150amp max meter base

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727electrician

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My customer wants to upgrade his power panel to 150amp convertible main 40 space panel but his meter is designated as 125amp continuous with a 150amp max, does any one here see a code issue that would prevent me from upgrading the service wires and power panel to 150amps. I know I have installed 2- 200 amp panels on a 320amp continuous meter with no issues, but this is the first time I am using a smaller meter base to feed a 150amp, I usually upgrade them to a 200amp meter base for future compatibility with solar or changing out wires and convertible main if they need the extra power later for a tankless water heater or whatever.
 
You can't feed a 150A panel off a 125A meter base. The base is only rated for 125A, and therefore the lugs are not designed to accept conductors large enough for 150 amps. You will need to upgrade the meter base to a 200A and include that in your quote.
 
jeff48356 said:
You can't feed a 150A panel off a 125A meter base. The base is only rated for 125A, and therefore the lugs are not designed to accept conductors large enough for 150 amps. You will need to upgrade the meter base to a 200A and include that in your quote.
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I think the op has a point there, it is rated 150 amps, just not continuous. But the AHJ would be making the final decision. Very unlikely they would even have a 125 amp continuous load.
 
727electrician said:
My customer wants to upgrade his power panel to 150amp convertible main 40 space panel but his meter is designated as 125amp continuous with a 150amp max, does any one here see a code issue that would prevent me from upgrading the service wires and power panel to 150amps. I know I have installed 2- 200 amp panels on a 320amp continuous meter with no issues, but this is the first time I am using a smaller meter base to feed a 150amp, I usually upgrade them to a 200amp meter base for future compatibility with solar or changing out wires and convertible main if they need the extra power later for a tankless water heater or whatever.
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meter socket is 125 amp continuous?

Like others have asked, what size conductors can it accept? That might be some what of a clue what it is really rated for.
 
I've never noticed a meter socket having both a continuous and max rating. I've only seen them listed with their max amps. Do all meter sockets have both these ratings?
 
jeff48356 said:
You can't feed a 150A panel off a 125A meter base. The base is only rated for 125A, and therefore the lugs are not designed to accept conductors large enough for 150 amps. You will need to upgrade the meter base to a 200A and include that in your quote.
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The meter base advises it is 150amp max but 125amp continuous. I am very familiar with meter bases and jaw types, This one is way more heavy duty than the 100amp continuous 125amp meter bases with the slotted set screws.
 
Why would there be an issue? Your 150A main panelboard breaker is only rated 120A continuous. Why does everyone think you can't use the non continuous rating of a meter socket, but they will use the non continuous rating for everything else like main breakers??
 
Coppersmith said:
I've never noticed a meter socket having both a continuous and max rating. I've only seen them listed with their max amps. Do all meter sockets have both these ratings?
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Yes. if you dig into the specs, you will see most two hundred amp meter sockets are rated 250A maximum / non-continuous. You could use one of these and make a 250 amp service.
 
electrofelon said:
Yes. if you dig into the specs, you will see most two hundred amp meter sockets are rated 250A maximum / non-continuous. You could use one of these and make a 250 amp service.
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OK so when I bought 200 amp sockets in the past, I thought that was the max amps. Apparently I'm wrong. Thanks for the info.
 
Coppersmith said:
OK so when I bought 200 amp sockets in the past, I thought that was the max amps. Apparently I'm wrong. Thanks for the info.
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I think value mentioned is generally the continuous rating. For some reason people only seem to think about this with 320 sockets though, and the ~200 and less they think whatever is mentioned (at least in big letters) is max.
 
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