4 wire SER feed from meter to service panel.

J

justanotherone

Member
Location
Vermont
Occupation
Property Inspector
Property inspector here- central VT without code enforcement to set the stage.
I have a meter that has a 4 wire SER feeding the main service panel, which is located about 25-30 feet away. The SER runs from the exterior meter directly inside and through the crawl space and up to the meter located in a closet. My understanding is that his should be a 3 wire SEU and then a bond of the neutrals and ground should occur inside the service panel or a disconnect needs to be installed behind the meter. Also the grounds and neutrals are bonded and terminate on the same bus bar inside the service panel. Am I wrong? An electrician here says I am. Please excuse any wrong terminology. Thank you.
 
Single meter. No main disconnect if that’s what your asking. Just a meter socket with ground wire. Can’t open due to being locked by poco
 
Two red flags for that install in this area....
25-30 ft of SE cable in the crawl space with no exterior disconnect would not be allowed (with outside disconnect SER would be correct)
If "meter in closet" means "panel in closet" likely not allowed dependent on type of closet
 
augie47 said:
Two red flags for that install in this area....
25-30 ft of SE cable in the crawl space with no exterior disconnect would not be allowed (with outside disconnect SER would be correct)
If "meter in closet" means "panel in closet" likely not allowed dependent on type of closet
Click to expand...
I agree about the red flags. Can the OP provide some photos?
 
Sorry I missed typed. The service panel is in the closet. Meter is exterior. The SER runs from the exterior meter, through the crawlspace 25-30' to the main service panel in the living space (closet)
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3724.png
    IMG_3724.png
    146.5 KB · Views: 17
  • IMG_3796.png
    IMG_3796.png
    137.8 KB · Views: 17
Nothing inherently wrong with having a 4th conductor but I don't know where it was landed in the meter.
As far as the closet, it may not have been a closet when the panel was installed, or, as mentioned, what type closet it is.

The main problem, also as mentioned, would be the distance the conductors run before landing on an OCPD. There is no distance mentioned in the code, it just says the unfused conductors should land on OCPD at "nearest point of entry". With that said, I've never heard of more than 15 ft being allowed. It's up to the AHJ, or inspector as to the exact distance.
 
Ok, I, too, can not verify where that 4th conductor is landing inside the panel. Either way, doesn't the ungrounded conductor and EGC need to stay separated afterwards, though? The service panel has both on the same bus bar. I don't know if I ever saw a wire conductor leaving a meter without a disconnect.
 
Appears to have some age on it (kinda like Little Bill :) ) so the install may have been acceptable at the time of install.
Since there is no disconnect at the meter, there is no reason to separate the neutrals and equipment grounds in the panel.
It's not uncommon to see SER used with the 4th conductor not terminated (all I had on the van)
 
Lot of them like that in the city of Atlanta. I changed one out years ago, where the meter was on the garage, ran through the attic to the far side of the house, with the panel in the half basement. House was probably built in the 60-70’s.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top