400 amp service

[rimo]

Hi,
I'm installing 400amp single phase 240/120 volt service for multifamily dwelling with one retail space.
Trying to build something like it shows on this picture,except my service comes in underground from city sidewalk transformer.
every unit,it's 10 of them, has a sub panel with 60amp main breaker + 40amp House panel + 100amp retail space panel. So ,I'm shopping for multimeter socket boxes.Question-all my multimeter socket boxes has to be 400 amp rating ? Home depot has this for 125 amp,but I dont know what is the busing rating.
Thanks.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

IMO the load for the units will dictate the size of the meter

 

[rimo]

100 amp retail space panel is the biggest,so if I'll get 125 amp meter sockets and install 60 amp breakers for units + 100amp breaker for retail space,I'm good to go? Not many places carry this multimeter socket boxes,they work pretty good,just slide them together and connect the busway.

 

[rimo]

Apparently it's very hard to order plug in to each other meter packs,like it's shows on the picture, supply people telling me it will take up to 3-4 weeks,I don't have time. But they all have this- Eaton 1MP4124R 125A, Meter Pack, 4 Socket, 1-Phase,bus ways rating for 400 amp.
can I install them and chase them with the nipple,this way I can install double lugs on meter basing and land my parallel 4/0 feeders. ?

 

[kwired]

Apparently it's very hard to order plug in to each other meter packs,like it's shows on the picture, supply people telling me it will take up to 3-4 weeks,I don't have time. But they all have this- Eaton 1MP4124R 125A, Meter Pack, 4 Socket, 1-Phase,bus ways rating for 400 amp.
can I install them and chase them with the nipple,this way I can install double lugs on meter basing and land my parallel 4/0 feeders. ?

I wouln't say they are very hard to order, just that it is likely to not be in stock in a local supply house in many cases and will mean there is going to be some waiting period to acquire it.

Units like you have in the OP are designed with a common bus and bus plugs to connect to additional units.

If you don't have the time to wait for them to show up, nothing in NEC says you can not build your own service with a standard disconnect, some wireways, meter sockets (if no breakers incorporated into the meter sockets you probably need breaker enclosures as well), and some connecting fittings, conductors, tap devices, etc. When all is said and done and you figure your time assembling all of it it likely costs more and takes up more space then the meter center. Plus sometimes the POCO will have limitations on what they will accept but often will accept a listed meter center with little issues.

When you get such meter center you can get 125 amp sockets, but the section will usually have at least a 200 amp bus - and in your case you probably want a 400 amp bus if it is protected by a 400 amp main.

I think this equipment is generally same category as switchboards, which may mean lesser bus rating may be acceptable even though overcurrent protection is higher, but you would still need to watch that it is not overloaded. If anything put the main in the center and a 200 amp section on each side and you may be alright, but if you put the main on one end and two 200 amp sections to the right - the first section has to carry 100% of the connected load through it's bus and 200 may just not be enough.