#6 Feeder 100-amp breaker at meter, 60-amp breaker at panel

[Jps1006]

My customer has a 3 story medical building with meters in the basement 120/208 single phase. We have a 2nd floor conference room that needs to be metered by itself. There's a 100-amp breaker in the empty meter space, but I'd prefer to set a 60-amp panel in the suite because the load is minimal. It's about 165' run. I'd really rather run 1" conduit with #6 vs 1-1/4 with #3.
A cursory search of the internet doesn't show a 60-amp breaker available. Square D QE breaker. I haven't explored the unconventional limits of what the code might allow (normal circumstances, you just plug in a 60-amp breaker) but can I tap #6 (or 4 if i decide to for VD) and protect for short circuit using the 100-amp breaker and protect for overcurrent at the panel in the suite with a 60-amp main breaker?

 

[LarryFine]

No, you'll need to protect the #6 at the meter end, not at the panel end.

 

[curt swartz]

You can easily pull 3-#3 & 1-#8 through 1" EMT/PVC/Rigid to stay with 100 amps.

If you really want to run 60 amps is there a place in the meter room you can set a single circuit breaker enclosure? if so run 100 amp conductors to that and install a 60 amp breaker for the feeder to the conference room. It will cost more to do this then just staying with 100 amps.

 

[jap]

Stay conventional and put in the correct breaker for whatever size wire you're pulling.

JAP>

 

[TCTucker]

You need to protect the new conductors supplying your new 60A panel by installing a properly rated OCPD at the source end.

 

[Jps1006]

Thanks guys. I was hoping someone would point out a way to apply a tap rule that would apply, since I couldn't find one myself. Material cost is around $1000 or so more to use the larger cable, I'm going to go that route. My supplier says they didn't make a 60-amp QE breaker so I'm stuck with the spare 100-amp on site (I'm glad there was one). I may consider Curt's suggesting to pull #3's through 1".
Thanks again!

 

[jap]

If the load is minimal and you want to reduce the feeder size to the subpanel and a 2p 60 is not available maybe they make a 2p 50,40,30 etc... and you could drop the conductor size down as needed.


JAP>

 

[wwhitney]

I don't really know anything about Square D's product lineup outside of residential (@jim dungar does), but QE270VH is apparently an available (refurbished?) product, if that would be the 70A breaker required, and if you prefer 70A to 100A.

Cheers, Wayne