Help?? Old House Service

[trigger]

Looking to upgrade 100 amp service to a 200amp, the
Old screw type fuse panel with knob and tube. Yuck! Right!
Anyways, the existing service meter was once on the front of the house but there has been a small garage attached to the home and now the service meter is hidden inside.
My question is-?
Would it be allowed to Install the 200a meter on the side of the garage (approx. 12' away) with new riser and wire, then straight out the back of the meter with rigid conduit over to an LB into the back of the new 200a main breaker panel which of course replaced the old screw type panel, or is there a problem with the distance from meter to panel?

Am I even on the right track here?
any info would greatly be appreciated.
Thanks, Trigger

 

[Buck Parrish]

You would need a disconnect out side. And watch your roof clearences.
Ask a power company engineer to come out and look at it.

 

[LarryFine]

The problem is the distance from where the service conductors enter the building to where they land in the main disconnect.

Place a 200a main by the meter, run a 4-wire feeder from there, and you're golden. Plus, you'll only need a main-lug panel.

Or, mount the new panel back-to-back with the meter. Check with your inspector to see how they interpret and enforce that.

 

[trigger]

200a 3R meter main?

 

[LarryFine]

200a 3R meter main?

Or separate parts.

 

[partimer31]

Service inside or outside

Service inside or outside

Trigger, I have done what you have spoken about in the past.
I have, in the pass, have had electrical inspector pass my work,
where I didn't even use conduit. And I wasn't the only one my
area doing it this way. Now ever thing is disconnected on the outside
or just right after you enter the building.

But I do know, that I would run this by the state of local inspector
that will be eye balling when it's finish. If he okay with it, why not.

But if you have to, have your service located at the point of entrance,
Millbank make a nice 200 amp. weather prood socket with main discon-
nect combo. you can by it with bypass if your local power company
requires one.

 

[infinity]

Can you run the conduit on the outside of the building for the 12'?

 

[e57]

This is a prime example of difference in standard practice...

On the topic of SE conductors within the building - the code allows the AHJ to determine the maximum distance - in some places it is none... In other places I have seen 100'! As for meter placement - talk to your POCO, and disconnect placement - your Inspector.... Anyway both answers for these would be local to you...

 

[trigger]

Can you run the conduit on the outside of the building for the 12'?

well not exactly, there are windows in the way.
the new service would be along the same wall as existing just on the outside of the garage wall.
Wish I had a picture but I don't..Sorry

 

[trigger]

Take a look, best I could do without actual photo's..
http://tinypic.com/r/155klg9/4

After looking at the job today, it wont be to awful.

 

[mcclary's electrical]

Trigger, I have done what you have spoken about in the past.
I have, in the pass, have had electrical inspector pass my work,
where I didn't even use conduit. And I wasn't the only one my
area doing it this way. Now ever thing is disconnected on the outside
or just right after you enter the building.

But I do know, that I would run this by the state of local inspector
that will be eye balling when it's finish. If he okay with it, why not.

But if you have to, have your service located at the point of entrance,
Millbank make a nice 200 amp. weather prood socket with main discon-
nect combo. you can by it with bypass if your local power company
requires one.

This is funny,,,,call inspector, Break the code if he'll let you,,,,,why not? You can't rely on an inspector to tell you if something's wrong.

 

[Power Tech]

well not exactly, there are windows in the way.
the new service would be along the same wall as existing just on the outside of the garage wall.
Wish I had a picture but I don't..Sorry

There are minimum clearances to windows / corners / other utilities.

We are required to call a meter spotter in some locations. Others don't care. You need to call a service planner.

Here, we are required to have a main outside.

 

[growler]

Place a 200a main by the meter, run a 4-wire feeder from there, and you're golden. Plus, you'll only need a main-lug panel.

The best solutions to problems are always the simple ones. When you start out doing the job right you don't need to worry about how to beat the system.

If they figure the cost of labor as well as materials the meter/main combo more than pays for it's self.

 

[e57]

This is funny,,,,call inspector, Break the code if he'll let you,,,,,why not? You can't rely on an inspector to tell you if something's wrong.

230.70(A)1 has many interpetations nationally. The word "nearest" is a matter of opinion. For instance helping a freind knock out some work the other day - I asked why he had put the service further way, and accross a view of the bay. A: 'The inspector was worried about vehical traffic in the garage past the service conduit (RMC)exposed inside it.' However this put a longer length of SEC's inside the walls...
~50'