The meter socket needed to be replaced since the old one was a dual socket. It looks like the upstairs was an apartment at one time and had separate electrical service.
I picked up a new meter socket from Georgia Power and had them come out to disconnect the service drop from the house. Then I removed the old socket:
Then I installed the new socket. I used PVC conduit for the exposed electrical line and capped it off with a new service head.
I have a question for all you electricians out there. The service drop is 3-wire, 2 lines and a ground, (black & red). The line I ran from the meter socket to the panel is 4-wire, 3 wires and a ground (black, red & white). Where is the neutral (white) wire supposed to connect in the meter socket? I attached it to the ground in the socket (see pic below), is this the proper way? Georgia Power will be inspecting it before they turn it on but I'd like to have it done right the first time.
Also, the electrical panel had a bridge connecting the neutral to the ground. I removed it but which way do I need to have it when the neutral is connected to ground at the socket?
We also brought over a stove for the kitchen. We got it free off Freecycle. This will be temporary until we can sell the other house and begin the full remodel.
Not bad for free :) It was disgusting when we got it. This pic is after hours with bleach, a scrub pad, bristle brush, and a scraper. One of the elements was burned out so I'll be replacing all of them as well as the drip trays.
3 comments:
Looks good, you're almost there. As for the 4 wire to your box, you only needed 3. The center connection in the meter is the neutral connection. The bare wire on your drop is a neutral as well as the bare that runs to your panel and connects to the neutral bus bar.
As for a ground, you need to run a copper cable from the ground bus in your panel (usually about #6 wire but check local code) outside and attached to a grounding rod with an acorn connector. The grounding rod is an 8 foot aluminum or copper rod that you drive into the ground (a small sledge usually works - but watch where you drive the rod!). You can drive into the ground at an angle, but not more than 45 degrees, cause it needs to be in the ground at least 4 feet. You can get these parts at Home Depot or electric supply house. This is how you're supposed to establish a ground for your house service.
FYI - The 4 wire would work if you were adding a sub panel off the main panel. A sub panel has to have a separate ground and neutral feed from the main panel... you can't do both with the same wire.
Hope this helps!
...Almost forgot to add, I would just cut off the extra wire in the meter box and the main panel. You don't want to or need to have both cables on the neutral lug in the meter panel.
....oh, yea - don't forget to put the bar back that bonds the neutral and ground bus in the main panel that you took out. I think that covers everything!
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