200 amp meter disconnect

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jelectroboogie

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Hi, i am going to install a 200 a meter disco, for a friend of mine who wants to rent out his basement, i was thinking the best way to do it is set the panel in the basement about 35' away from the meter and run 4/0 al. SE cable inside the house and lb out and into the bottom of the meter disco, which will be my main grounding source now. Run a 2'' rigid up w/ 2/0 cu.for the feeders.
I wanted to set a 200 amp panel inside and set a 100 amp c.b. to feed another 100a panel for the basement, side by side. Then install a emon demon to monitor the 100 amp panel. Both neutrals will be floating. I am in seattle washington, do you think this will pass inspection?

Thanks.
 
jelectroboogie said:
Hi, i am going to install a 200 a meter disco, for a friend of mine who wants to rent out his basement, i was thinking the best way to do it is set the panel in the basement about 35' away from the meter and run 4/0 al. SE cable inside the house and lb out and into the bottom of the meter disco, which will be my main grounding source now. Run a 2'' rigid up w/ 2/0 cu.for the feeders.
I wanted to set a 200 amp panel inside and set a 100 amp c.b. to feed another 100a panel for the basement, side by side. Then install a emon demon to monitor the 100 amp panel. Both neutrals will be floating. I am in seattle washington, do you think this will pass inspection?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

As far as the 2/0cu would meet 310.15 B 6 but running the 4/0al SE from the meter/combo to 200amp panel would not. You would need SER 4 wire and if you are under 2008 code the 4/0 would not pass ether due now to having to use the 60 deg. column. It would have to be 250al or pipe it and run 3/0cu.
As far as the demand meter you would have to check with the AHJ. There can be some tricky things involved with metering and recharging tenants for the power.
 
I am lost on what you are doing on this install. If you install a 200 amp panel indoor and the seu is the main power feed to that dwelling then 4/0 aluminum is allowed. I am assuming there is a separate meter on the apartment.
 
J, welcome to the forum! :)

jelectroboogie said:
i was thinking the best way to do it is set the panel in the basement about 35' away from the meter and run 4/0 al. SE cable inside the house and lb out and into the bottom of the meter disco, which will be my main grounding source now.
Click to expand...
Everything past the first main requires separate neutral and EGC, so you'd need SER, not SE.

Run a 2'' rigid up w/ 2/0 cu.for the feeders.
Click to expand...
This I don't understand.

I wanted to set a 200 amp panel inside and set a 100 amp c.b. to feed another 100a panel for the basement, side by side.
Click to expand...
You could place the 200a main inside if you place it back-to-back with the meter. If you want the main outside anyway, why not put a 200a and a 100a breaker in the outside enclosure?

I suggest running the feeder to the 200a breaker panel (which will not require a redundant main) and placing the 100a breaker for the sub-panel there. That will allow use of 310.15(B)(6) to size the feeder.

Then install a emon demon to monitor the 100 amp panel.
Click to expand...
You can connect the sub-meter either at the 100a breaker in the 200a panel or at the 100a panel. I'd probably do the latter; it needs a voltage source anyway, so why take up more space in the big panel?

Both neutrals will be floating. I am in seattle washington, do you think this will pass inspection?
Click to expand...
If by "floating," you mean not bonded in the breaker panels, correct, which is why you need SER instead of SE.

Don't underestimate the value of running your ideas past the person who will be doing the inspecting. Besides saving you time, money, and aggravation, it makes them feel important. ;)
 
200 a meter with 200a disco

200 a meter with 200a disco

Thank you every one for your input. I made a mistake when i said se cable, i was visualizing the grey jacket cable with 2 hots, neut, and ground, which is ser cable 4/0 al. The floating neutrals were not going to be bonded at the 200a panel inside or the 100a panel next to it, but bonded at the 200a meter disco.
My other thought, which seems kind of cheesy is to eliminate the extra 100a
panel inside and put all of the new basement circuits on just the b-phase, except of course the 240v dryer and oven. Then put the emon-demon current sensors on the b-phase after inspection. I think i might even just pull all of my circuits, call for wall cover, and pick the inspectors brain? Or maybe run a conduit w 3/0 cu.?
Thanks
 
jelectroboogie said:
Thank you every one for your input. I made a mistake when i said se cable, i was visualizing the grey jacket cable with 2 hots, neut, and ground, which is ser cable 4/0 al. The floating neutrals were not going to be bonded at the 200a panel inside or the 100a panel next to it, but bonded at the 200a meter disco.
My other thought, which seems kind of cheesy is to eliminate the extra 100a
panel inside and put all of the new basement circuits on just the b-phase, except of course the 240v dryer and oven. Then put the emon-demon current sensors on the b-phase after inspection. I think i might even just pull all of my circuits, call for wall cover, and pick the inspectors brain? Or maybe run a conduit w 3/0 cu.?
Thanks
Click to expand...

You have not indicated what code cycle you are working under. If you are under 2008 the 4/0al SER will not fly for the 200amp feeder.
 
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