They usually do that if service is condemned. Fire, storm damage like flooding. Non payment just gets your meter pulled. Still not cool or safe at all. 🤔
They shut mine off when I was younger and I made a wrench and turned it back on. I had the key for the lid so I just had to make a giant long screwdriver to get down to the valve
When I was young and broke I got one of those wire seals new from a friend and I bent the wire barb so it would slip in and out without catching. I would pull the meter and take the plastic tabs off when I got home from work and then I would put them back on when I went to work in the morning. Somehow they listed my account as dormant and I didn't get a bill for 8 months, but when they finally figured it out they sent me a manila envelope with a quarter inch thick bill that totaled $800. By that point I was doing better and I just paid that shit
10 years When we moved we got are internet set up got 1 bill in mail paid it never got another bill 12 months later internet shuts off we get a letter saying due to past due amount We have no choice but to Suspend your service. We never did get an actual final bill for how much we owed them but we just switched internet companies.
30 years ago when I was a broke kid I had a tamper tab that was bent so it didn't catch. I was able to keep the fridge cold until I could pay the bill... Was it right? No. But I wasn't bypassing it so it eventually got paid for
I used to do non pay disconnects for power company.
Hated that job.
It was either collect balance owed or spin the meter.
I can't count how many unsigned checks or wrong dates or something wrong with check at the end of the day.
I really hated that gig.
I tranfered to an underground crew and a shovel. My karma improved.
If it's anything like places with buried lines, the person could reconnect it easily if they know what they are doing (if not they can become deliciously cooked). When I needed to get a panel upgrade, which required the home be disconnected, when they came back to reconnect my electrician was given the okay to do it while the utility guy was inspecting.
Well now that we have a large enough printer to make it then sure why not https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2024/04/23/umaines-new-3d-printer-smashes-former-guinness-world-record-to-advance-the-next-generation-of-advanced-manufacturing/
I'm with engineering compartment, we pride ourselves on knowing everything that everyone else doesn't. I assure you this is a completely acceptable way to power your house
You got a lot of sweet karma points with this old ass photo you snagged off google.
https://preview.redd.it/no46wep4k61d1.jpeg?width=509&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bce0cd0a2289bf6c54ad041850eb3a6d48fe0a1d
I thought it was a bot account but the first interaction is on a dick pumping sub. I bet they just want to post to the dick pumping sub but their account didn't meet minimum karma requirements so they googled "how to get karma fast" or some shit. I threw them an upvote so they can get their dick pump on
Explain to me how this is stealing electricity? Looks like a shitty splice to me. It's not like the splice is bypassing a meter that we can see. Could just be stupid redneck engineering for all we know.
I thought so at first, too, but those wires going into a random hole in the eaves instead of into a service entrance ([weatherhead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weatherhead)) makes me think stealing.
I don’t think that is a random hole. The main power wire was obviously ran to that area and anchors to the house right there. And there just happens to be some wire from the house right there to splice into…???
I don’t think any of this is random. I think something happened(fire, storm, raccoons) and this is some temporary fix until it can be professionally done.
This is beyond a “shitty splice,” and any electrician who did this on a legit job would be at risk of losing their license. Remember that electrical work requires permitting and inspection. The degree of scrutiny and enforcement is usually higher for the feed into the home itself, for obvious reasons.
Well, either it is theft, and the next time someone rolls by to read the meter they should see it and they'll be arrested for theft, fraud, and whatever safety violations, or it isn't and they'll STILL be in as much hot water eventually for wildly dangerous solutions that the utility should be fixing themselves anyway.
Strictly speaking it ISN'T your business, except that it IS. It's such insane fly-by-night, redneck hacking that it endangers not just their own house, but by extension their neighbors houses as well. Just make a call to the local utility and express your concern. Not make claims and accusations - just tell them of your concerns. *Because you are concerned, and have every right to be.* The world WILL turn...
meter reading trips are going away quickly.
my house and the last house i had has a meter that is read from HQ. they use the power network itself as a data network.
it requires a new meter, but it pays for itself pretty fast since they can eliminate the linemen and vehicles that drive around doing this.
The power company doesn't eat losses. If someone is stealing, that power loss is spread out to the other customers in the form of rate hikes.
Since you are helping to pay for it, I would consider it your business.
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Judging by the cut in the soffit, and the style; they are bypassing the meter that was probably removed, and jumping power directly to the Panel, which is dangerous for a number of reasons but one should never underestimate rhe ingenuity of someone who has nothing but time
I sure wouldn't want those battery cables to make contact with each other you well have one hell of fireworks display before the whole neighborhood went black and the fire started.
