pole connections on 230/400V, they work great and is very reliable.
As an electrician myself, I've found these practices very interesting although in Europe we have a different setup! 😊
When I sometimes watch these electrical utility related videos I am amazed at the level of the safety procedures employed. Twenty plus years ago I worked as contract "security rider" with the electrical utility in Rochester, New York. The crews that I accompanied worked strictly on the load side. I _never_ saw anyone use insulated gloves, I don't think it was even an option. Ordinary leather was used, and used to directly wrangle bare hots, even _phase-to-phase,_ into place. The connectors used were bare metal as well. They would insert the load into one side and the _live_ feeder into the other. Then they'd use two _uninsulated_ wrenches to tighten up the hardware. Then, holding the _hot_ connector in hand, they'd wrap a few nominal layers of electrical tape around them. Again, this was all done _live_--I _know,_ I occasionally saw _sparks fly_ when there was a load, or a tool _slipped._ I rode with many different guys, they all used the same procedures. I guess things _may_ have changed in twenty years?
There’s always gonna be cowboys out there
At least no one got injured from the sound of it.
I have one nearly the same but uses fuses instead of a breaker. Used it for the same purpose, checking temp poles. Nice info video.
Excellent discussion, thank you very much.
Thank you for taking time to teach while you work. You are an amazingly knowledgeable lineman. And your willingness to engage with the public on how its done. In short, (pun intended) your awesome!
Appreciate the comments very much Wayne 🤝
As a former semi truck/trailer mechanic, I'm only used to working with 12V systems. I was always curious about the differences (and they are vast) between automotive and household electrical setup and maintenance. These videos are a great learning tool and definitely satisfy my curiosity. Keep them coming!
Ahh yes temp services. I used to work for a contractor that did them for one builder in particular but it was one drop from the utility, one meter, then a panel but we would go back up the pole and pick up strings of temp poles with little 4 circuit panels on em. Nothing but #2 Triplex, " HT-6" ILSCO side by side crimps and C5 ILSCO covers for connections.....
I've got one of those meter breakers it was left on top of a bail if hay on my property after getting service connected 😂 love free tools and equipment 😂
Always amazed by how different supplies are there compared with ours.
Hi Aron great video as usuall i like the meter with the breaker built in .I hadent seen this device before so i will speak to our local linemen and tell them about the device Thank for your video !
I love hearing Canadian professionals talk about their job. They’re so thorough, deliberate and intelligent. ❤
8:00 my heart kept jumping every time he did that . i do hvac and i know what would happen if he wasnt wearing those gloves
Much respect for what you do and how well you go about doing it. It takes a person who knows what they're doing and the right way to do it. You're a amazing electrician and deserves the respect due.
👊👊 Thanks King David!
Love your videos bud, they always amaze me, I really appreciate all the hard work and effort you go through to provide us. Much love from the UK bud.
Thanks Kyle!
@@Bobsdecline Friend, I respect you if for no other reason than being one of those willing to chance life even in a Bucket Truck. I had a friend electrocuted even in a bucket. He was not paying attention of his clearance and fried. You can't enjoy that woman in her yard posing Naked for you or doing exotic exercises to catch your eye. I have seen it all. Believe me.
I’ve seen electrical inspectors here in Halifax use Vaseline on the lugs but mostly now it’s a specific substance (meter grease) like you had in this vid . Awesome vid
Cheap bastards. I’m sure that’s illegal. Anti Oxidant Is what you need.
Vaseline has been used right along for automotive battery terminals & clamps to reduce corrosion & acid damage. In more recent years, however, a silicon grease has been manufactured for the same purpose.
I found your channel by accident and I am so glad I did. I live in ME and have never worked in your field. But my dad was a lineman and was sent to work in NH during the 1947 fires. Very interesting and I plan on watching all your vids Thank you so much.
I'm not even a lineman. No serious interest unless my current career tanks. But I find it super interesting and I love this content!
Although I'm a surveyor (now retired) by profession and not an electrician, I still like to keep up on it as I was considering becoming an electrician over 40 years ago. That meter socket breaker is a new one to me, for sure. Makes me want to go out and get one just for kicks!
From an industrial spark in the UK, before energizing to ensure there’s no shorts I’d insulation test the circuit - aka Megger test it. The tester I have put’s 500v DC into the circuit (at a maximum of around 0.002A) and gives a reading in mega ohms. This would also show a breakdown in the insulation which isn’t as visible with an ohm meter. Another difference is where I work we have to use test leads with small tips to minimise shorting out. Keep up the great videos 👍
Another thing we do is earth fault loop impedance test, this gives us the reading in ohms of the line (hot) and earth (ground) back to and including our supply transformer so we know we have a good path, within spec and we can determine the fuse/breaker etc will disconnect within our max times.
