I don't like working in the subpanel, even though I do it. Can I pull the meter each time I add a circuit?? Or is that a no-no. Thanks, Rodger

 

To pull the meter you'd need to clip off the utility company's seal/tag. They can prosecute you for this. However, if your average electricity usage doesn't change they can't really sat that you did it to steal electricity. But since it's technically against the law to do so, they could be real nasty about it if they so choose. I had an old indoor meter with an integral junction box, with tags on both. I clipped the tag off the box only, and some time later called for service, and when the technician arrived he simply gave me a finger wagging, telling me "you know... you're not supposed to remove the tag.". Duh! But He didn't even write it down on anything and I never heard another word about it. It all depends, I guess.

One thought I have is to install a main service disconnect upstream from your panel. I did this, and now I can do anything in the panel I wish, including replacing the whole darn thing if I wanted to, because power is interrupted ahead of the panel. But I would get an estimate from an electrician to do this unless you're very experienced in electrical work and code compliance. Hope that helps.

Juice

 

People say since I don't know what I'm doing, (and I don't), do not screw with the meter. I guess a disconnect ahead of the box would be best for me.
Thanks Jiuce,
RG

 

You're most welcome. To have a main disconnect added to your electrical system it will cost $200 to $300 most likely, to have an electrician install one of these. Once that is done you can monkey around inside your panel without concern from here to kingdome come.

If you aren't confident in your electrical skills but understand the changes you'd like to make and the hardware side of installing or modifying your electrical circuits, let me make a couple suggestions so that you may continue to do so with an added measure of safety.

1) Go to Home Depot, Borders.com, Amazon, or your local public library, and get a book on basic home wiring. Look for the most recent edition that has National Electrical Code (NEC) rules and interpretations on the various topics and projects covered.

2) Get an voltmeter. For about $10 Home Depot has a compact meter with all the functions the weekend electrician will probably need, is a very reliable and generally accurate little meter. For about $22 Radio Shack has a pocket digital meter which reads AC, DC and Ohms (great for continuity checks) that has a slim pocket case built in and a place in the case for probe storage. this meter is about the size of a glasses case and is highly accurate. Great for household electrical, but also battery checks from AAA to your car battery with precise accuracy. Great little meter. I do a lot of electrical work (though not an electrician), and have a full-blown industrial meter, and went the $22 for the little Radio Shack job as a very good pocket model to have around for little jobs or stopping over to a friend's house to solve electrical mysteries. Knowledge is power, and since power is invisible I would not be caught dead, literally, without a "seeing eye dog" (meter) to see what I cannot.

Good luck mister.

Juice