320Amp double lug meter - (2) 200amp panels

1texasguy

I have enjoyed reading some great info on this site and have my own question:

I have a property that currently has no power to it. I have built a 40x60 metal shop and there is an existing house we are gutting and remodeling.

I want to get power to the shop first and then run to the house in about 6 months. The house is about 75 feet from the shop.

The poco is bringing underground to the shop where I have a 320/400 meter http://www.milbankmfg.com/products/C...s/PDF/1797.pdf . The shop has a 200A main disconnect panel and the house will have also have a 200A main disconnect panel.

Since I am going to delay running power to the house until we get it ready, my thoughts are as follows:

1) I can run only the shop from the meter. When it comes time to hook up the house, I will need the poco to open the meter again and then do the house connect.

2) I could run a main disconnect out of the meter and then do the house connection when ready. This would avoid having the poco have to get into the meter again.

My questions are :


A) Am I ok with not providing a main disconnect (option#1) from the meter to the house? The main panel in the house will be the disconnect but of course the line from the meter to the house will be "unprotected". I have read that there is "no limit" on the run length (given proper wire sizing) between meter and panel on outside runs. I am open to whether this is correct information or not.

A) any other thoughts or gotchas I need to consider?

Thanks for any info.

electures

What state are you in?

Jim Port

The services will need to be grouped. You could mount 2 disconnects at the pole for this. You would then run 4 wire feeders to each building.

With the disconnect at the pole you could leave the breaker turned off until the house was ready for power.

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Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

1texasguy

electures - if that is a joke, then the answer is "anywhere but new jersey"

if it's not a joke, the answer is "texas".

1texasguy

1texasguy

Jim, thanks.

Here is a photo showing the outgoing feed - similar in concept to what I am doing - ***not my picture***. The meter is mounted on my shop - my incoming feed is underground. One feed is going to the 200A main breaker panel in the shop through the back of the meter box via an 8" nipple, the other will go to the 200A main breaker panel at the house - underground about 75 feet away. My question is "do I need a disconnect between the meter and the house? I know it would be advantageous as I wouldn't have to have the POCO come back out to pull the meter so I could connect in the box when I am ready to make the run to the house, but is it required? And if anyone could point me to code, that would be beneficial - I am always up for education.

Jim Port

Read NEC Article 230.70 and 230.72.

__________________
Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

brric

Jim, if the conductors are leaving the meter and going underground to the house, do you maintain that a disconnect is required at the meter?

Jim Port

That is the way it is interpreted here. I set 2 4/0 cables here for a house and a future barn. The disco and a panel sit next to each other in the garage.

I also had one where the service needed to move and add a panel for an addition. Same thing, different jurisdiction. Two 4/0s out of meter into side by side panel and disco. The disco fed the old panel at the other end of the house (old service panel).

__________________
Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

brric

Personally I would prefer a meter main. That said, I was am under the impression that service conductors outside the structure or underground do not require a disconnect or an OCPD until they enter the structure.

jbfan

What I did for the last one, was meter, disconnect on each side of the meter, then feed to each panel in the house.
Inspector happy, HO happy, Poco hapy, me happy with the pay!!!

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Yes I am a Pirate, 200 years too late. "Jimmy Buffett"

electures

Wow! I completely missed that one! I love the Great Police State of New Jersey! (NOT!).

frenchelectrican

This will get little trickier to deal with class 320 service ( you have to check the POCO for their specs on this one before you get the meter socket on this size )

There are few way you can do this is .,,

Choice *1

Have a 320/400 meter socket and have a load centre for your shop and have a disconnect switch next to it for the house when you bring it in later { you will have to use 4 conductor feeder to the hosue panel and you can not use the same size conductor as from meter to main breaker this will get you if not carefull }

Choice *2

Have meter/main combo. This set up will have two main breakers right below the meter socket and have one breaker for your shop panel and second breaker to the house panel { just make sure you are aware that you will need 4 conductor for both panels }

Choice *3 ( only if POCO appprove this load centre )

Have a 400 amp all in one panel which you will have one part is your load centre and second main breaker to the house.


Merci,
Marc

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The answer will be based on NEC ( National Electrical code ) or CEC ( Cananda Electrical code ) or ECF ( Electrique Code France )

1texasguy

thanks to everyone for input.

Question - why a 4 conductor feed to the house? And the bigger question that also shows my ignorance is what is the 4th one for and where does it connect?

The photo above shows what appears to be normal (3 conductor) 200A supply lines from the meter.

FYI - for those concerned, I will have my electrician do the hook-up - I am just doing the planning and getting the physical pieces in place at this time. I know my limitations.

Jim Port

Any panel after the service needs to be fed with 4 wires, 2 hots, an insulated neutral and a grounding conductor. The neutrals and grounds will be isolated in any panel that is not service equipment.

__________________
Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.

a7ecorsair

To understand this better you have to know that there are service conductors and feeders.
Service conductors are not protected by a breaker
Feeder are protected by breaker.
In your picture the wires leaving the meter base are unprotected wires and go somewhere to a Service panel the is Labeled and Listed as Service Equipment. You do not have to carry a ground with these wires.
Feeders are connected to a breaker in a service panel and you have to carry the ground along with the three conductors. If the feeders go to a detached structure that structure will also require ground rods.