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John Arnold
05-13-2014, 10:15 AM
Is this an acceptable splice?

30504

Don Hester
05-13-2014, 11:05 AM
John, Splices are okay as long as the connector is listed for that application. That bolt makes it look a little suspicious to me that is not a listed splice.

230.46 Spliced Conductors. Service entrance conductors shall be permitted to be spliced or tapped in accordance with 110.4, 300.5(E), and 300.15.

Richard Clemons
05-19-2014, 05:26 AM
That's not the neutral. That's the ground (messenger wire). The neutral can't be bare. If it is the neutral and the panel is on, I'm surprised you didn't get shocked removing the cover.

Don Hester
05-19-2014, 07:05 AM
Richard, That would be the neutral in an SEU cable assembly. Which can be used up to the main disconnect. At the main disconnect the ground and neutral are bonded. If that was a sub panel then it would be incorrect. Also I think that is referred to as a concentric neutral.

Any sparkys want to jump in and make sure I am correct.

Don Hester
05-19-2014, 07:08 AM
Here is a description from southwire-

CONSTRUCTION
Southwire Type SE cable is constructed with AlumaFlex AA-8000 series aluminum alloy, compact stranded conductors. The conductors are covered with a sunlight resistant Type XHHW-2 or Type THHN/THWN-2 insulation. A reinforcement tape is wrapped around the conductors for added strength and conformity. A gray sunlight resistant polyvinyl chloride (PVC) outer
jacket covers the entire assembly.

Style SEU cable has two phase conductors surrounded by a concentric neutral while the SER style has two, three or four phase conductors and a bare neutral.

http://www.southwire.com/ProductCatalog/XTEInterfaceServlet?contentKey=prodcatsheet273

Richard Clemons
05-19-2014, 08:57 AM
Don you are correct it is the neutral wire of the cable. I was thinking about a sub-panel.

bob smit
05-22-2014, 05:20 PM
Is this an acceptable splice?

30504

A few code cycles ago, permission was given to allow splicing of service conductors. There are some rules that have to be followed however. That bare 'grounded conductor 'may be a neutral' :wink:

Eric Barker
05-25-2014, 02:33 PM
In my opinion a spliced neutral should be treated the same as a spliced grounding conductor - the spice should be irreversible.

Jim Robinson
05-26-2014, 09:03 AM
Aren't almost every overhead service wires spliced outside at the weather head anyhow?

Jerry Peck
05-26-2014, 01:28 PM
Yes all are spliced . The question is about splicing in the box.

With the added question of being irreversible.

The overhead service drop splices by the utility companies are irreversible.

bob smit
05-26-2014, 06:59 PM
With the added question of being irreversible.

The overhead service drop splices by the utility companies are irreversible.

Yes, butt (pun intended) service cable to service drop splices are not required to be irreversable.
At least in MI.
Also, grounding conductors are not required to be permanent as stated a few posts above. I hope the poster meant to state 'grounding electrode conductors' are to be permanent and irreversable.:)