Full Answer
What is a Weatherhead?
A weatherhead is sometimes called a weather cap, a service head, or a service entrance cap. This is the top cap in an arrangement of pipe, fittings, brackets, gaskets, and wire.
Do I need A weatherhead for my electrical service?
As it was mentioned before, a proper and correct electrical Weatherhead installation is required – and considered crucial – when you have the overhead electrical service within the house. You should be able to see a metal pole that rises from the roof, and there is a rounded cap on top of it.
What is a Weatherhead on a circuit breaker?
According to National Grid U.S., a weatherhead is a watertight fixture that stops rainwater from running down the wires and into your circuit breaker. However, as a layer of protection between your home's electrical panel and the weather, the weatherhead itself is vulnerable to damage from intense storms.
What is a Weatherhead on a telephone mast?
The Service Point. The shape of the Weatherhead helps keep rain and snow out of the mast in more ways than you might expect. First, it simply covers the mast to prevent rain and snow from falling in. Second, the way in which the service drop is anchored to the mast allows for a slight dip in the wires, known as a drip loop.
How much does it cost to replace a weather Head?
Coming down the service and into the panel the bonding, the grounding and everything belongs to the customer. It's the customer's responsibility.” That means repair costs are left up to the property owner and could range from $700 to $1700.
What is the purpose of the weatherhead?
The weatherhead is a rounded cap whose main job is to keep water out of the pipes and/or entrance cables, and it's an essential part of the transfer of power from the utility to your home.
Do you need a weatherhead?
Weatherheads are required by electrical codes or building codes. They are also used on utility poles where overhead power lines enter a conduit to pass underground.
What does an electrical weatherhead look like?
An electrical weatherhead looks like a small metal box, with a hole in its base.
Can you touch a weatherhead?
Because the weatherhead is directly connected to the utility power pole, an untrained homeowner should not be touching the wires. Even though it might be the homeowner's responsibility, only an electrician should handle the installation and maintenance of the weatherhead.
What is the power line from pole to house called?
service dropIn electric power distribution, a service drop is an overhead electrical line running from a utility pole, to a customer's building or other premises. It is the point where electric utilities provide power to their customers.
Does the weatherhead have to be above the roof?
It shall be of length such that the weatherhead shall be a minimum of (18) inches above the roof if within four (4) feet from the edge of the roof, otherwise it shall be three (3) feet above the roof and/or twelve (12) feet minimum above ground level.
How long does it take to replace a weatherhead?
about five hoursA weatherhead repair typically takes about five hours, Boone said, but an electrician can't start working on it until fallen trees have been removed and roof or siding damage near it has been fixed.
Who is responsible for determining the service location?
Who generally specifies the location for the service point? The electric utility is typically responsible for this specification (Fig. 1 and Fig.
How many wires come from pole to house?
three cablesService Drops Provide All Power A standard service drop includes three cables, or conductors. Two are insulated hot cables, each carrying 120 volts of electricity (240 volts across the two wires).
Who is responsible for electric meter?
Your supplier is responsible for making sure your meter works properly. If you're a tenant and your landlord pays the energy bills, tell them you think the meter might be faulty. They will be responsible for contacting the energy supplier and sorting out the issue.
How high does the electrical mast need to be above the roof?
The minimum height of the service mast, from bottom of weatherhead to the roof, is 30 inches. The minimum trade size of the mast is 1¼ inches (good for up to 125 amp services). Masts over 36 inches in height above the roof require rigid bracing.
What is the use of entrance cap in a residential electrical wiring?
Protects wire against sharp edges. Provides a water resistant cap protecting service entrance conductors, required for overhead applications.
What is a service entrance?
The service entrance, as the name implies, is where the wires connected to the load side of the meter enter the house or building. The service entrance in a residence is commonly thought of as a breaker or fuse box.
What is a drip loop?
Definition of drip loop : a downward loop (as in a wire entering a building to permit rainwater to drip off or in a pipe to collect water condensed in the pipe system)
What is a service entrance conductor?
Service entrance conductors (aka, "service feed wire") run from the weather-head (exterior point of attachment) from the utility pole to the electric panel (usually the circuit breaker box). For most homes, the service entrance conductor will be located on or near the roof and tie into the overhead electrical lines.
What is Electrical Weatherhead?
As it was mentioned before, a proper and correct electrical Weatherhead installation is required – and considered crucial – when you have the overhead electrical service within the house. You should be able to see a metal pole that rises from the roof, and there is a rounded cap on top of it.
What is the purpose of a weatherhead?
You probably can guess that the Weatherhead’s main function is to prevent the water from coming to the pipe. It is also responsible for the power transfer to the house from the utility.
What type of conduit is used for weather heads?
For the installation masts, there are some different types and constructions to choose from. The most common one is the metal rigid electrical conduit, whether the RMC type or the intermediate IMC type. Some of the weather heads can be attached or installed with the nonmetallic pipe, generally made from PVC plastic.
Why do you need a weatherhead?
Proper electrical Weatherhead installation is needed to make sure that the electricity service will run smoothly without damages or wreck. Naturally, you need to consult a professional service to ensure the smooth process and running.
Can a weatherhead be mounted to a mast?
Although it is common for Weatherhead to be generally mounted to a mast, some may not follow the general installation. Some of them may be anchored or attached to the wall. It is also possible to have a special clamp that will secure the entrance conductors directly connected to the Weatherhead.
