Service Mast

[mathew stouffer]

Is a mast needed in this installation? The house was built in 1940 so I was not sure.

[Richard Stanley]

Probably not. Drip loop should be 10' above ground. Wiring in conduit.

[Brad Rodgers]

Whether or not to have it in conduit is debatable depending on which part of the country you're in. In New England it's common to see SE properly secured to the side of the house without conduit. There should be a weather head at the end of the cable and should be more secure.

Around here, running the SE though the building or under the siding and soffit (as in picture 2) before the meter is a big no-no. It's a conductor which is not protected by a breaker and the power companies get concerned about energy theft.

[Robert Dalga]

Mat,
That's a very poor install in my mind and I probably would recommend a new service be installed (or at least have a licensed electrican further evaluate it). For one, the service entrance appears to come into the front of the home along the front porch? Where's the meter? On the porch? If I saw this on an inspection, I would be looking very carefully at the rest of the electrical system.