He's part of the line crew, in my jurisdiction, the inspector and electrician both have to megger the service.
i went to overhead lineman school for 3 yrs and theres things you mention alot that i didnt know. thanks again we love and appreciate your hard work and proper safety techniques. May God Bless and safe working out there
Great video as usual. In post-production, a high-pass filter on the audio set to about 100Hz will reduce the wind noise considerably, and that will let you boost the sound of your voice to a more normal level.
Interesting, that would help a lot with go pro footage too! I'll check it out
Great video! Im not a line man or electrician, just interested in learning about different stuff. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Jeff! 👊👊
Square D is famous for its ability to trip and clear a fault.
surprised thy didn't have a cover over the breaker
Bobsincline be safe out their and cheers to your publicity and educating others. 🍷
Please do not apologize. You do real work out in the real world not a studio. Love the videos, love learning.
Years ago when I was younger working as an electrician for about 6 months one of my coworkers wanted help after work on a side job doing a service change. I remember swapping over live lines to the new mast without so much as gloves 😮
I absolutely love those B-Taps make life so much easier
Saw a couple of those come across Government Liquidation site a while back and wondered what they where for, thanks for sharing.
Grandpa was a substation Forman and dad was high voltage electrician.
Nice to see this work from your point of view, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Aaron! Another great story. Stay safe! 👊👊
It's absolutely incredible how much there is to know about electrical.
Very educational. You enjoy your work and it shows. Very refreshing to see pride in your work. You are an exception young man and have a bright future. Thanks for the video.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and write such kind words! Means a lot! 🙏👊 Cheers! 🍻
Very interesting video. Thank you for showing us how it's done.
Nice connectors! Makes the job go smoothly
Great video, thank you.
Thank You for sharing so awesome !
think i may build a disguise meter.. good tip, money saver for sure, mr sparky told me so
I have something like that (Brooks S-120) but I don't like using it. For a meter turn on, replacement, install, etc. I do it like this on 3-wire services:
#1 Start with main breaker open, test voltage from either line side jaw to the meter can. Should get 120V, if it's 0V either the equipment isn't grounded properly or there's a short. If it's 240V there's a short from the other side.
#2 Test from neutral to all jaws. Starting top left and working clockwise, you should get 120V, 120V, 0V, 0V. If you get 120V, 0V, 0V, 0V - check to see if this is a 2-wire service, which is the correct wiring (top right and bottom right jaws are neutral). If there are indeed 3 wires coming in, the right side is out. Likewise, 0V, 120V, 0V, 0V the left side is out. 120V on the load side here will usually wind up being somebody stealing power, either with jumpers hidden in the can or from another apartment in a multi-family building, typically connected at the breakers.
#3 Test across line side jaws - should get ~240V. If the previous test passed and you get 0V, the service is bridged coming in (same leg energizing both jaws).
#4 Test from either line side jaw to both load side jaws. Should get less than ~50V. Any higher than that, there's a short between the load jaws and main breaker OR there's a secondary breaker fed out of that meter can that needs to be opened. If that's the case there will usually be another set of conductors tied into the load jaws - probably not kosher in many areas, but the city does inspections here so as long as it tests clear it's fine with me! If that's not it, you can also test to make sure there's no continuity between the line and load side of the main breaker in the open position. There are some very old circuit breakers that are known to get stuck closed.
#5 Test continuity between load side jaws. No continuity = no short between load side conductors.
#6 Close the main breaker, test neutral to load side jaws for backfeed. You want to see 0V.
#7 Open the main breaker again, pop the meter in, close the breaker. Voila!
#4 and #6 are really the crucial tests as far as not blowing anything up goes. This is all exactly the same for a 3-wire network service too, just substitute 208V for 240V above and you're testing from the neutral jaw rather than neutral wire.
The only time I'll use the S-120 is for a reconnect if I don't have access to the main breaker, which is rare because most of our stuff is indoors. With the new AMI meters, I can also just use the internal disconnect switch if the breaker isn't accessible when replacing a meter.
Very cool video, you just popped up in my recommended for the first time ever. Gonna go watch all the others now!
That's a neat splice!
Thank You so much for great videos that are so informative. You are truly professional and great at explaining what your doing.
