Can someone explain the rational for this.......

[r100rs]

I've been house hunting (in CO) during what free time I have.  I have found alot of houses with the main breaker box (it includes all breakers)on the outside of the house, just below the meter.  

This makes absolutely no sense to me.  I know CO doesn't get a whole lot of rain, but why not mount it in the garage or somewhere else inside.

If I were a thief and wanted to get into a house, just kill the power and go in.

Other than code, I can't imagine there is much difference in cost to put one in a more logical spot.

r100rs

[anne]

Is it as simple as it needing to be somewhere accessible to the "meter man"? (My dog and the meter guy are best of buds since he brings treats in a fanny pack. Those poor guys have enough to deal with without breaking into peoples' garages )

[Brewman]

 Out of curiousity, how old are these houses?
I'm just guessing here, but I bet it was the least expensive way to install the electric service when they built the house, that still met code.  

Both houses we built had the electric meter installed on the building as close to the street tap (underground electric here) as possible, with the breaker panel mounted inside the building, but just on the other side of the wall.  In our house, it was the garage, since that was the closest to the street junction.  The neighbors sharing that tap got their panel in the basement, since the house was closer to that tap than their garage.
The shorter the distance they run the feed cables, the cheaper the hookup is.  

They don't seem to do outdoor panel installs anywhere around here.  

I wouldn't worry too much about a burglar cutting your power, they can easily open pretty much any meter and kill the power if they want to.  

Any way to install a lock on that panel, just to ease your worry?  You'd have to check on the legality of that, though.  Might also violate code.

[r100rs]

The meter has to go outside I understand that - but why put the breaker box out with it.

Brewman - These are old houses and brand new houses - as in still under construction - .  It can't cost much more to mount the box inside vs out.

The only nice thing about them being outside, if I where to buy one of them, it would be easy to run power for a spa.

r100rs

[Brewman]

If you buy one still under construction, have them do a rough in for your spa wiring.  When we built our current house we had the builder's electrician rough in for central air.  We didn't want to get a/c from our builder, but we knew we'd want it very soon after moving in.
Cost was about what I'd have had to pay to do it myself.   We also upgraded to 200 amp service for an extra $50.  That one can cost thousands if needed after the fact.  

Do not underestimate a GC's willingness to save even a few bucks.  Do that for every little sub job on every house over several years, and it's thousands of free dollars right into their pocket.

[Gomboman]

Every house I've ever seen in California has the breakers outside. Never thought about it before . It sure would be better inside though. A thief could definitely turn off your power very easily.

 
 They don't seem to do outdoor panel installs anywhere around here. ?
 

[Brookenstein]

LOL... I thought Californians were whacked when I moved here.  I had never seen breaker boxes on the outside before.  In fact we looked for more than an hour for ours and ended up having to ask a neighbor where it was.  Talk about feeling like an idiot.  In OR and WA they are mostly in the garage, utility room or entry ways.  I've never seen one on the outside.

[Brewman]

Must vary by location, then.  I've heard of it, never seen it, and it's not common around here.
Would be a PITA to have to go outside to reset a tripped breaker.

[Gomboman]

Why, it's never below 70°.  

Must vary by location, then.  I've heard of it, never seen it, and it's not common around here.
 Would be a PITA to have to go outside to reset a tripped breaker.

[drewstar]

Every house I've ever seen in California has the breakers outside. Never thought about it before . It sure would be better inside though. A thief could definitely turn off your power very easily.

It happens in the horror movies all the time!

[Chas]

My phone line runs underground all the way to the pole. So a thief may cut the power, but I have a UPS on the 'puter and I would simply email the police.

[NE-Phil]

My phone line runs underground all the way to the pole. So a thief may cut the power, but I have a UPS on the 'puter and I would simply email the police.

I can just see your email:
[size=18]911!  911! 911![/b][/color][/size]

Phil

[Brewman]

 It's a good idea to always have your CHARGED cell phone handy.  The cordless phones that we have in our house won't work if our power is out.  
If someone does try and break in after shutting off the power we can still call 911.  
In my situation, Mr. scumbag would have a .40 caliber suprise waiting for him if he decided to actually enter the house.  
 
I'm curious- does your city/county have emergency email capability for police, fire, etc..
We don't have that here.  

[Chas]

I'm curious- does your city/county have emergency email capability for police, fire, etc..
We don't have that here.  

No, I was just kidding. I would dial 911, assuming I could remember the number.

But, now that you mention it, why not? It would be a great idea to have some sort of emergency email address which would decode your ISP and redirect to the appropriate local agency. Hmm. Not a bad idea - I'm sure the technology is all there, somebody just has to implement it.

[r100rs]

Well I finally found an answer to this.  Now I haven't seen it in writing, but according to 2 electricians, the breakers are on the outside so the Fire Dept can kill the power to the house if needed.  Yet they couldn't tell me why some houses had them inside vs out

r100rs