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Norcal PGE 100A to 200A service upgrade question

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6.8K views 23 replies 11 participants last post by  hornetd  
G
#1 ·
As the title implies, I'm living in PGE territory and on the peninsula. I plan on pulling a permit and doing my own service upgrade which involves installing a new 200A meter + panel combo and making my existing 100A a sub panel so I can electrify the house some more. Can someone check over my plans and questions I have around grounding of the new service?

1. Plan to use 2" RMC, replacing the old mast for overhead service
2. For 200A, is it okay to use 3/0 or should I use 4/0 for less than 10', straight shot up from meter to top of mast
3. Plan to upgrade the grounding wire to #4. Do I need this wire in a conduit when running from out attic, down the side of the house. I read that #4 doesn't need to be protected? What wire should I use if not protected so the plastic around the GND does not degrade?
4. Currently the GND wire runs down the side of the house exposed, bonded to the main water line and then I plan to remove the bond to the gas pipe (I read PGE does not allow that now) and runs along the ground to two ground rods. One ground rod is only 4 feet away so I will need a new one at least 8 feet away correct?
Image

5. Finally, I will remove the GND to neutral bonding from the existing 100A main panel and separate my GNDs and neutrals.

Is there anything else I am missing? TIA!
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
I guess i didn't provide enough pictures but my plan is to place a new meter + panel combo (bought from local home depot so I'm going to assume it has been approved with PGE) in front of my existing 100A panel and make it a sub. See picture below.
Image


I will check with the POCO application engineer that is working on my case and ask what the appropriate wire size to use for the risers.

The green line is where THHN or THWN #6 ground is being run out of the attic and down to the grounding rods, catching the water pipe and gas pipe on the way to the rods. I read that PGE does not allow grounding of the gas lines anymore and in fact, i don't even know if they will allow running of the GND behind the gas meter. If anyone has experience, i'd like to know.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
I’m a little confused on the ampacity charts now. I am planning to use CU wire and not AL. As far as I know, meter sockets are rated for 90C but I’ll use 75C as breakers and stuff above 100A are rated for that. With that in mind, 3/0 stranded CU wire should be acceptable to use at 200A.

Thanks for pointing out the clearance requirements of the panel. The electricians that I talked to didn’t point this out as a concern so I’ll have to ask the city inspector directly to see if they will pass the location. If not, I will have to upgrade my entire main panel to 200A and that’s a lot more work to take down the entire 100A panel.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
my google fu for PG&E’s approved meter socket base or panels is coming up empty. The pge rep mentioned that they require ringed and not wingless meter but when you go into Eaton’s website and select CA, PGE, they recommend some ringless meter plus panel combos. I’ll go by what the pge rep is telling me.

When I say go Home Depot and buy what is available, I mean physically in store. I hope the stores will not be stocking something that can’t be used locally.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
seharper said:
Your drawn location is not a legal location for a panel. The panel needs a working space directly in front of it of the width of the equipment (but at least 30" not necessarily centered), 36" deep standback space from the face of the panel, and 78" tall. That deep inset with "equipment on the door" invades the working space too much. No AHJ will allow that location unless the panel is pushed out on standoffs so the face of the panel is as close as possible to the door. They won't spite you an inch. On your all-in-one that'll create a problem with the meter head.

Mind you this is a legal location for "just a meter" but not a meter-main or panel.
Click to expand...
Is there something specific you are seeing that makes not not a legal location for the panel? I asked my AHJ and all they said was it had to adhere to CEC 110.26(A)(1&2). I have 30" from side to side (doesn't have to be centered) and more than 36" deep and taller than 6'6". Just want to make sure i'm not missing anything for a panel at that location.
 
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