150 amp service and 200 amp solar tap

[Scheffler Energy]

Hello I need some advice on a project I'm looking to put together, I have a 150 amp overhead service on a pole going to a shop 100 ft away via underground.
I want to hook up a ground mount solar array behind the shop that will be rated at no more than 200 amps my plan is to replace the standard 200 amp meter for the shop and install a 320 amp meter so I can tap the 200 amps for the solar into the meter and connect the 150 amp service there too. I would change out the mast and the wire to 4/0 310.12 for 200 amps which would be my fuse size in my solar disconnect where my solar service would start. My question is this code compliant, or would I have to make my overhead service wire bigger and size them off 310.16 After I feed the line side of the first solar disconnect I would use 310.16 to size the wires. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[mbednarik]

Where is the utility point of connection? It may be their problem. 200 amps of solar supply is pretty significant, You could simply build a 200 amp service with a 200 amp line side tap solar. You service just has to be sized for the larger of the two, a meter socket, service rated tap box to then supply the normal service disconnect and then the PV disconnect would be your best way forward.

 

[jaggedben]

Whether you can apply 310.12 to power source output is a grey area in my opinion, or at least convoluted enough that you should play it safe and size conductors bigger.

That said, you really haven't made it clear what the output is. 200A before or after the 125% factor is added? This also affects whether you actually need the 320A meter socket or if the 200A socket is fine. Solar is not adding to the load.

Otherwise the general idea complies to code. But I agree that at 200A you'd better get utility approval before you build it.

 

[Scheffler Energy]

Do you thinking I would be able to tap on the load side of the Meter with a J box and Polaris lugs bring my conductors rated for the 200 amps of solar into a Jbox and tap the house panels with the meter loads and the solar all in one J box? I’m trying not get away from changing the meter to a 320 amp meter socket that can accommodate lugs for the solar to be directly attached to the load side of the meter. The meter socket is a 200 am service

 

[electrofelon]

Do you thinking I would be able to tap on the load side of the Meter with a J box and Polaris lugs bring my conductors rated for the 200 amps of solar into a Jbox and tap the house panels with the meter loads and the solar all in one J box? I’m trying not get away from changing the meter to a 320 amp meter socket that can accommodate lugs for the solar to be directly attached to the load side of the meter. The meter socket is a 200 am service

There is no difference in those two approaches from a code perspective. I personally prefer the 320 socket, but the last several system I did I used a J-box due to lack of availability of 320 sockets.

 

[ggunn]

Hello I need some advice on a project I'm looking to put together, I have a 150 amp overhead service on a pole going to a shop 100 ft away via underground.
I want to hook up a ground mount solar array behind the shop that will be rated at no more than 200 amps my plan is to replace the standard 200 amp meter for the shop and install a 320 amp meter so I can tap the 200 amps for the solar into the meter and connect the 150 amp service there too. I would change out the mast and the wire to 4/0 310.12 for 200 amps which would be my fuse size in my solar disconnect where my solar service would start. My question is this code compliant, or would I have to make my overhead service wire bigger and size them off 310.16 After I feed the line side of the first solar disconnect I would use 310.16 to size the wires. Thanks in advance for any help.

The size of a grid tied PV system is limited by the size of the service, whatever that means, and depending on which code cycle you are in. For sure, two limiting factors will be the ampacity of the service conductors and the kVA rating of the utility transformer; you must take into account the case where your PV system is running at the inverter(s)' peak rated AC output (irrespective of how many modules you have connected to it/them) at the same time that all your local loads are off line.