On Fri, 30 Sep 2011 06:15:14 -0700 (PDT), bob haller
wrote:

On Sep 30, 2:44*am, wrote:
We just had hurricane force winds and a tree fell over and it ripped
down the overhead wires to my barn. *This is after my electric meter
so I am responsible, the electric company only repairs BEFORE the
meter. *The insulator broke and the top half of the 1 1/2" service
entrance pipe was ripped off the barn and bent way over. *We spent
most of the night cutting up the tree and freed the wire. *Not able to
get parts, I hooked the cable up to the metal bracket that remains of
the insulator using a piece of chain hooked to the end loop piece on
the triplex that normally goes around the insulator. *With a friend,
we tried to bend that steel conduit straight, but it's near impossible
by hand. *We got it a little straighter, but not very good.

Is there any way to straighten that conduit? *I'd rather not have to
replace it. *I should mention that the power did not go out and no
wires were broke or separated. *It just destroyed the insulator and
bent that entrance pipe. *I'd like to just replace the insulator and
bend that pipe straight again. *The insulator is easy to replace, but
getting that pipe back straight seems to be a big problem. *No, I do
not have a pipe bender for 1 1/2". *Just for 1/2" and 3/4".

Thanks

I would replace the conduit and wiring, the wiring may have been
damaged and could cause a short and fire in the future, espically
since serice entrance cables arent fused.

this may be covered by homeowners insurance, and upgrade to 200 amps
if your service isnt already that

The pipe bent, but did not kink. The insulator and top pipe strap
were ripped off the building, the pipe bend both to the right and
outward from the wall at the second (middle) strap. I dont think the
wires were damaged since there was no kinking. Actually this service
entrance *IS* fused. There's a box under the meter on the power pole,
where there are two 200A cartridge fuses (400A Service). From there,
the power goes three ways. 1. the house 2. the barn 3. the garage
(two separate triplex cables to the garage and barn, plus an
underground cable to the house). Each building has it's own main
breaker. This is typical wiring on farms.

As for insurance, the deductible is much more than what it would cost
to just buy new conduit, insulator, etc.... No sense even turning it
in, because that will just give them a reason to raise my rates.

Another question. My present conduit is 1 1/2" rigid steel, not
threaded galvanized pipe. I know that most new construction these
days uses that gray plastic conduit. I could use that, but what would
happen if a tree fell and I had that plastic stuff? Seems that there
would have been more damage since that plastic would have shattered.
I'm hesitant to use that as a replacement if I cant get the steel one
straightened, or just buy new steel pipe.