It's fascinating to see this, in Germany it's basically all underground (in cities), France has some more of those overhead lines.
In large cities in the US lines are underground, in a lot of the smaller cities its polled. America is massive, and underground shuttling would cost a lot, not to mention when you have a short or break of can be difficult to find the issue. Imagine looking over 4000 miles of electrical line because someone dug too deep in a state somewhere.
Very informative and well presented.
Great video! 👍 Thank you.
I was a Meterman for a power company. I'm now retired. Good video. Pretty much how we did everything. However, I hated the grease on the blades! We cleaned & reset our meters and reused them. The grease sucked, especially after sitting on the blades for 20 years. 🙄
you have my dream job! I have worked many trades shipfitting, pipefitting, general home construction and electrician work at shipyards and for some contracted industrial projects and out of all of them i truly i enjoyed electrical work, running conduit, pulling cable, terminating connections and making everything look nice. sadly i didnt finish high school so im stuck with jobs that dont require certs. but when i do get my act together i wanna try something like this!
When I was on the fire dept. We had a structure fire it was a double wide and they had two butter knives glowing red connected to the meter box. I have no idea why who put those knives in wasn’t still there dead by the box but they weren’t. Of all the power coming in shorted out and started a fire. Just seeing this brought that memory back. Thought I’d share
I've seen that as well...
I love your videos you make me so happy. Keep up the good work 👏 ❤❤
Super educational. Thank you
this was actually very cool to watch!
Thank you!
Great job there Young Man 😎 be safe out there also
I like the meter grease idea. Could be used on other lugs too, like those black insulated low voltage screw blocks in your boat. Seen them turn greenish and the screws corrode slightly. I think it would help those small tinned lugs.
For plenty of random electrical connections no need to get fancy specialty grease. Just get a tube of dielectric grease and you can use it most places. It's the same stuff AutoZone sells as headlight bulb and battery terminal grease. I don't know what extra is in meter lug grease but I bet it's 10x the cost for something that's irrelevant for most electrical connections. Stick to plain dielectric grease or Noalox where necessary.
Excellent video. Really enjoyed this one. Thank you.
Thank you Ken!
Service heads in the UK have an integrated HRC fuse, typically 60A or 100A. Circuit goes something like secondary -> fuse or CB (200/400/600/?A) -> LV distribution -> fuse (60/100A) -> meter -> isolator (optional) -> breaker box. The introduction of isolators has been a nice development as they allow electricians to isolate and LOTO the supply without having to get the distribution network operator (DNO) out to pull the fuse from the service head. Pulling the DNO fuse is risky because the prospective fault current is going to be >660A (max Ze in a PME system being 0.35R), and a 160kW arc is quite a thing.
Nice to have bucket access. Its all built up where I work & we usually have to hike everything. That being said, voltage & continuity checks, verify open maln & it is the customer/electrician responsibility to close the main. Top side is ours, bottom & beyond belongs to the cusyomer.
Its good content! Thank you!
I'm a new subscriber , I worked in a UL508A panel shop 20+ years. We tested panels up to 480V , lots of VFD setting up with PLC's in lumber industry plus some TG equipment for mills with their own power. Great video showing the tests needed with a good meter.
Nice! Tons of valuable knowledge after 20 years! Appreciate the sub and thanks for taking the time to comment 🤝
I remember many years ago at first year line school being taught the 9 steps before installing a meter. Can honestly say I have never had a meter blow up when installing it.
When you picked up 122v top to bottom of your meter socket with the breaker on your digital volt meter it is reading the resistance of the wire & potentially energized equipment in the loop in this situation. Sometimes GFCI breakers will show a voltage reading too. Also if a service has an automatic transfer switch for a generator you can pick up full voltage because the control circuit relays show load. Analog volt meter would still read 0 volts until it detects actual load or fault. They aren't as sensitive to resistance. I backed up my digital with the analog if I had doubts. Good video brother. I do like the plug in breaker though. I've never seen one of those. I also love those connectors. Stay safe my man & keep up the good videos. You even taught an old dog some new tricks. Happy Easter from Louisiana.
That meter breaker is a neat tool. Never seen one of those yet. Do still have a couple of the old wheel meters and a smart meter sitting in garage I plan to dismantle one day to check the workings of them
I love my clampmeter, the hook accessoiry is really handy when having my hands full 👍
Nice video, thanks
Our dmm meters are calibrated and tested everyty two years. There is a recall for fluke 87 mark V DMM's with certain serial numbers due to taking too long to show voltages above 500v. Mine was one of those. I got an older tested model. Please be safe and aware. Nice video.
