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How to make the input of electricity from a pole into a house

This post provides a step by step guide on how to properly transfer electricity from a pole into a house. It explains how to correctly measure the distance between poles, disconnect preexisting lines, and connect new lines for a smooth transfer of power. Additionally, the post illustrates the importance of safety, and suggests utilizing grounding and surge protection to prevent damage and potential hazards. The guide supplies all the tools necessary to make the job easy, cost efficient and convenient. Overall, this post is a comprehensive and essential guide for making the safe and successful transfer of electricity from pole to house.

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The total electrical power can be very impressive, because the introduction of electricity into the house is the place most vulnerable to installation errors. Let’s talk about what and how to lay the cable, how to organize the electricity distribution scheme and what to look for first..

How to make the input of electricity from a pole into a house

Distribution network design principle

The electrical input is located on the border of the internal and external power supply areas – it is the only line connecting the municipal system with the home. The load in this section is the highest, therefore the requirements for the input device are more stringent, and its service life is one third lower than that of the internal electrification system..

The connection point can be:

  • “Low” bus of the transformer substation (in 3-4% of cases);
  • support of overhead power lines (95% of cases);
  • collector node of the underground cable route (1–2%).

Entering electricity into the house from the poleInput of electricity into the house from the pole: 1 – overhead transmission line; 2 – SIP cable; 3 – cable fastening; 4 – cable entry through the sleeve

In a more sophisticated version, the insertion is made into the cable line by means of a branching cable sleeve. This connection option is almost always accompanied by the arrangement of a new technical well or an overhead collector.

The electrical wiring to the meter should be visible and, if possible, have no connections that allow the removal of voltage from the contact terminals. In order not to draw up an act of hidden work and not to seal all boxes with connections, meters are installed on the facades of houses, where they are always available for inspection, and the continuity of the input is easily controlled.

Electricity meter on the facade of the house

Work planning: how to live in symbiosis with RES

Electricity meter is a line for dividing areas of responsibility between the consumer and the electricity supplier. The meter itself and all lines connected to it belong to the internal power supply project. Air entry, respectively, is served by the installation service of urban networks.

And here a problem arises: the supplier cannot provide electricity without sealing the metering unit. And since the installation of the meter is carried out by the employees of the distribution zone, the consumer is experiencing difficulties with connecting the outgoing line. Ideally, the entire internal building should already be mounted and a cable from the ASU should be brought out to the facade to connect one central line. But this is not always the case.

Entering electricity into the house from the pole

Installation of the internal power supply requires the organization of a temporary input for grooving, drilling and commissioning. Therefore, a temporary input is first installed at the facility, and after the completion of the internal work, the metering unit is opened, the final connection of the facility is made and the seals are installed again. This service is paid and it is provided with wires, therefore, when installing the metering unit, you can fix an IP55 junction box next to it and start wiring from the meter into it.

In a particular case, installation of the ASU next to the meter is possible. So it is possible to mount several inputs: one into the house, the second for street lighting, several more for the garage and other outbuildings. In this version, the junction box is replaced by a modular box. To smooth out the violation of the facade, an overhead distribution board without a bottom is mounted around the metering unit and the ASU, recessed into the layer of facade decoration and insulation.

ASU on the facade of the house

Choosing a cable by cross section and brand

Aluminum cable products are prohibited for hidden installation indoors. Therefore, for input, as for all internal wiring, cable brands with solid copper conductors are used: VVG or PV-1 when laying through plastic or steel pipes.

It is considered that the conducting capacity of the internal cable should be equivalent to the input line from the municipal network. The approach is not entirely correct: with an installed power of 3–4.5 kW, duplicate 16 mm2 aluminum (minimum cross-section of self-supporting insulated wire) is unprofitable. Therefore, it is enough to provide a safety factor of 1.3 when calculating the cable cross-section for the maximum line current, determined by the power limiter or an automatic switch in front of the meter..