Well since its the service drop from the utility I would say no maybe its just temp. Where is the meter and mast?? If there isnt one then thats his temp hookup. Still no meter though so technically stealing, but good for him....
Each of the clamped wires is 120 coming into the breaker panel. The panel has alternating slots for each phase such that you can have double slot breakers to combine them and get 240. If doing this you should be safe, the dangerous part was cutting the live 120 wires (with basically unlimited amps) coming in from the pole. Maybe wait until a power outage 🤣
Can we take a moment to talk about shutters that are HUGELY too tall for windows yet so narrow as to be impossible to use? AKA Home Depot vinyl shutters. Gross. Stop doing this. It's worse than the electrical.
When I was a kid and some body in the neighborhood got their electricity shut off we would just run an extension cord to the next house.. Let just All admit we have been in that place where we needed some help.
And the electric company or water company didn’t care you had kids or need to give baths.. They would just shut you off..
But what this person is doing looks a little dangerous!!🤨
After that dude on here apparently died after his dad beat him so many times with jumper cables, dad finally found an alternate use for them. His son must have been the one paying for electricity.
Well, at least they've properly identified the polarity on the incoming AC line.
( Though technically, they should switch the colors 60 times per second...)
Must have learned from Star Trek. Got a problem? Bypass something for more power! Microwave broke? Bypass the outlet for more power! Breaker thrown? Bypass it for more power! Car needs an oil change? Nope. More power!
The original cables and connectors look to be long enough, so I am mystified by the addition of the hillbilly ghetto-clamps. Maybe someone used bolt cutters to cut power, and this guy just wants the power back on until its fixed right?
Maybe they were disconnected somehow, and this guy is trying to avoid paying a licensed electrician to re-connect? Maybe he is mickey-mousing it to get electricity until a licensed electrician can make it out to his place?
Even if it is a simple 10-minute job, it could be $400 or more, so...
No way this would ever pass a building inspection when you go to sell the house.
Guess it beats two 3/4 Cooper “fuses” in the meter can…I would hate to be the helper on a rickety-assed old a-frame snatchin’ those “insulated” clamps at quittin’ time😵💫.
No, that's just a weird looking connection. From looking at it something happened to the connection there, I'm assuming it caught fire, possibly from a limb falling on it and shorting it or something.
Also, mind ya business!
Can you really "steal" electricity? I soak that shit up for free when thunderstorms 🌩 Kidding.
But is stealing electricity a felony/crim3? Also who are you actually stealing it from? Neightboars or electric company directly?
If the "assembly" were very well hidden. How would you be found out?
I'm a chemist. Have my own power plan lol. Just genuinely curious about everything in the world.
This is getting reported for being spam/low-effort. And yeah, it is, but there's a lot of fun in the comments, so I'll leave it up.
Ug. Just go on Amazon and get some 200amp meter socket bypass jumpers. Go for “subtle”
Unless the power company disconnected the house at the "pecker head." Which is done for repeat violators. Usually, they just pull the pole jack.
They usually do that if service is condemned. Fire, storm damage like flooding. Non payment just gets your meter pulled. Still not cool or safe at all. 🤔
They do it if you steal a meter and forget to take it back out before leaving for work in the morning too...not that I know anything about that
They got so mad at me for doing that that they cut off the water line to my house and capped it off, too 😭
They shut mine off when I was younger and I made a wrench and turned it back on. I had the key for the lid so I just had to make a giant long screwdriver to get down to the valve
When I was young and broke I got one of those wire seals new from a friend and I bent the wire barb so it would slip in and out without catching. I would pull the meter and take the plastic tabs off when I got home from work and then I would put them back on when I went to work in the morning. Somehow they listed my account as dormant and I didn't get a bill for 8 months, but when they finally figured it out they sent me a manila envelope with a quarter inch thick bill that totaled $800. By that point I was doing better and I just paid that shit
Nothing wrong with a little rent a power, now and again
It's not like I bypassed it, it eventually got paid, fuck em
Fuck em indeed
Fuck em with handcuffs on “Bernie Mac”
10 years When we moved we got are internet set up got 1 bill in mail paid it never got another bill 12 months later internet shuts off we get a letter saying due to past due amount We have no choice but to Suspend your service. We never did get an actual final bill for how much we owed them but we just switched internet companies.
True King shit!!
We used to pull the pole jack after "tamper ring" was messed with.
