[JayDoesIt]

I have a house that I need to upgrade the panel for extra circuits. Current situation is 3 bathrooms all tied together with one circuit.

Need to upgrade from a 100 amp 20 circuit panel to a 100 amp 24 circuit panel so I can separate the bathrooms onto their own circuits.

My issue is this meter I've never seen a meter locked into the box as this one is and I'm just not sure how to remove it, I am debating just disconnecting the bottom legs to cut power to the house why I leave the meter in place.

Has anyone ever seen a bracket like this and how does it lock the meter in, It looks like there is 2 metal brackets that are riveted to the meter box and then attached to the meter itself.

I've always been able to pop the meters off, never ran into an issue like this anyone have experience?

 

[chandler48]

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING!! You are in a very dangerous situation. That meter belongs to the power company and only THEY can remove it. You have unfused power at those lugs and it poses a tremendous threat to your safety. Please call the power company and have them assess what you need done.

 

[JayDoesIt]

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING!! You are in a very dangerous situation. That meter belongs to the power company and only THEY can remove it. You have unfused power at those lugs and it poses a tremendous threat to your safety. Please call the power company and have them assess what you need done.

So it's a special meter requiring specific tools for removal? I guess I'll call them to kill the power for 1 day.

 

[chandler48]

When they get there, make up a good story as to how you accessed the meter. They will probably fine you for it.

 

[rjniles]

Before i replaced a panel to get 4 more breaker positions, I would look into tandem breakers. If that is nor possible I would replace with a 30 position panel. And I agree leave the meter alone and call the POCO.

 

[JayDoesIt]

Thanks for the responses I figured I would end up having to call them before making the post but figured maybe someone knew how to pop this out.

I need the 4th circuit cause while it's being done going to run a new line to a shed. So the extra circuits are all needed.

Pulled a homeowner permit for the panel upgrade and splitting the circuits and adding the circuit for shed. So all the work will be inspected didn't plan on upgrading the service lines or the meter box its underground service to. I'm not to concerned about POCO i'll just say I pulled the permit and called you never touched nothing.

 

[rander101]

Speaking from an abundance of caution I would advise you to get a licensed electrician involved after the power company gets you meter squared away. I suspect as you progress in the job you are going to find issues beyond your level.

 

[chandler48]

Post a picture of your opened panel so we can see what you have in there. I am sure there will be an easier way to gain the circuits you need without an expensive upgrade. Maybe not, but we'll see.

 

[JayDoesIt]

Speaking from an abundance of caution I would advise you to get a licensed electrician involved after the power company gets you meter squared away. I suspect as you progress in the job you are going to find issues beyond your level.

Not at all but thanks for taking safety into consideration but this will be the 6th property I've remodeled 3 which were full gutted to the frame and redone entirely and homeowner permits worked for those and I've never failed inspection so I I don't think I'll have problems splitting up 3 circuits and running a new circuit for the garage but again thanks for your concern.

I'll post pics of the panel see what you think little while. Thanks for your responses and concerns. Already paid for permits and purchased new panel though so doubtful I want to use an alternative just going to get poco out to kill power.

 

[ktownskier]

@JayDoesIt,

I am very happy to hear that you have pulled permits for your flips. Not a lot of people do that. And that they passed inspections.

That is what I do as well.

When I saw the picture of the meter and your question asking how to pull it. My reaction was the same as @chandler48. Perhaps it comes with my older age or just my eternal caution of working with electricity.

Or the fact that I have seen the results of people being underly cautious when dealing with even 120 vac. And having to repair the damage. Thankfully, I have only had to tell a partner that their loved one will recover, but it will take some time. I stopped doing it with others after that and did it on my own. I don't think I could handle telling someone anything else.

Just please be careful. Leave POCO to POCO. They have the tools to deal with it.

A concerned Parent, former partner of a fried, er I mean, friend.

 

[JayDoesIt]

After looking tandem breakers won't resolve the issue, the old panel has limited amount of ground/neutral terminals which already has double and triple ground/neutrals installed. So no available terminals for tandems. The panel has 3 tandem breakers in it already.

I get it you see a guy questioning a meter box and think inexperienced. Yes maybe in ways, never seen a meter like this before certainly but I'm capable of splitting a few circuits and upgrading a panel.

 

[surferdude2]

I hope we don't see you on the 11 o'clock news! Do you have your affairs in order?

