Advice on Outdoor Disconnect Requested (Preferences?)

Advice on Outdoor Disconnect Requested (Preferences?)

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busman

busman

Senior Member
Location
Northern Virginia
Occupation
Master Electrician / Electrical Engineer
When doing a residential service that requires an outside disconnect, do you prefer conduit with individual conductors or SEU cable between the disconnect and the meter can?

I kinda prefer SEU just because we have to temp the new conductors to the old meter can thru the meter hole until the PoCo makes the final connection (sometimes months later) and the SEU seems more protected at ground level than 3 XHHW wires hanging out a meter can hole.

BTW, I know I think too much.

Thanks,

Mark
 
Whenever I do a service requring a disconnect outside, I like to use a conbination meter box and disconnect. I use Siemens, they are around 100 to 150 dollars.
 
guschash said:
Whenever I do a service requring a disconnect outside, I like to use a conbination meter box and disconnect. I use Siemens, they are around 100 to 150 dollars.
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What amperage ? I like the combo unit too but a 200 amp unit goes far about 500
 
200A. Around here, the PoCo supplies the meter socket. I guess I've never asked if they would let me use a combo socket, but I'm guessing the answer is no.
 
SEU... what? There is no way we would be allowed to install a surface mounted cable. It all Conduit and Conductors baby. After our big Ice Storm of '08, I saw some service cable into 60 amp meters on some homes down in the bottoms, but had to install back with RMC and THWN on a 100 amp.
 
Minuteman said:
SEU... what? There is no way we would be allowed to install a surface mounted cable. It all Conduit and Conductors baby. After our big Ice Storm of '08, I saw some service cable into 60 amp meters on some homes down in the bottoms, but had to install back with RMC and THWN on a 100 amp.
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That's a shame. Se cable is legal, safe, and cost effective.

In my ice storm experience se cable is actually the preferred method. Of the many services I repaired during "big Ice '08" (the media will promote anything) se cable was the easiest to get back in service. Clip it back up and reconnect. Conduit methods would be broken and need replacement.

As for wiring from a disco to where ever it all depends on the situation. For me there is no right answer.
 
What I use depends on where I need to go to, and whether SEU is allowed between the two. If the meter combo in on the garage, and the panel in the house, it depends on whether the garage will be finished (drywalled) or not. If it is, I use SEU. If not, it gets piped.
 
electricmanscott said:
That's a shame. Se cable is legal, safe, and cost effective.

In my ice storm experience se cable is actually the preferred method. Of the many services I repaired during "big Ice '08" (the media will promote anything) se cable was the easiest to get back in service. Clip it back up and reconnect. Conduit methods would be broken and need replacement.

As for wiring from a disco to where ever it all depends on the situation. For me there is no right answer.
Click to expand...

I like using the fold over clips on riser. If the wire gets knocked down from house it will not rip the clad boards with it. It is quick to reinstall after.
 
Local rules do not allow seu exposed in this county. Also in my home county I use the combo meters with the built in main on 200 amps and the the 320 meter main with 2-200 amp mains in it on 400 amp services. 1 county over the POCO provides the socket so we have to use a separate disconnect where required.
 
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