Electrical Service Entrance or Exterior Service Drop

Electrical service conductors coming from the utility pole are often smaller than the service wires going into the main electric panel.

This is acceptable due to the fact the wires from the pole are "free to air" which means they can dissipate heat quickly.

Wires inside enclosed spaces such as conduit have little to no ventilation and need to be sized appropriately or excessive heat build up could result.

[mattprice]

Please don’t confuse those rubber dipped gloves for gloves that are voltage rated!

[johntrauger]

There are separate code tables for wires in conduit "not more than three current carrying conductors" 310.15(B)(16) and "in free air" 310.15(B)(17). 2017 NEC. For a given conductor size and rating, ampacity rating in free air is greater than in conduit or raceway.

By comparison: #2 USE 115 amps in conduit, and 170 amps in free air.

Makes sense too.

[larryzdanis]

Good video.. just to clarify something that you said (pretty sure you meant the right thing, but may have said it backwards).. you said the larger wires "generate more heat being enclosed".. A better way to say it would be something like, "the enclosure will retain more heat, so the enclosed wires are required to be larger so they generate LESS heat, so the enclosure does not overheat."

[artkyger]

It's called a "drip loop". The hot wires carrying the service hang down and loop so that water will drip off and not run into the pipe on the house.

[randycarter]

Something he didn't mention. From the splice outward is the jurisdiction of the power company. The home owner has little say in what the power company uses. Other than to tell them that he has upgraded his service from 100 amp to 200 amp. It's up to the power company if they want to change the drop.

[jaredhershey]

The neutral is the neutral. Not neutral and ground. The grounding is done separate from the service drop using ground rods or rebar from foundation of building.

[vohuynh]

NEC says you need 3 ft of clearance from the edge of a roof and also 8 feet above a roof unless it has a 4-12 slope which you standing on the roof means you don’t have the slope.

[bbcnos]

Never ask an electrician about linework. Don't ask a plumber about your roof and don't ask a mechanic to do your taxes. Go talk to someone who knows what they're talking about.

[amenlion]

If unsure its always better to go from a small wire to a bigger one as oppose to larger to smaller. A good electrician should already know that its in the NEC code BOOK

[powerlinekidforsman]

the lines coming from the pole are number 2 or number 4 ACSR

[jsnyara]

Thank you very much for that information

[kxkeldelacruz]

Question Can I paint around them cable without being shock ?? Like paint exterior of the house

[indigenousndn]

THANK YOU!!!
THIS is the only video i could find addressing this issue. I'm a painter and was scared AF Abt touching this line while painting or using my latter.

[heathers]

I love the triplex power lines wow that's amazing are you playing with sparkie can I touch it?

[Mano_]

Bro that’s #4 triplex it’s good for 110amps you’ll never be able to pull that much on ur house so don’t overthink it

[Nttt]

Or you can look in the NEC book and it states that .

[patton]

Is it safe to clean my gutter near these wires?

[theseattlegreen]

Looks very sloppy there's not even the correct drip Loop. The drip Loop needs to be below the weatherhead and like I said there's not even a drip Loop. The purpose of a drip Loop is when it rains water will fall off on the bottom of the u-shape conductors. Also it looks like those wires are touching your metal gutter or at least they're very close? And as we know metal and electricity do not mix.

[jeffreyl.wiseman]

Great tutorial, but you should include a disclaimer to viewers to not touch any of the wires.

[terrypotter]

That mast should be higher than point of attachment I know that well at least in my state