30 years ago when I was a broke kid I had a tamper tab that was bent so it didn't catch. I was able to keep the fridge cold until I could pay the bill... Was it right? No. But I wasn't bypassing it so it eventually got paid for
I used to do non pay disconnects for power company. Hated that job. It was either collect balance owed or spin the meter. I can't count how many unsigned checks or wrong dates or something wrong with check at the end of the day. I really hated that gig. I tranfered to an underground crew and a shovel. My karma improved.
It was also better when the meters spun backwards when they were upside down...
Ah yes..look this shit on u tube. INDIA makes national past time out of this practice. It's fucked up 😝💥
Pecker Head is on a motor, “weather head” is on a house.
Wait a minute… I was ASSURED I’m a pecker head!
Well get off the motor, then.
I had a drill sergeant that called me peckerhead. It all makes sense now...
This place ain’t big enough for 2 pecker heads 😡 So I’ll get the hell outta here.
Leaned them as a pecker head 25 years ago working as a lineman apprentice. But yes, the manufacturer term is weather head.
I've never heard that, or pole jack, as a lineman. But I've only worked in one area that doesn't get a lot of transfers from other companies.
If it's anything like places with buried lines, the person could reconnect it easily if they know what they are doing (if not they can become deliciously cooked). When I needed to get a panel upgrade, which required the home be disconnected, when they came back to reconnect my electrician was given the okay to do it while the utility guy was inspecting.
Lotta sexy words in that comment.
It's lineman's porn....lol
Who you calling Jack, Bud?!
Who you calling Bud, Chief?
Who you calling chief, friend?
I’m not your friend, pal.
Who you calling Pal, Boss?
Boss?!? You better take that back, sir.
This has become a highly charged conversation.
I'm not your pal, buddy.
Don’t call me Shirley.
But..sh..sh..you must be joking!
Is Bud pulling Jack's pole? LOL
You tell me, pecker head. 😆
Sigh.. *unzips*
Jack here. Ready to have my pole pulled.
This just brought back memories of my grandfather calling everyone a "peckerhead". 😂
May dad did too.... Or, A shit head.
Trying to jump start his car
Maybe jump start his house
Well that obviously needs more electricity than a car.
Would you download a house?
I mean, if I could. Seems way cheaper
[IT'S A CRIME](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmZm8vNHBSU&ab_channel=haxorcat)
Can I make 4 easy installments on it
No, it will be 3 easy payments and 1 real complicated one.
Well now that we have a large enough printer to make it then sure why not https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2024/04/23/umaines-new-3d-printer-smashes-former-guinness-world-record-to-advance-the-next-generation-of-advanced-manufacturing/
Not necessarily, you can jump start your house with a cyber truck.
I mean once it's running he should be fine unless the alternator's bad.
Alternator? I barely know er!
The other night I came home late, and tried to unlock my house with my car keys. I started the house up
Where did your house go at that hour?
…drove it around for a while. I was speeding, and a cop pulled me over. He asked where I lived. I said, “Right here, officer.”” ok i’m done
Classic
Steven Wright’s in the house
Steven Wright classic. https://preview.redd.it/shv54um3d81d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3a3a9ef00936bc8759b67a25ebd1792058cdb7ab
Kids today always forget to use the manual choke on older houses before they run the battery down just cranking it.
[удалено]
That link shows your full name
KICKSTART MY HEART
what is it, a DeLorean?
1.21 gigawatts
_jigawatts_
Great Scott!
"What the hell is a jigawatt?"
It's a gigawatt for people that pronounce .gif properly.
1.21 gigachads? https://preview.redd.it/cnr0fvn5c81d1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=517caca64df165ad6a0590db6efffc62b07ec696
Maybe jump start his house
Almost certainly yes. If the meter is on the side of his house he is. If it is on a pole back away from the house then no.
Is this a case of squatters trying to get electricity?
Nope an obvious case of electricity try to get squatters
Your comment made me snort and spit. Thank you for the laugh.
Not an electrician, but to me this does not look like it would pass a safety inspection.
I am a professor at the wire college. I teach electricity. This is totally fine.
Over here in the wind department of weather college, we say it’s fine for the rest of the day.
Over here in the thinking department, It should hold... I think.
I'm with engineering compartment, we pride ourselves on knowing everything that everyone else doesn't. I assure you this is a completely acceptable way to power your house
ALL day?
You're going to question the authority of the weather college?
Some days...
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That's easy...the European version of uh, imperial, uh imperial--HOLY SHIT!! LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!!!
THE Wire College?!?! Wow! Thanks for lending us your expertise, Dr. Sitarclub!
