Your new electrical service includes the following:

1.  New aluminum service entrance cable sized to your new electrical service.

2.  New weather head at the end of the new service cable.  This protects the cable from the entrance of rain water.

3.  New insulator for Duke overhead service lateral, if required.

4.  New meter socket and meter.  These items and the insulator, although installed by Cooper Electric, are the property of the local electric utility company.

5.  New copper clad ground rod and copper grounding electrode conductors.  An aluminum ground electrode conductor is in compliance with the National Electric Code.  However, due to the importance of the proper operation of the grounding system during a fault condition and our commitment to a superior quality installation, we install only copper ground wire.

6.  New distribution panel including a main circuit breaker sized to coordinate with the amperage of the electrical service.  We use Square D QO brand copper buss bar panels with a LIFETIME WARRENTY.

7.  New branch circuit breakers sized to match the maximum current carrying capability of the branch circuit conductor.

    Square D QO brand branch circuit breakers are WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE of the panel in which they are installed.  Our 100 amp panel has space for 30 single-pole, full-size circuit breakers.  Our 150 amp panel can accommodate 30 single-pole breakers.  Our 200 amp panel can accommodate 42 single-pole breakers.

8.  Cooper Electric will obtain the electrical permit and arrange for the electrical inspection.  We will also coordinate the inspection by the local utility company.  The cost of these items is included in  our quotation.

    NOTE:  If a re-inspection is required because you failed to provide access for the inspector on the agreed-upon day, an additional fee is charged to us and we will bill you accordingly.  If you accept our proposal and cancel after we have processed the permit you will be charged $50.00 to cover the cost of the permit and processing.
 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS COMMONLY ASKED
 

Question: What are the advantages of a circuit breaker system?
Answer: Although a fuse and circuit breaker perform the same function, you do not need to replace a breaker after it trips.  Once the cause for the tripping has been eliminated the breaker is simply reset.  Square D QO Line branch circuit breakers are also WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE of the electrical panel in which they are installed.  Also, with the installation of a new service, the electrical grounding will be brought up to the standards of the current National Electrical Code.  The grounding is so critical for personal safety that the National Electrical Code requires two independent grounding means.  This is done by installing a copper-clad ground rod AND a separate copper grounding electrode conductor to the water pipe system.  If the water meter is located inside the house, a jumper is placed around the water meter.  This jumper insures a continuous ground if the meter is ever removed and if the unions used to connect the meter are not electrically conductive.  It is required that we polish the water pipe contact surfaces to insure a good contact.  Even though we do this very carefully, some water pipe joints may start to leak after cleaning.  We cannot be responsible for repairing leaking pipe joints or water meters.  Cooper electric uses only copper ground wire.  Although aluminum is acceptable, we do not offer it as a lower cost alternative.
 

Question: Will the new electrical service cure the problem of blowing branch circuit fuses?
Answer: NO.  FUSES BLOW BECAUSE THERE IS TOO LARGE A LOAD ON THE CIRCUIT, THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE CIRCUIT WIRING, OR THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE APPLIANCE(S) CONNECTED TO THE CIRCUIT.

For example, a 1500 watt hair dryer and a 300 watt curling iron used simultaneously could overload the circuit and trip a 15 amp circuit breaker or blow a 15 amp fuse.
 

Question: Can’t we just install a higher amperage fuse?
Answer: NO.  Fuses and breakers are sized according to the capacity of the branch circuit conductor.  Installing a higher rated breaker of fuse allows more current to flow in the wiring than is safe.  The wire heats up and creates a potentially dangerous situation.  If you now have over-fused or over-protected circuits, Cooper Electric is required by national and local codes to replace them with properly sized circuit breakers.  This may result in the breaker tripping because of the excessive load on the circuit.  This condition may be corrected sometimes by better distribution of the load to other circuits or by adding an additional circuit to carry some of the load.  The costs of these corrections are not included in our quotation unless they are specifically listed in the description of the work.
 

Question: Where will my meter by installed?
Answer: The local utility requires all new meters to be installed outside at a height of 4 ½ to 5 ½ feet above grade level in an area unobstructed by bushes, trees, etc.  This facilitates the job of the meter reader.
 

Question: Why should I pay Cooper Electric to install my new electrical service when my friend will do it cheaper?
Answer: Cooper Electric insures all our workers for Workers’ Compensation AND Cooper Electric is insured for its liability to you.  If your friend (as competent as he may be) gets hurt, you will be responsible for his medical bills and lost wages.  Accidents happen even to highly skilled, careful people.  Cooper Electric uses name brand materials of the highest quality and we stand behind our work with a 5 YEAR WRITTEN WARRANTY.  When your friend moves out of town, we’ll still be here.
 

Question: What is a ground fault device?
Answer: A ground fault current interrupting device (GFI or GFCI) is a safety device incorporated into receptacles or circuit breakers.  They sense the difference between the current entering a circuit and the current leaving it.  When the two currents are not equal, it means some current is "leaking to ground" and the device disconnects the power supply before personal injury can occur.  The National Electrical Code requires GFCI protection for receptacles located in bathrooms, kitchen receptacles at counter height, basements, outdoor receptacles and garages where hazardous conditions are likely to exist.  Their use is also required in other applications such as swimming pool and hot tub (spa) wiring.
 

Question: Are Cooper Electric’s electricians licensed?
Answer: Neither the State of Ohio, Hamilton County nor the City of Cincinnati require electricians to be licensed.  In Ohio municipalities which require licenses and in Northern Kentucky, Cooper Electric’s journeyman electricians are licensed.  Additionally, all of our apprentices are required to attend a four year Bureau of Apprenticeship Training approved program and to maintain certain minimum standards.  Cooper Electric’s electricians are certified to repair aluminum wiring terminations according to the specifications of the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
 

Question: What is a SPEC Grade device?
Answer: A Specification Grade device (switches and receptacles) are high quality, heavy duty devices specified by knowledgeable architects and engineers for commercial and industrial installations.  MANUFACTURERS WARRANT SPEC GRADE DEVICES FOR TEN YEARS versus two years for residential grade devices.  Cooper Electric does not offer residential grade devices as a lower cost alternative.
 

Question: How long will my electrical power be off when the new electrical service is installed?
Answer: Approximately 6 hours.  Electronic, digital and programmable devices and appliances (TV’s, VCR’s, refrigerators, stereo systems, computers, garage door openers, alarm systems, etc.) should be turned off and disconnected before we start our work.  It is your responsibility to disconnect, reconnect and reprogram these items.  The food stored in your refrigerator and freezer is not normally affected by the outage even in hot weather.  To preserve  cold air in these appliances, please do not open the doors of these appliances during the electrical outage.
 

Have additional questions?  The Cooper Electric Professionals will be happy to answer them for you!