Is There a Maximum Distance Between Meter and Panel

morrisg

1. I am upgrading a 100 amp to 200 amp service
2. The meter is a combination system that includes a service disconnect.
3. The 200 amp electrical panel (of course it also has a 200 amp disconnect) to be installed in the house will require it to be placed about 15 feet from the meter.
Questions:
1. Is there a maximum connection distance allowed between the meter and the inside electrical panel?
2. Will the connection wire between the meter and panel need to be SE 2 for copper or 4 for aluminium, or can the wire be smaller?
3. I plan to run the connection wiring in PVC conduit on side of house, any minimum conduit size?
4. Does this arrangement require me to treat the main panel in the house as a sub panel and thus remove the bonding bar?

deverson

230.70(A)(1) is as follows: “The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors.” By closely studying the actual text in this section, it becomes obvious that the disconnect switch can be located anywhere outside the building or structure with no maximum or minimum distance from the building. However, as soon as the service conductors enter into the building, the service disconnect must be installed at the location where these unprotected conductors enter. This location will vary depending upon the construction of the building or structure and the accessibility of the disconnecting means inside the building.
The limit inside the building in Wisconsin is 8ft.

k_buz

1) No max when a meter/main is installed.
2) According to my calcs, you would need 4/0 AL or 2/0 CU and a #4 AL or #6 CU for the ground.
3) You will need minimum 2" PVC
4) Yes, sub panel rules apply. No bonding jumper with grounds and neutrals separated. Water ground and ground rods need to go to the main disconnect not the sub.

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morrisg

K Buz

Thanks much for your concise answer. Very helpful.

deverson

I missed the service disconnect in the meter enclosure! But I think you need larger conductors from the service disconnect to the "subpanel". you don't get to used the note to 310.16in this case.

k_buz

There is an exception to where you can use those sizes when you are feeding a sub panel that carries 100% of the service load. I am looking for the exact code reference.

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k_buz

(7) 120/240-Volt, 3-Wire, Single-Phase Dwelling Services
and Feeders. For individual dwelling units of onefamily,
two-family, and multifamily dwellings, conductors,
as listed in Table 310.15(B)(7), shall be permitted as
120/240-volt, 3-wire, single-phase service-entrance conductors,
service-lateral conductors, and feeder conductors
that serve as the main power feeder to each dwelling unit
and are installed in raceway or cable with or without an
equipment grounding conductor. For application of this section,
the main power feeder shall be the feeder between the
main disconnect and the panelboard that supplies, either by
branch circuits or by feeders, or both, all loads that are part
or associated with the dwelling unit. The feeder conductors
to a dwelling unit shall not be required to have an allowable
ampacity rating greater than their service-entrance conductors.
The grounded conductor shall be permitted to be
smaller than the ungrounded conductors, provided the requirements
of 215.2, 220.61, and 230.42 are met

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deverson

Well done!

frenchelectrican

Oui just remove the bonding screw or bar and keep the netural and ground seperated and you may end up buy the ground bussbar they useally about 10 Euros or so.

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 )

morrisg

Great, I really appreicate the reseach that I could never dig deep enough to know what you have shared in the post.