600 amp single phase service

[PeterRey]

I’m new to contracting but not new to the electrician field. I am installing a 600amp single phase service on a new construction house. My plan was 600amp meter, load side of meter feeding 3 200amp panels next to the meter with 4/0AL to each. Meaning the load side will have triple lugs (Farthest one will be roughly 13ft of 4/0 AL). Installing a gutter beneath the panels and my inspector said I can not do that per NEC code. He cited a article that doesn’t pertain to anything relevant.

I have installed a 600amp meter combo with 3 200amp breakers years ago. Does anyone know where I can find one or why my inspector is saying my plan is a code violation? Any recommendations on how for do this install?

 

[augie47]

NEC Code cyccle may play a role. What cycle is presently enforced ?

 

[PeterRey]

2017 NEC

 

[augie47]

A sketch would be nice but, offhand, I can think of no violation in general.

 

[PeterRey]

I didn’t add the transfer switch in the original post. It was not important information at the time but this is what my plan is. 1 200amp generator panel. And 2 non generator panels. All 3 service disconnects grouped next to meter. 4/0 from load of meter to line of 200amp breakers. Picture is too large hang on…

 

[PeterRey]

 

[augie47]

I'd need a Code reference from that inspector were I you

 

[PeterRey]

He referenced 230.6… now that I’m typing this I used “unprotected wire from the load side of the meter” so clearly he thought I was actually putting the 4/0 out of the meter, dangling in air and connecting to the service disconnect 13ft away…. Face palm….

 

[don_resqcapt19]

He referenced 230.6… now that I’m typing this I used “unprotected wire from the load side of the meter” so clearly he thought I was actually putting the 4/0 out of the meter, dangling in air and connecting to the service disconnect 13ft away…. Face palm….

If the line and load conductors from the service disconnects are both in the wireway, he is 100% correct. "Unprotected" used in this context, means the conductor is on the line side of the service disconnect and does not have overcurrent protection.

 

[LarryFine]

But line-side-only are okay, even with a removable cover?

 

[augie47]

Agree... You are not showing the routing of the load side conductors from the left & center disconnect. IF you bring them into the same wireway as the service conductors it will be a violation of 230.7

 

[PeterRey]

The line “utility” will be in a 3in pvc left side of meter. The load side of the meter to the disconnects will be routed though the gutter. So they willl be separate. So I can run any other wires in that gutter? Even if they have over current protection?

 

[augie47]

"Load side of the meter" are still service conductords and cannot share the same raceway with feeder conductors (those on the load side of your disconnect)

 

[jap]

You could however put a chase through the gutter for the feeder conductors to keep them seperated from the service conductors and utilize the gutter like you want to.

JAP>

 

[rlane00]

It's possible that he's also objecting to the 4/0 feeder wire being too small. The derating allowed per 310.12(B) is only for "feeders carrying the entire load associated with a one-family dwelling." Since each panel is carrying only 1/3 the load of the house, the feeders should be sized at #250 AL instead.

 

[wwhitney]

It's possible that he's also objecting to the 4/0 feeder wire being too small. The derating allowed per 310.12(B) is only for "feeders carrying the entire load associated with a one-family dwelling." Since each panel is carrying only 1/3 the load of the house, the feeders should be sized at #250 AL instead.

If you want 200A service conductors to each panel, then yes. But if 180A service conductors are sufficient per the load calc, then it's OK to protect them at 200A per 240.4(B).

Cheers, Wayne

 

[jap]

He may be, but, I doubt the inspector is sitting in his truck doing load calculations on a load he knows nothing about.

JAP>

 

[wwhitney]

wireway

The OP's configuration is likely outside, in which case both metal wireways (376.10(3), although 376.10 is written wrong) and boxes (314.15) are required to be listed, so the listing will determine whether the "gutter" is a wireway, junction/pull box, or both.

But if it were indoors, how do you tell if an unlisted 6-sided metal cuboid is a wireway or a junction/pull box? As 230.7 applies only to raceways, not to junction/pull boxes.

Cheers, Wayne