Re: Use of Extension Cord

On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 06:32:59 -0000, Michael A. Terrell <mike.terrell@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Peter Hucker wrote:

If I needed to disconnect everything, I'd use the main switch on the fusebox. I don't suppose it really matters if the fuse is before ofr after the meter, as if the house overloads the total limit, the fuse will blow and protect the meter either way. The only differences being if the meter shorted out it wouldn't cause a problem, and if they need to change or repair the meter, they can simply pull the fuse. 


   Well, the main breaker box is in a bedroom. If the house was on fire
I'd rather go to the service disconnect in the driveway that into a
burning building.


Same here - I think the electricity board can disconnect a house on the pole or substation.  But it needs the padlock key.  Do you ever get kids turning it off for fun?

My old neighbours house was old and had wiring added to it as an afterthought (the house was presumably built before electricity!) The wire came in overhead(!) into the eaves of his roof. Anyway the wire's attachment to the roof came detached, and with the wire swinging in the wind, something came loose inside his roof. In the middle of the night I heard the transformer on the pole over the road sparking like mad. Shortly afterwards there was smoke and the sound of breaking glass, followed quickly by the neighbours running out of the house. Apparently a fire had started in his roof, smashed the glass in the attic window, which woke them. So he called the fire brigade who arrived promptly, and did absolutely nothing. That's right nothing. They didn't have the key to turn off the power on the transformer pole (tsalk about incompetant). They had to wait an hour (!) for the electricity board to come out and disconnect it before they could put the fire out. By which point, needless to say, there was not much left of his house! If that had been my house I would have been up there cutting that stupid wire with a pair of shears, but I think he saw it as a good excuse to claim on the insurance. His house looked a hell of a lot better after he got a big payout! I told him to sue the fire brigade, he told me he didn't care as long as the insurance paid out. They could sue if they liked. 


    A lot of homes still use overhead service drops in the U.S., but it
is up to the home owner to report any damage so that it can be repaired.


Same here.  The thing had been hanging loose for some time.  I'd pointed it out to him (I used to do his gardening), but he didn't seem too bothered.  Oops!

Also, the meter readers can report anything that doesn't look right to
them.  As far as what you described, its not likely to happen here
because the primary of the pole pigs are individually fused in most
areas so that if the drop shorts the fuse blows.  Another advantage to
serving only a couple homes per transformer.


Apparently there is no fuse on that transformer.  The electric board said it wuould be an unnecessary expense (rolls eyes).

I can't say I'd like just anyone to have the ability to switch off the power to my house. 


   Its required by local code. Its also against the law to tamper with
the service disconnect by anyone other than the home owner, the utility
company, or emergency services.  If a house is on fire the Propane and
electricity are shut down but the first emergency crew to arrive rather
than having to wait for the electric company to get there. Once in a
while they can't get to the disconnect quickly because someone has
padlocked and it takes time to cut the lock or the fire has spread and
is blocking access. Mine is 50 feet from the main house, and 20 feet
from the metal four car garage building.


Makes sense.  Although I'd be concerned for kids messing around with my power.  Or even electocuting themselves?

Your hot water is heated in another building? 


   No, the heater is in the corner of the one bedroom cottage in the
bathroom but the breaker box for it is in an attached potting shed.
That heater has a manual switch to provide hot water only when its
needed.  The three bedroom house has another water heater as well, but
it is on a timer and is only on for an hour each day.

Christ almighty. You could power NASA with that lot!


There are six buildings on the property, 

Oh that explains it.  I thought this was your house, shed, and garage.

and each has its own breaker
box.  You haven't seen NASA.  They could power a whole town with what
they use during a launch at the cape.


I can beleive it.

BTW, I built custom telemetry
equipment for NASA when I worked at Microdyne.


I must be psychic :-)

That's weird. Why are the government setting anything? 


   To keep them from charging whatever they think they can get away
with.


But they add their own bit?  Or is that limited in some way?

Our lot seem to charge whatever they like, but I found a site that automatically works out how much every one of the 50 suppliers would charge, based on your current usage.  It's a very odd system, as I can change "provider", but all I'm really doing is changing the meter reader and billing staff.  The power comes from the same place.

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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Use of Extension Cord
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  • Re: Use of Extension Cord
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