On Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:12:29 -0400, "John Grabowski"
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".


*Is there any reason why you cannot replace the conduit with service
entrance cable?

As fas as I know, the SE cable is only made for systems up to 60amps.
Unless they changed that in recent years. My panel is a 100A in this
barn, which is all it needs. Either way, SE cable would cost much
more than a new pipe. As long as my wires are ok, and I bet they are.
But that is a good suggestion.