GEC Connected to Neutral Block in the Meter Socket?

[KD4315]

Can you connect the GEC to the neutral block in a meter socket? If I'm reading the NEC correct 250.24A(1) states I can but is the meter socket considered accessible?

 

[Volta]

In my opinion it is, even when locked, though it may not be readily accessible.

I would think that it is electrically almost the best place to land it, even if it is more difficult for inspection purposes.

 

[hurk27]

It is not any more a problem to inspect then the other conductors in the meter socket, if inspecting the GEC is a problem then inspecting the hots and neutral will be also, so now what we can't land any conductor in a meter socket:roll:

 

[infinity]

Both POCO's around here prohibit the connection in the meter enclosure.

 

[Hv&Lv]

Both POCO's around here prohibit the connection in the meter enclosure.

I fail to see how they can do that. The meter base is customer owned equipment, and on the load side of the point of delivery, thereby under the jurisdiction of the NEC. The inspector should be the one to call that out.

 

[iMuse97]

I've often landed them there. There's even a separate lug for the GEC on the meter sockets I use.

 

[ceb58]

I fail to see how they can do that. The meter base is customer owned equipment, and on the load side of the point of delivery, thereby under the jurisdiction of the NEC. The inspector should be the one to call that out.

Some have disallowed the bonding in the meter base because it is customer owned. Their reasoning is for some one other than the poco to access the base their meter must be pulled and they do not want any one other than them pulling it.

 

[Hv&Lv]

Some have disallowed the bonding in the meter base because it is customer owned. Their reasoning is for some one other than the poco to access the base their meter must be pulled and they do not want any one other than them pulling it.

If that is their excuse, where do they expect you to land the load side of the service from the meterbase to the main breaker? What is the fundamental difference?

 

[KD4315]

Thanks for the replies. Did I quote the correct code article and section or is it found somewhere else?

 

[Little Bill]

We are not allowed to land it in the meter socket either, POCO rules.

 

[roger]

The POCO people or anyone else that came up with this prohibition are idiots.

Roger

 

[masterinbama]

Here in Madison County Alabama we are not allowed to land it in the socket. One County West in Limestone we are required to. One more county West in Lauderdale the GEC must start at a ground rod or other electrode pass through the lug in the socket and exit at the weather head, where it is tied to the neutral drop separately from the neutral in the mast.

 

[hurk27]

Here in Madison County Alabama we are not allowed to land it in the socket. One County West in Limestone we are required to. One more county West in Lauderdale the GEC must start at a ground rod or other electrode pass through the lug in the socket and exit at the weather head, where it is tied to the neutral drop separately from the neutral in the mast.

Now that is a code violation, because it parallels the neutral with a smaller conductor, as least its outside

 

[hillbilly1]

Here Georgia Power prohibits it, While BRMEMC requires it.

 

[Hv&Lv]

We are not allowed to land it in the meter socket either, POCO rules.

So on an underground fed service, you have to land it in the service disconnect? So you have two hots, a neutral and a seperate bare wire in the same chase?

 

[infinity]

So on an underground fed service, you have to land it in the service disconnect? So you have two hots, a neutral and a seperate bare wire in the same chase?

We always land the GEC(s) in the service disconnect. Not sure what you mean by a bare wire?

 

[masterinbama]

Here in Madison County Alabama we are not allowed to land it in the socket. One County West in Limestone we are required to. One more county West in Lauderdale the GEC must start at a ground rod or other electrode pass through the lug in the socket and exit at the weather head, where it is tied to the neutral drop separately from the neutral in the mast.

Now that is a code violation, because it parallels the neutral with a smaller conductor, as least its outside

I believe this is leftover from years back when the bare # 4 would go from the rod through the socket unbroken to the weather head. There are many many old houses where the #4 is the only neutral. (no separate conductor up the mast)

 

[John120/240]

One County West in Limestone we are required to. One more county West in Lauderdale the GEC must start at a ground rod or other electrode pass through the lug in the socket and exit at the weather head, where it is tied to the neutral drop separately from the neutral in the mast.

The 4 power co's here do not allow GEC in the meter socket.

It seems like a seperate GEC up the mast would require a 4 wire drop from the X former ?

 

[Twoskinsoneman]

We always land the GEC(s) in the service disconnect. Not sure what you mean by a bare wire?

Our local POCO requires that it be landed in the service disconnect also.

 

[infinity]

It seems like a seperate GEC up the mast would require a 4 wire drop from the X former ?

Why a 4-wire drop?