Service Weather Heads

[James A. Levy]

This is a 3-4 month old service that was inspected by the AHJ. Are weather heads not required on SEU cable services anymore? Were they ever required? I have been calling this condition out without complaint, but this is the second one I have run into like it.

[Jim Port]

NEC 230.54 still requires a weatherhead or a gooseneck. That goes not look like a gooseneck to me.

[Greg W. Mathias, CCHI]

I found this one on a ten year old home. I called the agent and sent her this picture and all she said was " not much wrong there, just needs to be stood up nailed back to the house" I don't think she got it.

[Greg W. Mathias, CCHI]

Originally Posted by jlevy1

This is a 3-4 month old service that was inspected by the AHJ. Are weather heads not required on SEU cable services anymore? Were they ever required? I have been calling this condition out without complaint, but this is the second one I have run into like it.

They allow these in our area as long as the dead head is through bolted into solid framing. Not sure from the picture if that is the case. I think it is a disaster waiting to happen.

[James A. Levy]

Originally Posted by gmathias1

They allow these in our area as long as the dead head is through bolted into solid framing. Not sure from the picture if that is the case. I think it is a disaster waiting to happen.

This is nothing more than vinyl tape wrapped around the SEU. How can it be bolted without a weather head?

[James A. Levy]

Originally Posted by Jim Port

NEC 230.54 still requires a weatherhead or a gooseneck. That goes not look like a gooseneck to me.

Thank you Jim. I was second guessing myself.

[Jim Port]

I think the dead head mentioned would be the triplex anchor.

[Greg W. Mathias, CCHI]

Originally Posted by Jim Port

I think the dead head mentioned would be the triplex anchor.

Yes you are correct. Just another name for them.

[Robert J. OConnor]

It's hard to tell from that photo angle, but the SE cable might turn down after the clamp which could be considered a gooseneck, which can be used instead of a weatherhead.

The thing I dont like is how they landed and tapped the bare grounded messenger wire. Looks like just two strands of the wire go to the anchor ... ... instead of the full wire going to the anchor with a tap off that for the SE cable neutral ... see the attached diagram.
.

[Robert Meier]

Goosenecks, which are formed with just a bunch of identified tape and are permitted by the NEC. They should look like the one in Bob's diagram. Here's the NEC requirement for the tape:

230.54(B) Service Cable Equipped with Service Head or Gooseneck. Service cables shall be equipped with a service head. The service head shall comply with the requirement for fittings in 314.15.
Exception: Type SE cable shall be permitted to be formed in a gooseneck and taped with a self-sealing weather-resistant thermoplastic

Originally Posted by roconnor

The thing I dont like is how they landed and tapped the bare grounded messenger wire. Looks like just two strands of the wire go to the anchor ... ... instead of the full wire going to the anchor with a tap off that for the SE cable neutral.
.

Those attachments products are referred to as galvanized steel dead end grips and are added by the POCO to secure the drop to the point of attachment. It is not strands from the grounded conductor.

[Robert Meier]

Originally Posted by jlevy1

This is a 3-4 month old service that was inspected by the AHJ. Are weather heads not required on SEU cable services anymore? Were they ever required? I have been calling this condition out without complaint, but this is the second one I have run into like it.

After looking at the image again I can see why they opted for the rather ugly gooseneck over the weatherhead. Weather heads are not designed to be mounted on an angle as would be required by way the SE cable is installed. The top of the weather head would need to be mounted with it's attachment screw on top. That would not have been an easy task given the way that the cable was run.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by Jim Port

I think the dead head mentioned would be the triplex anchor.

Haven't heard that term here before. That's what I have been calling the SE cables from the POCO since 1975.

[Jim Port]

Brian, around here if someone says triplex they would typically be referring to the power company overhead cable.

Someone else mentioned only one or two strands around the anchor. That cable has a steel strand that is used to carry the weight and provide the strength.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by Jim Port

Brian, around here if someone says triplex they would typically be referring to the power company overhead cable.

Someone else mentioned only one or two strands around the anchor. That cable has a steel strand that is used to carry the weight and provide the strength.

That's what I was referring to......just called it "SE cables from the POCO".

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by Robert Meier

After looking at the image again I can see why they opted for the rather ugly gooseneck over the weatherhead. Weather heads are not designed to be mounted on an angle as would be required by way the SE cable is installed. The top of the weather head would need to be mounted with it's attachment screw on top. That would not have been an easy task given the way that the cable was run.

Don't like that "gooseneck" method......have never seen one here in 39 years of working around houses and farms. In this picture, with high winds and rain, I see that as an easy entry point for water.

In your areas, are any there special requirements to prevent water that got into into the service conduit from entering the panel? I see a fair amount of corrosion here on the SE terminals/wires from water entry.