3-phase Overhead Feeder question

[Michael23]

I am trying to install a temporary overhead feeder originating from a 400A pole mounted panel. The feeder would be span between wood poles terminating at a building with a weather head, then down (in conduit) to a 200A panel. To my knowledge they do not make a quadplex areal cable with ground and/or 5-plex areal cable (L-L-L-N-G). what would be the correct method to do this. My thoughts would be to wire-tie a neutral conductor to a quadplex wire and use the steel carrier as the ground. Other though would be to use SER cable, however would it be able to span about 130feet without serious drupe (does SER cable need a steel support cable of some kind?) My final though which I do not think is code compliant is to not install an overhead ground and install ground rods at the 200A panel. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks, Mike

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Is adding a separate meter to this building a possibility? You are correct that you must have an equipment grounding conductor run with the other conductors

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I also believe that adding a wire to the quadraplex should be compliant if it is fastened appropriately and the insulation is sunlight resistant etc.

 

[Michael23]

Is adding a separate meter to this building a possibility? You are correct that you must have an equipment grounding conductor run with the other conductors

I see what you are thinking...Not a bad idea, however it was already a major undertaking for the utility company to give us the 2 temp services originally requested.

 

[RichB]

I also believe that adding a wire to the quadraplex should be compliant if it is fastened appropriately and the insulation is sunlight resistant etc.

only if the plex is listed for that--we use a lot of tri and quad but it is not allowed to tie any other conductoirs to it. You would need to run a seperate steel span wire to do that.

 

[jap]

I am trying to install a temporary overhead feeder originating from a 400A pole mounted panel. The feeder would be span between wood poles terminating at a building with a weather head, then down (in conduit) to a 200A panel. To my knowledge they do not make a quadplex areal cable with ground and/or 5-plex areal cable (L-L-L-N-G). what would be the correct method to do this. My thoughts would be to wire-tie a neutral conductor to a quadplex wire and use the steel carrier as the ground. Other though would be to use SER cable, however would it be able to span about 130feet without serious drupe (does SER cable need a steel support cable of some kind?) My final though which I do not think is code compliant is to not install an overhead ground and install ground rods at the 200A panel. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks, Mike

Do you for sure need a 3 phase service at the end of the temporary?

Seems at only 130' you might be able to get your 3 phase needed from the main panel, and, possibly drop the overhead temporary service down to a Single Phase overhead but I don't know your exact situation.


JAP>

 

[retirede]

Would using 2 runs of triplex be legal? I have no idea if it is or not, just thought I'd mention.

 

[Michael23]

Do you for sure need a 3 phase service at the end of the temporary?

Seems at only 130' you might be able to get your 3 phase needed from the main panel, and, possibly drop the overhead temporary service down to a Single Phase overhead but I don't know your exact situation.


JAP>

Good question, there are a few factors here, the 130' is just to the corner of the building, there is probably another 120 feet to the panel. we also have a lot of loading on the temp panel.

 

[Michael23]

Would using 2 runs of triplex be legal? I have no idea if it is or not, just thought I'd mention.

At this point I am proposing using a Quadruplex Cable and a Duplex cable, bond the bare conductors together and label as ground, use the remaining 4 insulating conductors as line, line, line, neutral. Or use Quadruplex Cable with full sized Bare Neutral Messenger and attach an exterior rated insulated ground conductor using wire ties. I am waiting to hear from the code official whether these options will be acceptable.

I am surprised they don't make a cable for this application. Does anyone run three phase feeders overhead???

 

[augie47]

At this point I am proposing using a Quadruplex Cable and a Duplex cable, bond the bare conductors together and label as ground, use the remaining 4 insulating conductors as line, line, line, neutral. Or use Quadruplex Cable with full sized Bare Neutral Messenger and attach an exterior rated insulated ground conductor using wire ties. I am waiting to hear from the code official whether these options will be acceptable.

I am surprised they don't make a cable for this application. Does anyone run three phase feeders overhead???

I've always seen the 4th wire field added As RichB points out, it may be voiding the listing, but to date nothing has ever been said. For a temporary install and at 130 ft. I have to admit, albeit wrong, that would be my solution.