200A emergency disconnect vs service disconnect

savage-sparky

Member
Location
Maine
Occupation
Electrician
I have been going through some of the conversations about emergency disconnect vs service disconnect. I spoke with a state inspector who informed me that a meter with a breaker disconnect combo can be used as an emergency disconnect solely and that it would then in-turn make your main breaker in you panel your service disconnect and your first bonding location which would allow you to run a 3-wire service from the meter still to the main panel. My question is if this is true would I then remove the current ground wire and ground rods tied into the meter and move it to the main panel therefore not bonding them?
 
I have been going through some of the conversations about emergency disconnect vs service disconnect. I spoke with a state inspector who informed me that a meter with a breaker disconnect combo can be used as an emergency disconnect solely and that it would then in-turn make your main breaker in you panel your service disconnect and your first bonding location which would allow you to run a 3-wire service from the meter still to the main panel. My question is if this is true would I then remove the current ground wire and ground rods tied into the meter and move it to the main panel therefore not bonding them?
What code cycle are you on? In the 2020 that would be correct, but as far as I know all meter mains are listed as "suitable for use only as service equipment" and a 2023 change would require that device to be the "EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, SERVICE DISCONNECT" and would require a 4 wire feeder to the inside panel.
In the 2020, the meter main would be marked "EMERGENCY DISCONNECT, NOT SERVICE EQUIPMENT" and you leave the bonding at the meter, but you also need a main bonding jumper and a GEC at the inside service disconnect.
 
That is how I have always ran them even prior to the 2023 update however I ran into a situation with a customer requesting an upgrade from 100a to 200 amp and has 2" conduit already ran and was explaining to them it wouldn't allow us to fit the feeders required to provide that service size. They in turn contacted the state which had adopted 2023 code in August and the state inspector had given me that info as a solution which obviously the homeowner thought I was serving him around so I figured I would check in here to see what everyone's thoughts were only because there is so much differing in opinion as far as how the code is applied in certain situations and how much is left up to AHJ interpretation lol
 
If you are allowed to run 3-wire you can connect the GEC at either place. If you are required to run 4-wire the grounding must be connected to the supply end.
 
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