Conduit separated from meter housing
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Conduit separated from meter housing
The electrical feed PVC coming out of the ground is separated from the meter housing. Apparently, the conduit was not glued to the housing. Assuming the PVC is free standing, I would like to dig where this vertical conduit meets the ground and lift it up. Is there a chance it is connected to another PVC in the ground? I would like to know what to expect before digging. Thank you.
In our neighborhood above ground power lines run in the back of the houses (utility alley). No power poles are visible from the front.
In our neighborhood above ground power lines run in the back of the houses (utility alley). No power poles are visible from the front.
#2
It was glued. The glue can be seen on the pipe.
The problem is the ground is settling under the pipe and it's being pushed down.
Not likely as typically the service is three direct buried wires with no pipe.
What you see is a sleeve.
The problem is the ground is settling under the pipe and it's being pushed down.
Is there a chance it is connected to another PVC in the ground?
What you see is a sleeve.
joed
voted this post useful.
#5
Not likely as typically the service is three direct buried wires with no pipe.
What you see is a sleeve.
What you see is a sleeve.
Is there a chance it is connected to another PVC in the ground?
#6
I probably should have made my reply a little clearer. The conduit going down is a sleeve but it doesn't end just below ground. It will have a sweep on it and it may travel a distance from the house.
As Joe mentioned there may be excessive force on the lugs and disturbing them could create a problem.
As Joe mentioned there may be excessive force on the lugs and disturbing them could create a problem.
#7
Back in the day all that was required here for a 200 amp underground service was a 2" PVC vertical sleeve down underground 18", no elbows required underground at all. Then, the old Union Electric would trench from the pole to the house and install the 3-wire URD cable into the socket. Never saw a sleeve pull down on an older installation.
#8
Member
Thread Starter
It started sprinkling when I was about to do the repair. After reading your posts, I am glad I didn't start digging. The house was built in 1995 plus minus a few years. From what I read,
1. The underground cable is buried about 18" deeep.
2. Chances are the sleeve is connected to a horizontal PVC conduit. The horizontal PVC is pulling down the sleeve.
But
1. There still is a chance that the sleeve is a free standing PVC since the house was built before a continuous run to the pole was practiced.
2. The sleeve was not glued to the meter housing. What appears to be the PVC cement is actually a residue from a packaging tape I put around there to keep bugs from entering the meter housing. I removed the tape before taking the picture. Believe me, there was no PVC cement.
So I am going to dig slowly with a hand shovel. If I see a horizontal piece, I will stop digging. I will report back tomorrow if it doesn't rain. Thank you gentlemen.
1. The underground cable is buried about 18" deeep.
2. Chances are the sleeve is connected to a horizontal PVC conduit. The horizontal PVC is pulling down the sleeve.
But
1. There still is a chance that the sleeve is a free standing PVC since the house was built before a continuous run to the pole was practiced.
2. The sleeve was not glued to the meter housing. What appears to be the PVC cement is actually a residue from a packaging tape I put around there to keep bugs from entering the meter housing. I removed the tape before taking the picture. Believe me, there was no PVC cement.
So I am going to dig slowly with a hand shovel. If I see a horizontal piece, I will stop digging. I will report back tomorrow if it doesn't rain. Thank you gentlemen.
#9
Member
Thread Starter
Instead of digging 18" of hard clay with a hand shovel, I decided to cover up the gap with a 2" connector, sawed into 2 pieces, individually glued. It looks like a typical home owner's fix. I will use an oscillating multitool to make it look cleaner. I am happy with it. Thank you all.
Do you recommend I call the power company and ask them to check if the wires are slipping from the lug? I suppose I have to pay for their service, correct?
Do you recommend I call the power company and ask them to check if the wires are slipping from the lug? I suppose I have to pay for their service, correct?
#10
Do you recommend I call the power company and ask them to check if the wires are slipping from the lug? I suppose I have to pay for their service, correct?