200A service with two 200A panels

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ivsenroute

ivsenroute

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Florida
UG service with a CL200 meter, 200A meter enclosure. Feeds a trough inside which then splits off to 2 separate 200A main panels.

Single family residence with electric baseboard heat and no load calculations provided.

Code compliant or not?

You make the call.
 
With no load caluclations, to me, not compliant.
(Local POCO would not accept even with load calculations )
 
I agree with Gus.

If I was the inspector I would require either the load calcs or a change of the conductors or panel arrangement.

Assuming the calc is under 200 there is no reason that one panel could not be a sub panel to the other.
 
iwire said:
I agree with Gus.

If I was the inspector I would require either the load calcs or a change of the conductors or panel arrangement.

Assuming the calc is under 200 there is no reason that one panel could not be a sub panel to the other.
Click to expand...

That was my decision as an inspector. Either provide load calcs or change the service to at least a 320 continuous. I also offered making one panel a sub panel.

Looking at the loads, there is no reason they needed to do this. I doubt it will ever exceed 150A and that is a stretch.
 
I've always been a firm advocate of "enforce the Code, not what I think it should say", but this is one of those cases that tries one. It's bad enough on commercial, but, even with the load calculations, it would hurt to pass that one knowing the potential that lies ahead.
 
ivsenroute said:
UG service with a CL200 meter, 200A meter enclosure. Feeds a trough inside which then splits off to 2 separate 200A main panels.

Single family residence with electric baseboard heat and no load calculations provided.

Code compliant or not?

You make the call.
Click to expand...

Whats the issue here? Violation of 230.31.
 
I'd say that and a potential violation of 230.42 until proved otherwise (by calculations)
 
That simply is unsafe. We have no idea if or when it might be over 200 amps. Either the 320 amp meter as suggested or turn second panel into sub perhaps from a 100 breaker. Problem is this house might turn into something much larger or perhaps get extra loads like a hot tub,pool,garage,etc
 
I've seen this done several times and I agree with your decision. In ALL OF THE INSTANCES that I've seen this done, the homeowner was under the impression they ACTUALLY had a 400 amp service. That's what makes it dangerous.

On the other hand, if the electrician has done his load calculations, this may be code compliant. I just did a huge new house. I put in (1) 320 meter base.
(2) 200 amp service panels, (2) 200 amp subpanels, (2) 100 amp subpanels, and (2) 50 amp subpanels throughout the house.
 
Make the other one a sub panel, easiest fix. Is this dangerous? Possibly could be but I doubt it. Even if they added a bunch of loads I'd bet that they still would never exceed 200 amps.
 
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