Is the Weatherhead complicated?
As you can see, the overall construction of the Weatherhead is pretty complicated and complex. You don’t really have to understand it – well unless you are an electrician. But such knowledge can be handy if you have to deal with the installation.
What is Weatherhead?
A weatherhead is sometimes called a weather cap, a service head, or a service entrance cap. This is the top cap in an arrangement of pipe, fittings, brackets, gaskets, and wire. Together, they provide protection from rain and rough weather. Because this is the point where electrical power coming from the overhead cables and telephone lines connect into your home, it has to be installed correctly. The weatherhead is designed to prevent water from running down the wires into your service box (breaker box.)
What is a weatherhead on a breaker box?
The Weatherhead is designed to prevent water from running down the wires into your service box (breaker box.) The Weatherhead cap on top of the pipe stops rain from entering the pipe. The looped wires called a drip loop, cause drops of water to run down to the bottom of the loop and drop off.
What happens if you touch a weatherhead?
Contact the utility company and a licensed electrician if your Weatherhead gets damaged by falling branches, high winds, or any other any cause.
Do weatherheads exist?
Maybe you don’t recognize the name, but electrical weatherheads exist in many homes and buildings. You’ve probably seen them many times.
What is a weatherhead in Orlando?
Often situated atop a pipe rising from a roof, a weatherhead is a rounded, water-proof cap where overhead electrical service cables connect with a home and run to the meter.
Who is responsible for maintaining the service cable from the utility pole to the weatherhead?
OUC is responsible for maintaining the service cable from the utility pole to the weatherhead, but not the weatherhead itself. “Many homeowners don’t realize this until a severe storm blows through and knocks down trees on powerlines,” said Jeff Mann, Manager of OUC System Operations, Electric & Water Distribution.
What happens after a hurricane?
After a hurricane or a strong storm topples trees on overhead powerlines running to homes, many property owners are surprised – and not in a good way — to learn that it’s their responsibility to repair damaged weatherheads before their electrical service can be restored.
How long does it take to repair a weatherhead?
A weatherhead repair typically takes about five hours, Boone said, but an electrician can’t start working on it until fallen trees have been removed and roof or siding damage near it has been fixed.
Can you waive a permit fee for a tornado?
In the aftermaths of catastrophic storms, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, local governing authorities may waive permit fees and relax inspection requirements to help speed recovery.
How does a weatherhead work?
The bottom end of the service mast connects to the home's meter base. An additional set of service cables starts at the service panel (and the electric meter) and runs up through and out of the service head. These cables connect to the service drop cables near the outside of the mast. This connection is called the service point, and it represents the dividing line between the utility company's property and the homeowner's property (although the meter may be owned by the utility even though it is on the homeowner's side).
What is the service head on a house?
When the service drop reaches the house, it connects to an assembly called the service head, also know as the service mast or masthead. Typically, a service head consists of a rigid steel conduit (like a big pipe) that runs up through the roof or along an exterior wall and is topped with a shell-like fitting called a weatherhead or weather cap.
Why do power lines drop?
Because the power company lines are higher than your home, the cables that go to your home literally drop, descending from a higher spot to a lower spot. If your home does not have a service drop, it is supplied by similar cables running underground.
Can you do your own electrical work?
While homeowners in many municipalities are allowed to do their own electrical work, this applies to household projects, like replacing outlets and lights, running electrical cable, and maybe even installing new circuits. However, homeowners are not allowed to work on any part of the utility's service drop.
What is overhead service drop?
The overhead service drop, or underground service lateral, are the electrical conductors that come from the utility pole, pedestal or ground-mounted transformer to the home. Changes to the service drop will always be completed by the utility company, and the cost for most changes are the responsibility of the customer. The major safety issue here is that the service drop conductors have no fuse, circuit breaker or any kind of overcurrent protection at their supply end; they are directly connected to the utility’s distribution grid and are energized at all times.
How far should overhead conductors be from windows?
Overhead conductors must have a horizontal clearance of 3-feet from all windows that can be opened, doors, porches, balconies, ladders, stairs, fire escapes, or similar locations. No one should be able to grab a service conductor from these areas. 6 / 12. via Excel Energy.
How many conductors are in a service mast?
There are three conductors coming to the service mast in the overhead service drop, two ungrounded conductors (hot legs) and a separate grounded conductor (neutral). The hot legs have black thermoset, polymer or other nonmetallic conductor insulation. If all three wires are connected to the service mast that runs through the roof, ...
How far away from a pool should the overhead conductor be?
When located near a swimming pool, the overhead service conductors must be at least 10-feet away from the pool horizontally and at least 22.5-feet high.
What is flashing on a roof?
Flashing. Service masts that penetrate the roof must have a roofing boot properly secured at the roof line to prevent water leaks. The roofing boot must be properly sealed, glued and screwed flush with the roof membrane. If nails are used, they must be sealed properly.
Can you install an electric meter underground?
Utility companies install electrical distribution either below ground or above ground, and they make the decision on which one will be used in your installation. The long-term overall cost is less for overhead electrical distribution compared to underground distribution, but sometimes the utility will install underground distribution, but it comes with an additional installation and maintenance cost to the property owner. The location of the electric meter will be determined by the electric utility based on the size of the service, the type of service and the type of distribution equipment, such as a transformer or distribution pedestal.
