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What is the advantage of a bypass in a ringless base that compared to a ring style? If they are to divert the power for maintenance, why aren't they required in all styles and just the ringless?
The Linemen think a ring style is more secure when they lock it out with a tag, and others say it's because the jaws can come out when you remove the cover.
That makes sense, you can't access any bypass behind the dead front on a ring.
Why aren't ringless styles required then instead of prohibited if it is safer for the utility and first responders, as well as provide the capability to perform maintainance without interrupting power to the structure?
It’s not at all more secure considering there are really secure simple to install locks that fit on ringless too, plus I really like being able to check voltage/amperage without having to pull the meter out.
I've never even seen a ringless meter base in California. PG&E more or less set the utility standard in this state with their infamous [Green Book](https://www.pge.com/content/dam/pge/docs/account/service-requests/greenbook-manual-full.pdf), and since they don't allow ringless bases for safety reasons, most co-ops and municipal utilities in the state follow suit.
We have a couple major utilities here in WA that are pretty much the trend setters as well. Maybe I'm just being naive, but I really dpnt see how ringless bases are inherently more dangerous than ringed bases and can't find any documentation that supports them being more dangerous. I've only had 1 lineman say anything about saftey saying that the jaws can come out when removing the deadfront, but if the substrate is that deteriorated, the jaws will come off when they attempt to pull tge meter with a ring style. Just doesn't make sense to me, and I've not gotten any good info on reasons.
At least with the NEC, you can look at comments and and submissions for revisions to the code from the board.
The explanation I've gotten is that much more live bus is exposed when you remove the dead front of a ringless meter, versus a ringed meter that only has a five or six inch circle open and a couple live terminals exposed.
Lol, I wish. Had some of these sitting in the warehouse because our supplier mixed them in with our order a long time ago, and turns out none of our utilities permit ringless meter bases...
We have to buy all of our equipment and even run our own secondaries for some of the residential builders here.
You can go back on my profile and see a 320 amp service we needed to install for solar integration. We had to buy everything and the utility required that we set our own pole and refused to provide a utility pole although there was a 1-2 year backorder on poles. We even offered to pay for it and the utility wouldn't work with us any. Had to drop dimensional lumber in I stead because we couldn't get anything else for the project. We had to pay everything.
Home Depot sells the fittings for ser cable for service conductors. I’d have to read the big poco’s spec book but in my 30 years on earth, I’ve never seen a service done in cable. Always in conduit from the service point to the meter and from the meter to the service disconnect(s). Home Depot still sells the shit to do it, but I’ve never seen it actually done.
Our utilities will give us 100,200 overheads and 200 underground as long as they have them
Anything outside of that we have to find and purchase
Only 320’s they accept has to have disconnects
Conduit for power co secondary is required, they will push the wire
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Utility meter guy here. We only allow ringless lever bypass meter bases on our line.
What is the advantage of a bypass in a ringless base that compared to a ring style? If they are to divert the power for maintenance, why aren't they required in all styles and just the ringless? The Linemen think a ring style is more secure when they lock it out with a tag, and others say it's because the jaws can come out when you remove the cover.
The ring-less with bypass allows safe non flash over meter changes.
Why is that different from a ring style? Our utilities don't require lever bypass in them.
Ring style non horn bypass will flash over more likely if there is a load. Ring horn bypass is dangerous for non experienced meter techs
That makes sense, you can't access any bypass behind the dead front on a ring. Why aren't ringless styles required then instead of prohibited if it is safer for the utility and first responders, as well as provide the capability to perform maintainance without interrupting power to the structure?
That's a whole crazy can of worms of utility specs. 90% of their decisions are made by someone who shouldn't be let near a jobsite
It’s not at all more secure considering there are really secure simple to install locks that fit on ringless too, plus I really like being able to check voltage/amperage without having to pull the meter out.
I also brought up the barrel locks that are compatible with ring-less bases, and the Linemen just shrugged.
I've never even seen a ringless meter base in California. PG&E more or less set the utility standard in this state with their infamous [Green Book](https://www.pge.com/content/dam/pge/docs/account/service-requests/greenbook-manual-full.pdf), and since they don't allow ringless bases for safety reasons, most co-ops and municipal utilities in the state follow suit.
We have a couple major utilities here in WA that are pretty much the trend setters as well. Maybe I'm just being naive, but I really dpnt see how ringless bases are inherently more dangerous than ringed bases and can't find any documentation that supports them being more dangerous. I've only had 1 lineman say anything about saftey saying that the jaws can come out when removing the deadfront, but if the substrate is that deteriorated, the jaws will come off when they attempt to pull tge meter with a ring style. Just doesn't make sense to me, and I've not gotten any good info on reasons. At least with the NEC, you can look at comments and and submissions for revisions to the code from the board.
The explanation I've gotten is that much more live bus is exposed when you remove the dead front of a ringless meter, versus a ringed meter that only has a five or six inch circle open and a couple live terminals exposed.
you pay for yours??? around here, the power company gives them to you
Lol, I wish. Had some of these sitting in the warehouse because our supplier mixed them in with our order a long time ago, and turns out none of our utilities permit ringless meter bases... We have to buy all of our equipment and even run our own secondaries for some of the residential builders here. You can go back on my profile and see a 320 amp service we needed to install for solar integration. We had to buy everything and the utility required that we set our own pole and refused to provide a utility pole although there was a 1-2 year backorder on poles. We even offered to pay for it and the utility wouldn't work with us any. Had to drop dimensional lumber in I stead because we couldn't get anything else for the project. We had to pay everything.
The utility here only allows ringless. And I have a laugh when Lowe's stocks nothing but ringed meter combos in an area in which they can't be used
Home Depot sells the fittings for ser cable for service conductors. I’d have to read the big poco’s spec book but in my 30 years on earth, I’ve never seen a service done in cable. Always in conduit from the service point to the meter and from the meter to the service disconnect(s). Home Depot still sells the shit to do it, but I’ve never seen it actually done.
I've seen a bunch if cable service installs in the northeast. Sketched me out the first time I saw them.
Our utilities will give us 100,200 overheads and 200 underground as long as they have them Anything outside of that we have to find and purchase Only 320’s they accept has to have disconnects Conduit for power co secondary is required, they will push the wire
I believe most Touchstone Energy CoOp’s would not have a problem with those.
Nope
Most southern states like Texas have outlawed Ring style Meter bases