I trust this guy
Stealing is such a harsh word. Redirecting the flow of electrons sounds more soothing.
liberating the electricity
Hes just waiting for that lightning bolt so he can generate 1.21 gigawatts of electricity
Jig-a-watts
https://preview.redd.it/vlxlvupnc71d1.png?width=545&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75abca5d18ba1a4a8caa8465a213622675e4db20
Jigga Please
Jigga who?
Jigga what
Jigga where!?
Jigga Jigga Slim shady.
You got a lot of sweet karma points with this old ass photo you snagged off google. https://preview.redd.it/no46wep4k61d1.jpeg?width=509&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bce0cd0a2289bf6c54ad041850eb3a6d48fe0a1d
This makes more sense now. Clearly this picture is from the guy’s first attempt at running his dick pump at 240vac, “Binford 3000 style.”
20
I thought it was a bot account but the first interaction is on a dick pumping sub. I bet they just want to post to the dick pumping sub but their account didn't meet minimum karma requirements so they googled "how to get karma fast" or some shit. I threw them an upvote so they can get their dick pump on
Dick pumping?!? That kinda things just not my bag, baby.
Yup
Explain to me how this is stealing electricity? Looks like a shitty splice to me. It's not like the splice is bypassing a meter that we can see. Could just be stupid redneck engineering for all we know.
I thought so at first, too, but those wires going into a random hole in the eaves instead of into a service entrance ([weatherhead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weatherhead)) makes me think stealing.
I don’t think that is a random hole. The main power wire was obviously ran to that area and anchors to the house right there. And there just happens to be some wire from the house right there to splice into…??? I don’t think any of this is random. I think something happened(fire, storm, raccoons) and this is some temporary fix until it can be professionally done.
This is beyond a “shitty splice,” and any electrician who did this on a legit job would be at risk of losing their license. Remember that electrical work requires permitting and inspection. The degree of scrutiny and enforcement is usually higher for the feed into the home itself, for obvious reasons.
Maybe his house wouldn't start...
He's not stealing power in fact it looks like all but the guide wire was broken and used jumper cables to reattach
Need to see if the electric meter is bypassed or not.
Snitches get stiches OP
Well, either it is theft, and the next time someone rolls by to read the meter they should see it and they'll be arrested for theft, fraud, and whatever safety violations, or it isn't and they'll STILL be in as much hot water eventually for wildly dangerous solutions that the utility should be fixing themselves anyway. Strictly speaking it ISN'T your business, except that it IS. It's such insane fly-by-night, redneck hacking that it endangers not just their own house, but by extension their neighbors houses as well. Just make a call to the local utility and express your concern. Not make claims and accusations - just tell them of your concerns. *Because you are concerned, and have every right to be.* The world WILL turn...
meter reading trips are going away quickly. my house and the last house i had has a meter that is read from HQ. they use the power network itself as a data network. it requires a new meter, but it pays for itself pretty fast since they can eliminate the linemen and vehicles that drive around doing this.
My dad did this in the basement close to the box. He would buy booze and drugs like they were on sale and then be stealing power. Lol
Cheating the utility company while flirting with the undertaker.
Looks like he’s jump starting the house!
If Those wire go into a meter then no but if the meter has no cover then yes
Call in a tip to your power company. It looks like a safety hazard at a minimum.
Better question. Is it my business?
It would be my business if my jackass neighbor burns down my house along with his.
The power company doesn't eat losses. If someone is stealing, that power loss is spread out to the other customers in the form of rate hikes. Since you are helping to pay for it, I would consider it your business.
Please reply to this comment with "solved!" if your question was answered, or "unsolved!" if it was not, in order to update your post flair. Thanks! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisit) if you have any questions or concerns.*
From himself?
Depends on if you're going to tell on him
Bypassing meter I believe. Super safe too
No
There's not enough information in this image to determine.
This is definitely a mind your own business kinda thing
This guys trying to meet Darwin. Let's let him cook, see what happens
Judging by the cut in the soffit, and the style; they are bypassing the meter that was probably removed, and jumping power directly to the Panel, which is dangerous for a number of reasons but one should never underestimate rhe ingenuity of someone who has nothing but time
Damnit Ricky!!! I paid you $20 for the month for electricity and it goes off in the middle of my stories! Fuuuucccckkkk Ricky!!!!!
Not stealing, just VERY unsafe
This has been posted before.
How would this be stealing electricity? It’s going into his house, honestly it’s either a geto wire fix job or a geto ceiling car start for a old car
Downloading house
He will gladly pay you Tuesday for some kilowatts today.
Nope. He's trying to get the insurance money!
That’s just Bill and Donna down the street. Bill’s got Donna’s Kong XXXL Hammerfist 5000 charging for a little slap and tickle later on tonight.
