4wire for 3 wire system

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Daja7

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odd question and i should know this, installing a service upgrade and customer has 4 wire ser cable he wants me to use. from meter to panel only requires 3 wire SE. is there a code that prohibits this?
 
Actually inspected the same thing yesterday on a detached garage. New service with 4-wire, installer used neutral and grounding conductor as parallel. Connected to grounding lug in meter base(utility does not ground from meter base) and connected to terminal in load panel. He said the guy at the supply shop had a short piece he would give him. Less then 2 feet total distance.
 
Actually inspected the same thing yesterday on a detached garage. New service with 4-wire, installer used neutral and grounding conductor as parallel. Connected to grounding lug in meter base(utility does not ground from meter base) and connected to terminal in load panel. He said the guy at the supply shop had a short piece he would give him. Less then 2 feet total distance.
Did he use a double lug or put them both under the same lug? What size wire? Can't parallel under 1/0. I wonder if the equipment grounding conductor is 1/0 or larger
 
thanks, that is what i thought. If used as a parrallel do they not need to be the same size. just an aside :?
 
Conductors were #2 alum and were not connected under a double barrel lug. This meter base had the neutral lug in the center of the meter base with a grounding lug beside it. The panel had the neutral connected at normal location, with 4th wire connected to grounding busbar with approved lug. Did I miss something with paralelling less than 1/0. Never even thought of it while I was standing there. First mistake this year.
 
Did he use a double lug or put them both under the same lug? What size wire? Can't parallel under 1/0. I wonder if the equipment grounding conductor is 1/0 or larger

Even if #1/0 or larger the two conductors in parallel would need to be the same size and have the same characteristics, like both being insulated or bare.
 
so bottom line is nothing prevents using 4 wire for 3 wire application if i leave both ends of the spare wire disconnected and taped up?
 
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