On Apr 7, 2:09*pm, RicodJour wrote:
On Apr 6, 7:25*pm, Evan wrote:



On Apr 6, 6:14*pm, "RBM" wrote:
"John Grabowski" wrote in message

I'm upgrading my house (in Los Angeles) to 200A service and I am
trying to find out some info on code requirements for the conduit run
from the weatherhead to the meter main.

The city requires me to put the new meter on the back of the house.
The easiest way to hook up the service drop is a straight 2" GS
conduit going up the outside wall but, as this is a 2 story house, I
think this will look really ugly (even if I paint it). *I would prefer
not opening up a wall to run the conduit so I thought that, maybe, we
could run the conduit down the side of the house (which is out of
sight), use a right angle 2" GS conduit bend to bring it horizontal
and then use an LB to go around the corner to the back of the house
and run GS into the side of the meter main. *The distance from the
meter to the corner of the house is about 3' and the distance from the
corner to where the vertical conduit would be is about 2-3'. *The
horizontal run of conduit would be something like 3-4' off the ground.

I know that I need approval from both the city's DWP and the building
inspector (in L.A. these are separate agencies) and I'm waiting for a
return call from the DWP.

I tried to get hold of a building inspector to ask if this was OK and,
after some effort, did manage to speak to one very briefly. *He told
me that the horizontal run needs to be incased in concrete, then said
he had others to help and hung up on me. *I don't understand this
requirement. *I have looked at the city's DWP Electric Service
Requirements and it only mentions concrete encasement in underground
runs. *I'm trying to understand this requirement but have not been
able to find anything online. *Maybe the inspector thought I would be
running the horizontal run underground? *Can anyone give me some
insight into this? *A website or code section cite would be great.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

**He is the one who must ultimately interpret the local code. I would be
concerned about the distance the service head is from the utility
companies wires. There is probably a maximum distance the head can be
from the point of attachment. Call the guy back and get clarification. It
does sound like he misunderstood your intent

*I agree with RBM. *It doesn't sound as though concrete encasement is
called for, but Los Angeles has their own electrical code. *I think the
best thing would be for you to take a photo of your house with the
electrical service path drawn onto the photo and bring it down to show an
electrical inspector. You could also consult with an electrical
contractor.

I know one power company here in NJ frowns upon having an LB condulet
before the meter. *They are afraid that someone could open the LB and tap
into the power before it gets metered.

** The picture of 3- 2/0 bugs in a 2" condulet ain't a pretty one (lol)

It sounds like a cheap homeowner who doesn't want to pay what it
costs to do an underground feed...

Its funny how people think that conduits and pipes for utility services
are like tinker toys and "oh just move that out of where it can be seen,
you can do that with those 90° elbow fitting things, can't you" when
they have no clue of pull-points and how much more difficult it becomes
to do such things...

It's also funny when a person on the internet attempts to foist their
aesthetic opinion on a homeowner, site and sight unseen. *And it's
funny when a person on the internet reads all sorts of **** into a
post and then pronounces all kinds of "facts" about the situation.

I agree with your assessment that someone needs to get over
themselves, just not with your conclusion as to who that party is.

R


He umm has the option of NOT upgrading his service if it is
too expensive to do it correctly OR he can't get over the
required visual appearance changes to his house...

But "I don't like how the conduit looks" has to be the top
bullcrap reason of all time to decide not to go through
with some sort of improvement to the house which
would allow for a better electrical service...

~~ Evan