VVG cable

In practice, copper conductors with a cross section of 2.5 or 4 mm are used for input.2, less often – 6 mm2. The settings of the input automatic machine corresponding to these standard sizes are 25, 32 and 40 A.

Choosing a cabling system

The electrical input cable is more susceptible to high stress and heat. It must be protected in all possible ways from damage, atmospheric influences, and when laying on combustible bases – to ensure the localization of the conductor in case of fire.

Entering electricity from the pole into the house

The route of the cable laying depends on the location of the general building panel or the ASU. If the destination is located on an external wall, it is wise to run the cable from the meter along the façade, for example, under a roof overhang or gable tide. In this case, the cable is pulled into a polyethylene corrugated pipe or metal hose.

Entering electricity from the pole into the house

Laying in the attic, in the body of the foundation or inside the basement is carried out after the cable is protected with a steel or plastic sheath (pipe). Installation can take place both in an open way and inside the ceiling or walls.

Laying the lead-in cable in the attic

Remote accounting node

Electricity supplying organizations practice installing a metering unit outside the consumer’s possession. This can be either an intention to prevent the theft of electricity, or the reason was the significant length of the outgoing line – you need to take into account the power loss in the conductor.

Street metering board

The transportation of energy resources up to 1000 V usually occurs through a 0.4 kV overhead power transmission line with a self-supporting insulated wire. In rare cases, the cable is laid underground, but only if the installation of the overhead line is impossible or undesirable. Both of these methods are also applicable to supplying electricity to an object..

Arrangement of the underground input is more practical: nothing will spoil the aesthetics of the facade, there is no possibility of a line breaking in a strong wind. There is also a more important advantage: the cable for underground laying is allowed to be laid inside the premises, but SIP is not. The overhead line wire requires a special fixation system that distributes it from the wall for normal ventilation: the polyethylene sheath does not tolerate overheating well. Laying the underground line is very simple, a slot in the ground, a 20 cm sand cushion and a protective sheath (HDPE pipes) are enough if the cable does not have its own reservation.

Underground electricity input to the house Underground electricity input to the house: 1 – self-supporting insulated wire; 2 – pipe stand; 3 – accounting board; 4 – pipe for cable laying

When working with an overhead line, you have to make a transition to an internal cable, that is, with copper conductors. The elimination of the formation of oxides at the boundary of two non-ferrous metals is ensured by terminal connections filled with insulating grease or by an open screw block. Technical means for such a connection can be found both among the self-supporting insulated wire (piercing clamps) and in the list of installation products for general wiring.

Piercing clamp for self-supporting insulated wire

In most cases, a screw terminal box will suffice. The problem is different: the maximum loaded line loses its integrity, a vulnerability appears on it that requires attention and needs periodic maintenance.

Input service

At the first time after installation, the electrical bushing must pass tests for insulation resistance and phase-zero loops. If the results of the examination are satisfactory, the input and the main house shield are allowed for operation.

6 months after the installation of the bushing, it is necessary to de-energize it and tighten all the screw connections – starting from the machine in front of the meter and ending with the contact clamps of the input distribution device.

Entering electricity into the house from the pole

Every 5 years of operation, the constriction is repeated, but at the same time the contacting live parts should be cleaned of formed oxides. It is recommended to carry out external inspection of the cable line with the same frequency..

The operation of the cable gland can last for about 30 years. After this period, the cable must be at least partially removed from the groove or protective sheath and subjected to a more thorough examination..

The presence of melting on the core insulation, drying out of the encircling insulation, crunching in the cable are clear signs that the conductor cannot cope with the applied load. This input should be replaced with a more powerful one as soon as possible..

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Comments: 1
  1. Isla Jenkins

    Can you please explain the process of safely connecting electricity from a utility pole to a residential house? What are the necessary steps involved in setting up the electrical input and ensuring it meets all safety standards?

    Reply
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