Thread: Service drop and disconnect (pull tab)

Have not seen this before. Service drop with one cable attached to the meter and the meter attached to a pull tab used in place of the over current protection device. Also not sure why the jumper is there. Any insight into this installation would be helpful.
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Originally Posted by mathew stouffer

Have not seen this before. Service drop with one cable attached to the meter and the meter attached to a pull tab used in place of the over current protection device. Also not sure why the jumper is there. Any insight into this installation would be helpful.
gsreet2.jpggsreet3.jpggstreet.jpg

First, Pictures are so small they lose all detail when enlarged to a size that can be viewed.


It looks like only one of the service drop cables is connected. If so, that makes this a 120v service. Which would enplane the jumper.
The jumper supplies power to both buses of the panel box.

I see seen 30 amp 120v service on several old houses (mill houses).
Not that uncommon.
One of my houses still has 30/120 service to it.
(Before some one thinks I'm a slumlord, this house has never been rented. I use it for storage.)

Its hard to tell from the pics being small (Can you upload larger ones?) but if Im seeing it right:

Looks like a 120 volt service, while in itself not a violation (if it is from the 40s and earlier) the way it is put together is. There is a possible yet huge fire hazard there that I will get in to.

The equipment is not service rated, the AC disconnect used as a main needs to be a a breaker, there seems to be no water bond, there is no neutral to case bond being a service.

The part that is a huge fire hazard is what looks like a 120/240volt circuit which Im guessing feeds a sub panel. Because 2 hots are sharing a neutral without 240 between them the neutral could easily have current above the breaker rating without the breaker tripping.

By all means the service should be written up, and hopefully the interior subpanel was inspected as well. However if the interior wiring and subpanel is ok the fix for this is quick and cheap. All that needs to be set in is a new 100amp meter main combo and service riser.

It looks like the pictures were taken with a mobile phone.

Originally Posted by mathew stouffer

Have not seen this before. Service drop with one cable attached to the meter and the meter attached to a pull tab used in place of the over current protection device. Also not sure why the jumper is there. Any insight into this installation would be helpful.
gsreet2.jpggsreet3.jpggstreet.jpg

I hope you don't put photos like that in a report.

It does look like it could be a 120-volt service, but then I don't know why there would be a 240-volt circuit in the panel.

Originally Posted by Mark Reinmiller

I hope you don't put photos like that in a report.

It does look like it could be a 120-volt service, but then I don't know why there would be a 240-volt circuit in the panel.

That three-wire feeder can not be 240 vac. It is simply a double 120 vac. If the submarine panel is fed by the black to one bus and the red to the other, all breakers are still on the same 120 v source.

I see the wiring to the receptacle now, thanks, Robert. The neutral is hidden by the larger conductors. Someone is completely clueless to arrange a service and panelboard in this manner.

'Ctrl +' to see it better.

unsafe, back-fed rec. set up to supply power via gas or diesel fueled generator with home-made male-male cord cap set-up. No isolation, no transfer switch. supplying 120V power to one leg/bus back-fed upon panel in house.