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Fluke Corp., of Everett, Wash., is voluntarily recalling about 40,000 digital multimeters. About 17,200 were sold in the U.S. Multimeters are used to measure voltage, resistance and current. The recalled units can take longer than normal, up to 18 seconds, to display readings of AC voltages above 500 volts. Users can misinterpret the delayed reading to mean that high voltage is not present. If high voltage is present, users could be exposed to a risk of shock, electrocution, and thermal burns
Using a DMM as a voltage indicator isn't great anyway. Here in the UK the HSE guidance note GS38 says that you should use a proprietary test lamp or 2-pole voltage detector (no, no volt pens either) to prove dead (and use a known live source or voltage proving unit before & after to prove said tester) to avoid multimeter booboos. No accidentally testing HRC fuses or getting stuck by auto ranging there.
Cool content - Hi from New Zealand. Have binge watched many of your videos today!
nothing like reusing old temp pedestals over and over Aaron. It wouldn't pass inspections here in Maryland. Looks like spring has finally entered you area. Stay safe!!!! Thanks for showing the Meter with the breaker in it.
Pretty interesting video. Never saw on of those meters before. Thanks.
Really enjoy your safety 1st and then the work. Basic ohms and voltage checks - do all these every day!
Not a lot of arc-flash safety protocol going on while working on a presumably LIVE or actual-LIVE meter socket. You should wear your arc-flash face shield in addition to the rest of your PPE while working on a LIVE meter socket. I would bet you have one in your truck!
It's call galvanic corrosion 😉
The weak point of the meter base is the aluminum tabs that link the wire lugs to the meter lugs. Due to thermal expansion/contraction the aluminum tabs end up cracking over time (30-40 years) and then end up trying to burn the side off your house. The meter tabs also get weak over time and don't make a tight connection to the meter base hence they end up causing high resistance thus the meter tabs end up being welded to the meter and the excess heat melts the aluminum tabs in the process seeing how they are the thinnest part of the connect.
The lesson here is don't mount the meter base to the side of your house because the electric company isn't legally responsible for it just so you know even though it's their meter that typically causes the problem. You got to love how the demarcation point is totally different for the electric company when compared to the telephone or cable company 🤣
There have been more than a few times where I got a call for a blank meter display only to find out that Tech before gunked up the meter stabs and socket clips with the anti-oxidant and caused such a bad connection that the meter was not getting enough voltage to light up. Once I cleaned off all the anti-oxidant and applied the proper grease, VIOLA! Meter turns on.
Huh, some good hints and idea on that meter mod. Thanks.
The synthetic red contact grease is good stuff!
Great content, keep up the great work.
Love it brother. Am a non union electrician trying to become a union linesman. Watching your videos and trying to absorb as much as I can
STAY AWAY FROM UNIONS! THEY SINGLE HANDEDLY RUINED AMERICA!
They use them to limit power for accounts behind on payment in some places. Enough to run a fridge and furnace but any more and you have to go outside and reset it. More humane than a total disconnect.
The lock outs I've seen are not customer resettable: If you accidentally go over your allotted usage, you have to call the utility, get _harangued_ over the phone for your non-payment, and on top of all that!--are billed for a service call!
Now, that's what I call crass capitalism!
I never has happened to me, but I've certainly known a few to whom it has.
@@sanityassassin8161 it was quite a whole ago when I saw one. It limited the amps to 30 or 40
good stuff...thx
I do cell towers and when I first started I was doing what’s called “small-cell” cell towers, which are essentially telephone poles with equipment on them. I remember an occasion when we had just finished a site up and had one of our guys going in to do testing and all before we were done done and he got in a bad habit of putting our temporary power to OUR equipment like he was supposed to, INSTEAD, he unhooked our mains and hooked temp power into the breaker box. Which normally wouldn’t be an issue. NORMALLY. Not when you don’t reinstall the wires you removed and just left them hanging in the breaker box 🤦🏻 completely fused every door and moving part together on all the equipment when the city came in to put the meter can in and flip the switch, almost lost his job too.💀💀
mistakes happen, HOWEVER, he got the result he wired for. Therefore it wasnt a mistake.
If you can follow that logic.
@@SuperChuckRaney
Perhaps he was just hard _wired_ to eventually make such a mistake.
Thank you... I'll let myself out...
@@sanityassassin8161 people are very hapy and comfortable to learn and do 35% of a job. Once they settle in, it's all downhill.
It's a personality issue really, so I guess he IS wired that way in his brain.