Breaker box and eletric meter whoas

I am putting up some siding on my house because the old stuff is water logged. My breaker box and the electic meter have become detached from the house. Once I get the siding up behind it, how do I go about safely re-attaching them without getting shocked? I figured I could flip the main breaker and work in there safely, but what about the eletric meter? I was told to call the power company and have them take off the lock, to remove the metal ring from around the glass and pull that glass thing off and that will kill the power to the breaker box and allow me to secure it and the meter. Is this true? Help.

 

Yes, it's true. Even tho' they pull the meter, there is still power to one set of contacts in that box. With a cover plate on instead of the meter, it's pretty safe. The breaker box however, would be completely dead and safe to work on.

Since your siding is "waterlogged", I'm assuming it's wood. The problem with putting siding behind the box and meter is that they don't lay flush. Water can get behind them and wasps, ants and yellowjackets are attracted to nesting there.

Very often you put a waterproof material behind the box and meter and attach them to the house first. Then trim around them for the siding. This also recesses them a little, which makes them "stand out" less.

 

Are you by any chance putting up siding that is a shiplap design. A couple of years ago I was working with Habitat for Humanity building a house and when it came to siding under the meter, instead of putting the meter up and trimming around it with J-channel ( a dead give away to a siding job) wee put pieces of plywood in the spaces made by the siding and then was able to mount the meter box to the siding without it deforming the siding. The funny thing was that the electric utility was running the power to the meter head the same day we were doing this. The forman of the crew was real puzzled when we unscrewed the meter head , but after we were through, he was pretty impressed with the look. As far as remounting the meter head, you might want to get an electrician to do it.

 

Depending on the power company in your area you can call them and tell them that you need a lateral disconnect to effect repairs. You will also need to ask them before you schedule any cutoff, if they require an inspection before they will tie you back in again. If they don't require an inspection then ask them to come out and make the cut and you should be able to work on Everything safely, without fear of shock and when you are done they come back and Retap.
Like I said this depends on the power company, I know here in south Florida if you are only effecting repairs and not a replacement or upgrade they will do this with no hassle whatsoever.
Good Luck!

 

This website is awesome and you guys are the greatest, thanks for the advice. I'm puting up hardiboard so i want to do it right and be through with it. I have to tell my friends about this place.

 

Arlington makes a meter base that wll attach to the plywood before the siding is installed. It is self-trimming, I believe, and provides a stable base for the meter.

I think the website is www.aifitting.com