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The Electrical Servicve Drop: How to Inspect Residential Electrical Systems
- How to inspect the electrical service drop at a building
- Sketches illustrate defects found when inspecting the Electrical Service Drop or Service Lateral bringing electrical power to a building - Electrical Service Drop Wire Clearances and Other Defects
- Questions & Answers about inspecting the electrical service drop: clearances to overhead electrical wires, clearances from buildings, weather head security or leak defects.
- References
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Electrical panel ground & grounding: inspection, troubleshooting, reporting, repairing.
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Electrical Vocabulary for Residential Electrical Inspectors
Readers of this article should see our detailed definitions at DEFINITIONS of ELECTRICAL TERMS and AMPS & VOLTS DETERMINATION and at Electrical Circuits, shorts.
- Service Drop/Service Laterals (overhead/underground from street) - Inspection not required; [note clearance/tree/condition/number of wires]
- Service Entrance (masthead, service entrance conductors, meter/meter)
- Service Voltage
- Service Amperage
- Service Equipment
- Service disconnect - main overcurrent dev.
- Service box, main panel, service panel
- Grounding equipment - rod/electrode, grounding conductor
- Grounding wire: the "ground wire," normally inactive, alternative path from various devices to ground, exercised in abnormal conditions to permit fuse to blow and reduce shock hazard
- Grounded wire: neutral wire, normally carries return current, in daily use, gives flow path of current from source to earth
- Grounding electrode conductor: "the ground wire" from service equipment to ground at water pipe or electrode(s)
- Equipment grounding conductors: "ground wires" on each branch circuit throughout the house
- Grounding: connect something to earth (0 potential)
- Bonding: joining two electrical conductors so will be at same electrical potential (FYI: gas piping not used for grounding, is bonded to the grounding system)
- Arc fault circuit interrupters: see AFCIs ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS
Inspecting the Electrical Service Drop or Service Lateral bringing electrical power to a building
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- Electric Service Lateral - underground (mostly not visible)
Look For: settlement, conduit damage ?
- Electric Service Drop - overhead
(may be underground)
Look For: number of wires -2/120V, 3/240V, 4/3-phase
Look For: drip loop - present?
Look For: service cap - secure, facing down, present?
Look For: service mast - secure, straight, flashed, present? Lateral - underground (mostly not visible)
Look For: settlement, conduit damage ?
Sketch courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates. |
Electrical Service Drop Wire Clearances and Other Defects
- roadway 18 ft. overhead
- driveway 12 ft. overhead
- flat roof 8-10 ft. overhead
- roof 18" at mast, 3 ft. passing over
- walkway 10 ft. overhead
- swim pool 18 ft. vertical clearance, 10 ft. horizontal clearance
- not over 30 ft. above grade
- less than 3 ft. from windows, fire escapes, doors
- damaged, frayed
- trees, vines
- well-secured to house
- well-connected to service entrance cable (SEC)
Sketches above are courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Ampacity of an Electrical Service: How to determine the electrical service size or ampacity entering a building
- "Electrical System Inspection Basics," Richard C. Wolcott, ASHI 8th Annual Education Conference, Boston 1985.
- "Simplified Electrical Wiring," Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 (F5428) Rev. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]
- "How to plan and install electric wiring for homes, farms, garages, shops," Montgomery Ward Co., 83-850.
- "Simplified Electrical Wiring," Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 (F5428) Rev. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]
- "Home Wiring Inspection," Roswell W. Ard, Rodale's New Shelter, July/August, 1985 p. 35-40.
- "Evaluating Wiring in Older Minnesota Homes," Agricultural Extension Service, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108.
- "Electrical Systems," A Training Manual for Home Inspectors, Alfred L. Alk, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 1987, available from ASHI. [DF NOTE: I do NOT recommend this obsolete publication, though it was cited in the original Journal article as it contains unsafe inaccuracies]
- "Basic Housing Inspection," US DHEW, S352.75 U48, p.144, out of print, but is available in most state libraries.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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- Recommended books on electrical inspection, electrical wiring, electrical problem diagnosis, and electrical repair can be found in the Electrical Books section of the InspectAPedia Bookstore. (courtesy of Amazon.com)
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