Folks: First, I am not a sparky. I do my own electrical work, as we are allowed to do here. I follow the relevant Code provisions, pull permits, and submit it for inspection. I am in perfect agreement with any pros who look down on homeowners who do careless electrical work, as about 50% of that which I've seen is questionable and 10% is abhorrent.
Okay. At present, I am upgrading my service from a relatively nice 60A fuse box to a 200A CH series panel, which is a new job for me, and the usual practices around here leads me to wonder about some things.
First, around here, cable electrical services are usual. It is also common to run the SE cable in a short length of conduit below the meter socket, through an LB into the house, because the lower length is prone to physical damage, from cars if on a driveway, from the wild hedge trimmer if not. Theoretically the PVC is Sch 80 but frankly a lot of houses have whatever Big Blue or Big Orange carry.
Here's the problem: SE cable is not the greatest thing for use inside raceway. If the raceway is big enough, the code allows it, but it's stiff and hard to pull and certainly not as suitable as, say, XHHW. Unfortunately, I can't use that...the local AHJ doesn't want raceway leading right from the meter pan to the box, because it's too easy for water to get in.
I suppose my own question is answered...stop the raceway just inside the wall & pull in the SE cable. Sigh. I just don't like it. Has anybody else run into this problem?
What I would really like to do is run a Sch 80 PVC mast with XHHW conductors, and Sch 80 conduit from the meter pan to box. Unfortunately they look at you like a madman when you ask for XHHW around here and suggest THHN for use in a conduit mast. I will probably have to go with the cable, which does not make me happy...not because I hate cable. The cable's fine. It's the watertight connector that bothers me. You're not supposed to trust these to actually *be* watertight, and you are to press sealant around them to keep water out. Alas, this sealant never lasts long -- from expansion or sun or whatever, it tends to dry out and not stay stuck to the cable and connector, and seems just like a major kluge to me. And right below the watertight conn. the nice aluminum conductors run to the nice lugs, with a coat of Penetrox to keep the aluminum from attempting to return to nature. Urk. And this is supposed to last for 30 yrs. without maintenance...and frankly, it usually works very well, but...the whole business makes me very unhappy.
Cordially yours: Gerard P.