Don, forget working on the incoming utility lines live.

PPE Arc blast suit, flash face shield, 1000 Volt rated gloves, approximate cost about $500.00.

POCO will need to de-energize the incoming lines.

Ever find the Main Disconnect outside?

With good scheduling, of course, you need to have enough manpower to get the work done, POCO can pull the feeders from transfomer, change meter and panel, have inspector show up when you speculate the service will be ready for inspection, to include grounding, call in relaese to POCO, and they show up later in the day to re-energize.

That is exactly the sequence of events when we change a service here in Maine.

Once the service is re-energized, you can then start the process of re-connecting the branch circuits.

Don

I think the procedure is, at least it use to be.

Pull permit.

Obtain new meter base. Dominion Power use to provide it but I don't know they still do.

Call Dominion Power to cut seal. They may give you permission.

Pull meter, hide behind bush.

Mount new meter base along side old one.

Remove service entrance cable from old breaker box.

Run new service entrance cable from new meter to new breaker box.

Run old service entrance cable (still connected to old meter base) to new meter base.

Put jumper across new meter socket terminals.

Plug meter back into old meter base to re-energies.

Call for inspection.

Inspector calls Dominion Power

Only problem is, you are unlikely to have tool to clamp cables to new 200 amp meter base.

That's the way it use to be done, at least around here. Its been a long time. Nothing stays the same forever.

TK _ Hank,

Thanks for the process to follow. I will be doing the work under a spousal edict.

I will be allowed to shut the panel down and check sections 2 and 3 for loose connections.

However, if I decide to swap the panel, then I must give Bonnie adequate time to raise my Life Insurance Death Benefit. Also, the only way I can do the actual work would be to use a small child's wadding pool full with current conducting gel and an earth ground between the gel and the earth ground. No safety equipment will be allowed and the circuits must not be disconnected. Hm, I sense a pattern here.

Or, I can get a licensed electrician to swap the panel!

I think she doesn't trust my skill level!

Don:

Did you do something wrong? Have a chuckle.

Well I'll be darned!

I finally got the panel sections 2 and 3 opened and explored.

There are no pass through lugs. Instead the wires from the Breaker on the left side (I'll call "A") run from the breaker to the underside of section 3's plate ans are braised or spot welded to the plate. A2 - to the left side and A1 to the right side.

Breakers "B" conductor runs B2 to the left side and B1 right side on the center section.

I also have pictures:

Was currious how they attached to the buss. I see the Aluminum.