Guest post - Redneck Electrical Failure

Today my guest blogger is my husband, who tells the sad story of his attempt to wire electricity on our property in the mountains. We now have a professional electrician contracted to do the work. We're assuming he has a ladder, or even better a bucket lift, of the correct height.....

Hi All,

I thought you might enjoy an excerpt from my weekend electrical FAILURE.

Background:
This weekend I attempted to put in the electrical service on our mountain property.  I was attempting to attach the following assembly to the main service pole:  (1) weather head (approx. 3 lbs), (2) a 10 ft long x 2 in diameter galvanized steel pipe (approx. 40 lbs), (3) a meter box (approx. 10 lbs), (4) a main load breaker box (approx. 20 lbs) and (5) 15' of three lead 4/0 aluminum wire (approx. 20 lbs). 

Errors:
1)  I thought the electric pole IREA put in was 15 ft,  it's 30 ft  
2)  I thought I could reach the top of the pole with my 10 ft ladder standing in the back of my truck.  It was about 12 ft short of the top of the pole and 10 ft above my scare limit.  
3)  I thought I could push the assembly up, and attach what I could reach to the pole.  The assembly was 12 ft long and weighed about 90 lbs.  That is 10 ft, and 60 lbs more then I can lift and control over my head.  

Revelation:
The assembly fell and bent/broke several times.  I quit after a 12 ft long 2 x 6 inch redwood beam, fell and hit me in the head.  The bumps on my head made me realize that Yahovah had allowed me to live, and exchange wisdom for ability.  I am now hiring a contractor with a bucket truck to put in the temporary electrical service.  I am going to give the contractor a bunch of broken electrical stuff, so I don't have to look at it and remember the pain and disgrace.     

Cathy took a couple of pictures that I deleted before they made it on to redneck funniest construction videos, or something.

Leonard

Note from Catherine: I still have the photos, but as I don't want them making it onto one of those emails about crazy redneck construction projects, you'll only get to see it in person. 

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