Disconnect at meter or outside of house for grounding

[j.cowling]

Hi guys, new to the forum as of tonight. So far I like all the conversation. Here's my question

I am wiring a house and I'm second guessing myself on the ground/neutral bonding, and which panel to do it in.

I have attached a picture, and off the meter it goes into a panel with 125 AMP disconnect. The feeder wire is 4/0 aluminum. From that, it has feed-thru lugs, which I'll attach 4/0 aluminum underground (NOT SER as pictured) in schedule 40 PVC to a 200 amp disconnect outside off the house. From here I'll use 4/0 SER to a main panel with no disconnect.

Questions:
I should swap out 125 amp disconnect at meter to a 200 amp.
Is that considered my "first point of disconnect" for purposes of tying neutral and ground together and going to two ground rods, or is it the disconnect at the house?
Main panel inside needs the grounds and neutrals separated? Including all branch circuits EGC and neutrals being landed on separate bars?

Thanks for the help. I read a bunch of discussions on this, just wasn't sure of a few things.

 

[infinity]

The service disconnect is the one at the meter, this is where the main bonding jumper is installed and the GEC lands on the neutral bus. Feeding the house the conductors would be as you've stated a feeder with its own EGC. You need a disconnecting means at the house (which you have) but you also need a grounding electrode system (GES) at the house. The GEC from the GES would connect to the "ground" bus in the panel and the neutral will be floating. I would use a 200 amp service disconnect if you are already planning on using #4/0 conductors.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[j.cowling]

The service disconnect is the one at the meter, this is where the main bonding jumper is installed and the GEC lands on the neutral bus. Feeding the house the conductors would be as you've stated a feeder with its own EGC. You need a disconnecting means at the house (which you have) but you also need a grounding electrode system (GES) at the house. The GEC from the GES would connect to the "ground" bus in the panel and the neutral will be floating. I would use a 200 amp service disconnect if you are already planning on using #4/0 conductors.

Welcome to the Forum.

Thank you for your response. I was thinking the same thing. I've already got the grounding rods and all at the house. I was just verifying whether or not I tie the ground and neutral together there or not. This clears it up. That means that in my main panel, of course my neutral would be floating as well. All my GEC'S would need to be on their own "bar" and the neutrals on their own as well, not together, correct?

 

[infinity]

Thank you for your response. I was thinking the same thing. I've already got the grounding rods and all at the house. I was just verifying whether or not I tie the ground and neutral together there or not. This clears it up. That means that in my main panel, of course my neutral would be floating as well. All my GEC'S would need to be on their own "bar" and the neutrals on their own as well, not together, correct?

In the remote panel the neutrals and EGC's are on separate buses, the GEC's would land on the EGC bus not the neutral bus.

 

[j.cowling]

Thanks

Thanks

In the remote panel the neutrals and EGC's are on separate buses, the GEC's would land on the EGC bus not the neutral bus.

So if I remove thebonding bar here, put grounds on one side and neutrals on the other. Then put wire between grounding bar and the case mounted bar. That will work right? Thank you.

 

[infinity]

So if I remove thebonding bar here, put grounds on one side and neutrals on the other. Then put wire between grounding bar and the case mounted bar. That will work right? Thank you.

You're asking about a panel that has a "bridge" piece of metal between the two bars? Of so then yes you can remove that and make two separate bus bars, one for the neutral and one for the EGC's. You can also just install the green grounding screw in the EGC bus to bond it to the enclosure.

 

[j.cowling]

You're asking about a panel that has a "bridge" piece of metal between the two bars? Of so then yes you can remove that and make two separate bus bars, one for the neutral and one for the EGC's. You can also just install the green grounding screw in the EGC bus to bond it to the enclosure.

Thank you! This forum has been great so far!

 

[infinity]

Thank you! This forum has been great so far!

You're welcome and keep the questions coming, there are lots of very talented people here from a wide variety of electrical backgrounds.