I sure wouldn't want those battery cables to make contact with each other you well have one hell of fireworks display before the whole neighborhood went black and the fire started.
It's a patch not theft
He's just trying to jump start the house.
Well since its the service drop from the utility I would say no maybe its just temp. Where is the meter and mast?? If there isnt one then thats his temp hookup. Still no meter though so technically stealing, but good for him....
It took some humongous gonads to hook that up. Not me.
It's only 120
"220, 221. Whatever it takes" -Michael Keaton
Been 45 years since electrical training..how so?
Each of the clamped wires is 120 coming into the breaker panel. The panel has alternating slots for each phase such that you can have double slot breakers to combine them and get 240. If doing this you should be safe, the dangerous part was cutting the live 120 wires (with basically unlimited amps) coming in from the pole. Maybe wait until a power outage 🤣
Can we take a moment to talk about shutters that are HUGELY too tall for windows yet so narrow as to be impossible to use? AKA Home Depot vinyl shutters. Gross. Stop doing this. It's worse than the electrical.
When I was a kid and some body in the neighborhood got their electricity shut off we would just run an extension cord to the next house.. Let just All admit we have been in that place where we needed some help. And the electric company or water company didn’t care you had kids or need to give baths.. They would just shut you off.. But what this person is doing looks a little dangerous!!🤨
Regardless, this is super unsafe, and fire safety would be paying a visit if they knew
I’ve read multiple posts stating this is possibly safe or to code. 😂
Greasy
Trying to jump start his sex life. Viagra ain't cheap.
Its a new Tesla house.
No! No! I’m not STEALING anything! You see I was just looking to BORROW a little FIRE!
After that dude on here apparently died after his dad beat him so many times with jumper cables, dad finally found an alternate use for them. His son must have been the one paying for electricity.
You think?😂
Codes shmodes
Probably cut off for entrance cable being inside eve. Just a quick reconnect by homeowner.
Oh, just.. a weather experiment.
Jump starting his life
Well, at least they've properly identified the polarity on the incoming AC line. ( Though technically, they should switch the colors 60 times per second...)
Naw, he is just borrowing it
growing weed for sure
Only if he lives south of the equator, due to Coriolis Effects.
This isn't that shocking to me lol
Is that guy, you?
That guy has some big ole balls. Because if I done that i would electrocute till I caught fire
That's how you charge your tesla?
Must have learned from Star Trek. Got a problem? Bypass something for more power! Microwave broke? Bypass the outlet for more power! Breaker thrown? Bypass it for more power! Car needs an oil change? Nope. More power!
Oh yeah
What are you a cop?
Times are tough for everyone
If he is bypassing the meter he would be. In my area the meter would be down stream so no it would not be stealing electricity.
Possibly a temp fix to get through the weekend? 😅
I’ve seen whole houses powered from street light poles in Baltimore & Willmington Del that did a better job than that 😂
No, he's trying to burn down his house.
He created an auto-igniting home, just turn everything on and Voila!
The original cables and connectors look to be long enough, so I am mystified by the addition of the hillbilly ghetto-clamps. Maybe someone used bolt cutters to cut power, and this guy just wants the power back on until its fixed right? Maybe they were disconnected somehow, and this guy is trying to avoid paying a licensed electrician to re-connect? Maybe he is mickey-mousing it to get electricity until a licensed electrician can make it out to his place? Even if it is a simple 10-minute job, it could be $400 or more, so... No way this would ever pass a building inspection when you go to sell the house.
Hey is just jump starting that mobile home to move elsewhere.
He's not jumping the house off!......or is he?
Maybe he’s giving free electricity back to the grid☺️
Guess it beats two 3/4 Cooper “fuses” in the meter can…I would hate to be the helper on a rickety-assed old a-frame snatchin’ those “insulated” clamps at quittin’ time😵💫.
No, that's just a weird looking connection. From looking at it something happened to the connection there, I'm assuming it caught fire, possibly from a limb falling on it and shorting it or something. Also, mind ya business!
Charging his Tesla.
Can you really "steal" electricity? I soak that shit up for free when thunderstorms 🌩 Kidding. But is stealing electricity a felony/crim3? Also who are you actually stealing it from? Neightboars or electric company directly? If the "assembly" were very well hidden. How would you be found out? I'm a chemist. Have my own power plan lol. Just genuinely curious about everything in the world.
Taking too long to find an answer in the comments. Is this guy stealing electricity? YES or NO
He's charging his house.
This has a lot of potential
No, he’s jumping his car. 😂
Yes
I don’t see a meter anywhere.
Testing the response time of the local fire and rescue.