HomeMy WebLinkAboutRFI18-0182 444 F StreetMEMORANDUM
TO: Mark Sorensen
FROM: Daryl Dye, Gridley Biggs Electrical Superintendent
DATE: April 13, 2018
SUBJECT: 444 F Street Electrical service main
PROJECT: Requested Safety inspection
Mark, As requested by your email dated 4-12-2018, Electrical Supervisor Russ Hawes and myself performed a safety inspection on the electrical service meter main at 444 F Street at 12:30 pm on 4-12-2018 and found the following conditions: I met with the home owner at the location and explained our visit was due to safety concerns, he informed me there was no sub-panels in the home, when I asked if he had any electrical issues, he stated that during the winter season he would “blow” the glass fuses. After our inspection I meet with the owner and reported my findings, and advised him, due to safety concerns to contact an electrician to install a new meter main, I advised him I would be reporting my finding to The City of Biggs, which may result in a service disconnection. He indicted said he was going to contact an electrician ASAP. The residence is approximately 1200 sq feet and being serviced by a Class 100 - 120-volt (A base) meter. The service drop feeding the location is # 4 aluminum triplex, rated at 103 amps. The location is a 120-volt service so one of the service drop power legs has been “rolled back” at the weather head and is not connected at the service pole. The conductor in the weather head is # 8 solid copper, which is rated at 50 amps. The single 120-volt service has been split into 2 circuits at the disconnect switch located on the West side of the residence. Each circuit is protected by a 30-amp glass type fuse. 2 circuit runs of # 2-12 Romex rated at 20 amps each feed the dwelling from the fused disconnect My Safety concerns are as follows:
• Disconnect switch is broken and may not operate in an emergency situation.
• Disconnect switch show signs of arcing on one leg
• 30-amp glass fuses protecting circuits rated for 20-amps
• Visual evidence of prior glass fuses being “blown” on the ground directly below main
• Neutral conductor not tied to a ground source
• Physical condition of the fused disconnect, rusted and not secured to the dwelling
• Riser has insufficient straps to dwelling, existing strap are nailed which may fail, which may cause an electrical arc.
• Fused Disconnect is not sealed to the elements, allowing rain and insects to infiltrate.
• Under sized conductor in weather head to service an 60-amp load
• Bond wire not installed property to dwelling
• No ground wire or ground rod
• Circuits runs not property installed for the main
• Due to the condition of the dwelling the service drop attachment points are suspect and may fail, causing an electrical arc, which could ignite the newspaper located in the eaves of the dwelling.
• Inadequate ampacity of the main and limited circuit runs my lead to over loading the existing circuits. It is my recommendation to have the service disconnected until repairs can be made. See attached pictures. 4/13/2018 Daryl Dye Gridley/ Biggs Electrical Superintendent.
Box not secured to dwelling
# 8 solid copper rated at 60 amps
Signs of arcing
Natural not connected to ground
# 2-12 copper romex rated at 20 amps
30-amp glass fuses protecting 20-amp wire
Broken disconnect switch
Improper bonding conductor
Improper circuit runs
Previous blown glass fuses
Newspaper packing
House knob attachment point us a screw to hold
in place, condition of dwelling may cause screw
to fail
Attachment straps are nailed into dwelling and
may fail causing an electrical arc
Improper Circuit run