Equi=Core Hum & Other Issues

@jea48 

I have no idea what you have.... No Idea.... Has to be really old though.
What stops the rain from blowing in through the side of the box where power wires enter?
I assume the box is surface mounted? Is there a conduit that drops out of the bottom of the box?

It is very old. This is an old neighborhood which used to have blackouts during storms. We finally got new transformers on the poles. Power is stable and higher now, 122-124VAC.

Nothing stops the rain from entering the box. The black cables from the drop make a 90° turn and enter through 2 holes on the exposed side. The white neutral enters through the bottom and keeps a perfect U- shape.
What's interesting is the electrician knew exactly where the water leak was. I was looking at the meter and he said no, it comes from up there.
I'm going to take pics. I'll try and post them for you over the weekend.

The box is surface mounted and looks like steel, about 6" x 4". The conduit drops out of the bottom and is very weathered looking; really beat up. 

I'm going to check out the hookups on some other homes.
Jim, I always appreciate your help.
Jim S.

@jea48 
These are pics of my service drop connection to my mains.

https://ibb.co/qpQnYf5 https://ibb.co/VVzq1W5 https://ibb.co/JCsg9jj https://ibb.co/Y3ynkkq

All the other rowhomes have this type of connection. 

@lowrider57

Pictures are worth a thousand words......

Especially this one.....
https://ibb.co/qpQnYf5

Your service entrance drop is a cable. It is not a conduit with wire installed in it as I imagined.

It appears to me rain water is entering between the outer sheath of the service cable and the weather proof strain relief connector on the top of the meter socket. My guess is the rubber bushing, (or possibly, depending on the age of the connector, Oakum Packing Material), that is supposed to seal the service cable and the metal connector from allowing water from entering the meter socket is shot, deteriorated, allowing water to enter.

A band aid that may stop/help from rain water from entering the connector, therein the top of the surface mounted meter socket is to apply a good quality pure silicone caulking around the service cable and the weather proof strain relief connector.

Clean the cable with a dampened dish soap and water washcloth at least a couple of inches above the top of the connector and the entire top of the screw down cap/nut of the connector. Remove any loose debris that may be laying between the cable and the inside of the connector. Rinse off the soap with a slightly water dampened clean washcloth. Repeat as necessary to remove all dirt and soap. Repeat process if needed to get all surfaces clean. Allow to completely dry several hours. Surface areas must be 100% dry.

Apply the pure silicone caulk around the cable where it enters the connector throat, opening. Make sure you force, inject, as much silicone into the top of the connector between the cable and the connector as possible.

Finish off forming the silicone product using your finger. You want the silicone caulk to cover the top nut of the connector so the water will shed down the side of the connector.

Next using your finger slightly form, taper, the silicone caulk up all around the cable. Do not leave any globed pockets for water to puddle. You want the finish product to look like cone.

(To stop the silicone from sticking to your finger, as you form it, slightly moisten the tip of your finger with water as you form the silicon.)

Jim.

https://ibb.co/qpQnYf5

Looking at the picture again it looks like the back of the connector may be buried slightly in the outer stucco cement finish. Hard to really tell from looking at the picture.

If you want to get a good water tight seal you may have to chisel away some of the stucco to expose the back of the cable and the back side of the connector.

Use a small chisel and a small hammer... Take your time.... BE CAREFUL! Do not damage the outer sheath of the service cable.

Jim.