§ 7-19. Service entrance.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    All metal extent. An all metal service entrance, complete with rain-tight entrance equipment, from the point of contact with the power company to the distribution panel and to all subpanels shall be used. S.E. or other similar cables will not be accepted for service entrances use.

    (b)

    Conductors; clearance. Service entrance conductors to building may not be installed with less than ten (10) feet clearance from ground, floor, platform or projection from which they may be reached. Where the point of entry to the building does not meet this requirement, then an approved bracket or method to obtain this clearance shall be installed.

    (c)

    Installed outside buildings. Where service entrance equipment is installed outside a building, a minimum clearance of four and one-half (4½) feet must be maintained from the ground or any other floor or platform to the bottom of such equipment.

    (d)

    Disconnecting switches. All disconnecting switches set on the exterior of buildings shall be equipped with a dead front panel.

    (e)

    Installations requiring more than six circuits. In all installations where more than six (6) circuits or feeders are required, either two-or three-wire, a disconnect switch or circuit breaker must be installed for such set of service entrance conductors.

    (f)

    Grounding. Service entrance grounding conductors and enclosures shall have a connection to an underground water system where voltage to ground does not exceed three hundred (300) volts. If ten (10) feet or more of waterline is buried between the house and the water meter, bonding around the meter will not be required. An approved ground clamp connecting the ground conductor to the waterline or driven or buried grounding electrode must be used. Minimum size grounding conductor shall be No. 6 AWG copper. Where a driven ground is used, an approved ground rod one-half inch, if copperweld, or five-eighths inch if galvanized iron or steel, and not less than five (5) feet in length, shall be used. Three-quarter inch galvanized pipe may be used if the lower end of the pipe is mashed closed for measuring of the length. When it is not possible to drive the ground straight down, then it may be driven at not less than a forty-five (45) degree angle with the horizontal.

    (g)

    Gas piping. Gas piping shall not be used for an electrical ground nor shall electrical circuits utilize gas piping, casing of controls, panels or other metal parts in lieu of wiring. This provision shall not apply to low voltage control and ignition circuits end to electronic detection device circuits incorporated as part of the appliance.

(Ord. No. 7708, § 61, 3-3-77)