 

[JayDoesIt]

I hope we don't see you on the 11 o'clock news! Do you have your affairs in order?

Depends on what you mean by affairs, Let's start with I own several properties free and clear with no mortgages. All of them are worth triple what I invested or more, few have almost recovered the investment from rental income.

I have several vehicles, I am fully insured on every property vehicle with life insurance and an umbrella policy, My banking account is looking very healthy both savings and checking. I have tons of unused credit and life insurance. Oh did I forget to mention I am still several years from the age of 40.

Thanks for your concern my affairs are probably more in order then most.:vs_cool:

 

[JayDoesIt]

I don't need safety recommendations I need one question answered about a meter box and meter that appears to be non traditional.

If you have no experience and can only recommend calling POCO fine. But don't use my safety as a cause for concern as to answering the question. If the meter is not removable then I have no choice but to call. If it is then provide that answer or just say call poco but save your insults I'm not here for pissing matches.

 

[Nealtw]

Last i heard, It was against the law to remove a meter.

 

[ktownskier]

@JayDoesIt, I don't think anyone was questioning your ability to make changes to the panel.

It is the pulling of the meter that has everyone concerned. While you may have done it in the past, it is probably not something thatyou should have done.

Would a sub-panel be an option? Since it seems that tandems aren't an option that might be your next choice.

 

[JayDoesIt]

@JayDoesIt, I don't think anyone was questioning your ability to make changes to the panel.

It is the pulling of the meter that has everyone concerned. While you may have done it in the past, it is probably not something thatyou should have done.

Would a sub-panel be an option? Since it seems that tandems aren't an option that might be your next choice.

Sub panel would work, anyways I appreciate your clarification. I won't pull anymore meters seeing as how its not technically legal. I own the property I should be able to pull that meter off if I choose to but I get laws are laws. I've purchased 75$ meter box permits before and pulled meters replaced meter boxes and got inspections without issues but that doesn't make it legal.

Truth be told this meter probably pops out like any other and that bracket that I think may be attached isn't attached at all, I just noticed it and made me skeptical to pull harder and the cover comes off which is also something I've never seen a meter do.

 

[surferdude2]

Depends on what you mean by affairs, Let's start with I own several properties free and clear with no mortgages. All of them are worth triple what I invested or more, few have almost recovered the investment from rental income.

I have several vehicles, I am fully insured on every property vehicle with life insurance and an umbrella policy, My banking account is looking very healthy both savings and checking. I have tons of unused credit and life insurance. Oh did I forget to mention I am still several years from the age of 40.

Thanks for your concern my affairs are probably more in order then most.:vs_cool:

You misunderstood my intent. My concern is for your safety and to make sure you are prepared for the consequences of what can be a dangerous act.

I have pulled several meters in my career but never one without a glass around it that would allow me to come in contact with the live wires. I would be afraid for you in this process of removing it that you would get shocked and it would cause you to fumble the meter. If you fumble that meter and it hits across the line conductors, you need to be aware of how big the plasma ball will be that is created by the flash. It can instantly blind you permanently and burn you so badly that you'll never look like JayDoesIt again.

I can remove that meter but I cannot in good conscience tell you how. I will not advise you to risk all that you have achieved in life by doing it. I don't say you aren't every bit as capable as I am at removing it but I'm basing my opinion on the fact that you had to ask for guidance and I wouldn't need to.

Most participants of a forum like this do not want to be complicit by offering advice on this sort of thing and normally the thread will be locked when it comes to the attention of the person that could have some liability for being negligent for not doing so.

You mentioned calling the POCO for a shut down. That's the safe and smart way. Now you're cookin' but not literally.

 

[JayDoesIt]

I'm just going to change the plans for the permit to a subpanel and redo the plans to account for the sub panel. I can't get a refund for the permit but I can redo the plans.

I get all the concerns. I just didn't want to risk breaking the meter seeing a bracket that may or may not be helping secure the meter. Seeing the riveted bracket made me wonder if I pull any harder would it break. That coupled with the cover coming off with a slight twist made me skeptical. I understand why I didn't receive the answer I was looking for and I guess calling Poco isn't so bad. In this case I'll just change the plans and carry on no fees involved and no waiting for POCO....

 

[surferdude2]

Won't you need to call and get the meter repaired?