200 amp meter base supplying two service panels.

[Greg1707]

I have a situation with two meters sharing one POCO service entrance cable. I need to replace the two meters with one 200 amp meter that will supply two 100 amp service panels located side by side in the basement. Are commonly available meter bases capable of supporting two cables? Or do I need to search for something that comes with double lugs?

 

[Joe Villani]

I've never seen one.

Why not just just run 200 amps of service conductor to a wireway and tap them to the 100 amp panels?

 

[Greg1707]

five foot ten inch head room.

five foot ten inch head room.

Here is a photo of the panels in the basement. The head room is less than six feet.

 

[iwire]

This http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-200-A...oad-Center-TSMR420CSCU/202276202?N=5yc1vZbm1b and a couple of two pole 100s. Of course the panels inside would become subpanels.

 

[chris kennedy]

The head room is less than six feet.

How can that be true???

From the 2012 IRC;


SECTION R305 CEILING HEIGHT

R305.1 Minimum height.
Habitable space, hallways, bathrooms, toilet rooms, laundry rooms and portions of basements containing these spaces shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet (2134 mm).

Exceptions:

1. For rooms with sloped ceilings, at least 50 percent of the required floor area of the room must have a ceiling height of at least 7 feet (2134 mm) and no portion of the required floor area may have a ceiling height of less than 5 feet (1524 mm). 2. Bathrooms shall have a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm) at the center of the front clearance area for fixtures as shown in Figure R307.1. The ceiling height above fixtures shall be such that the fixture is capable of being used for its intended purpose. A shower or tub equipped with a showerhead shall have a minimum ceiling height of 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm) above a minimum area 30 inches (762 mm) by 30 inches (762 mm) at the showerhead. R305.1.1 Basements.
Portions of basements that do not contain habitable space, hallways, bathrooms, toilet rooms and laundry rooms shall have a ceiling height of not less than 6 feet 8 inches (2032 mm).

Exception: Beams, girders, ducts or other obstructions may project to within 6 feet 4 inches (1931 mm) of the finished floor.

 

[infinity]

Does anything in that photo appear to be applicable to a 2012 code.

We have homes around here built in the 60's with services located in the 4' crawl space. :roll:

 

[GoldDigger]

So the pictured panel with 4' headroom is in a crawl space with stairs, not a basement?

 

[Greg1707]

1890 house

1890 house

The house was constructed in 1890. It is being converted from a two unit building to single space. We just need to change the meter. There is no compelling reason to change the panels.

 

[electrofelon]

In addition to suggestions by joe and iwire, just put up a class 320 socket and enjoy the double lugs. Might be simplest and easiest. Just cuz you dont need a 320 amp socket doesnt mean you cant use one.

 

[GerryB]

The house was constructed in 1890. It is being converted from a two unit building to single space. We just need to change the meter. There is no compelling reason to change the panels.

I have done a few 2-fam to single family. One cheap way is have one meter deactivated by the POCO and combine the two panels, maybe there is a feed through or feed one from the other with 60 or 70 amps. The POCO here charges a monthly fee for each meter so by doing it that way you eliminate that fee but in the future you can convert back to a two family without much problem.