3-100A meter base

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figent

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In building a triplex, when installing a triple meter base / with 3-100A service panels after it. What should the entrance cable be sized at? Looking to put in copper entrance to keep size down. Electric company says 300amp entrance is not needed. But 200amp service is not big enough. Electric company line supervisor is not trying to help at all.

[ September 10, 2003, 09:36 PM: Message edited by: figent ]
 
Re: 3-100A meter base

figent
I would not think the utility would want to be responsible for determining the conductor size. That should be the engineer or the electricians
problem. You said this was a triplex. Is it a
family dewelling or offices?
 
Re: 3-100A meter base

Use article 220 to caculate the load. It has all the info you will need. If you go to the home page
Mike Holt has a program under free stuff that will caculate the individual unit load.

[ September 04, 2003, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: bob ]
 
Re: 3-100A meter base

The electric utility will never (at least not that I know of) give a customer advice on sizing his service entrance conductors, service equipment, or anything else. Our responsibility is to "hook it up" if it is inspected . . . period. We, of course, will turn an installation down if we see something in violation of our installation requirements or dangerous that the inspector missed. :)
 
Re: 3-100A meter base

OK guys here's the story. This guy is building the triplex himself, no prints only what's in his head. And trust me things change daily. With no print and he doesn't even know yet whether he is using gas for hot water and cooking or electric. I've seen the place but there is like I said no print and the guy has no idea what is going to be electric or gas. But he wants the meters set with in 2 weeks. I have no idea what to figure for load usage.
 
Re: 3-100A meter base

As Bob said, Mike Holt has a slick little program for doing load calcs.

Under the circumstances you describe, I would assume the worst case scenario (electric cooking, dryer, heat etc.) Then either mark up the bid to disgusting levels or run as fast as I could from the project. In my experience, inexperienced, would be contractors with no solid plans and constantly changing designs are little more than money losing headaches. The reality is that your only in the service install phase and already the changes are flying. (I'm assuming your in for the whole project here) consider how many times your gonna move light fixture boxes and how many recepts. your gonna be asked to move or add after the fact. Then run as fast as you can in the opposite direction.
 
Re: 3-100A meter base

:eek: There isn't a doctor around that could perscribe a strong enough painkiller for this headache. :eek:
 
Re: 3-100A meter base

The guy is a friend I really can't run but I would like to. I was only ask to install the service. He bought 3 100amp 20 pole serive boxes he only wants me to install the 3 meter base. So I ordered a triple meter base with 3 100 amp disconnects. 1-0 wire from the meter bases to the service panels. The power company said they were going to run 1-0 wire in from the transformer. But then turned around and told me that 2-0 wasn't big enough to feed the meter bases. This whole thing is driving me nuts. He's going to wire it after that. I ask him today if he was going to put in A/C and he said "I don't know yet." This guy has always been a real trip. I usually have to help him get out of the tight spots. Suppers ready there's more later stay tuned!!
 
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