Anyone know of a semi-flush or flush 400A all in one overhead panel?

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BackCountry

BackCountry

Electrician
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Southern California
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Licensed Electrician and General Contractor
Anyone know of a semi-flush or flush-mount overhead 400A all in one (CSED) panel?

I've been searching Siemens, Eaton and Square D's catalogs -- they all have overhead conversion kits for their underground surface-mount 400A residential panels; however, no one seems to make a semi flush model -- they only make semi flush models in underground.

This is a residential application with an attached apartment (non-metered), 2x6 wall construction so plenty of depth for the riser. Surface-mount is a no go, riser needs to be installed inside the wall. Plenty of 200A panels out there that fit the bill, just can't seem to find a 400A model.

Underground in my area runs $5,000 from our utility whereas overhead is $75.
 
I haven't mounted any metermains we've purchased flush or semi flush, so I don't know.

But, I would be posing your question to your local supply house rep so they can get in touch with a manufacturer rep. That's what they are there for.

Now that I think of it, I thought Siemens made a kit for their metermains to turn them into flush/semi flush? I believe it was a few pieces of angle iron you just bolted to the side of the metermain around the perimeter of it which gave you a flange you could secure to siding/sheathing, etc?

I bet I could buy a few pieces of steel/aluminum, etc and make some in less than an hour.
 
I’ve got a message in to both of my supply houses, one carries Square D and the other carries Eaton — neither carry much of Siemens.

You’re correct about the flange kit, the problem is that the flange pieces land right over the riser hub knockout on Siemens, and the meter is on the top of the utility side, with the lugs facing down. Those tunnel kits I referred to take the service conductors down to the bottom of the utility side and swing back up. I suppose a Meyers hub behind the flange kit could work if there’s enough depth, although that would be traveling right by the meter jaws...
 
None of the 400 amp CSED's are designed for overhead feed. They are all for underground feed. You can purchase a special gutter that mounts next to the panel to allow the conductors to enter the bottom of the left side of the pull section.

If they really want t flush look I think the only option would be to build a recess big enough fo the panel and gutter then put a door to cover the panel.
 
Thanks Curt, I'm seeing the same thing with the exception of Siemens. They make an overhead model that doesn't require a gutter on the side -- the utility side is wider by design in their overhead model; however, it's of course not semi-flush.

I'm wondering if I could take their 7" deep semi-flush model and put a hub above the meter behind the flange (2-1/2" riser) with enough room to navigate 3 400kcm's past the meter jaws, and then bend them back up for the terminations.

This is a really helpful spec sheet from Siemens:


Thank you
 
Most all utility blue books I’ve read prohibit flush meter installs regardless of ownership.


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Even more so on new construction. Depending on the AHJ, most require new construction to be underground, and the 3" PVC service conduit is stubbed up inside the footing to facilitate flush installation. Pretty often you'll see someone pull the measurement wrong and end up with a "custom" offset to land the service conduit into the panel depending on how far they were off.

For aerial infill new construction (inside an established neighborhood), where allowed, combination all in one panels are probably about 99% of what you'll see here. 2" rigid inside a 2x6 exterior wall on a flush panel, usually with a two hole strap to secure it at the soffit blocking. They're quite a challenge to do a panel upgrade on later if stucco, there are thousands of 100amp Zinsco flush mount panels here on stucco houses from the 60's.

I prefer to install semi-flush panels, particularly square D's new series, because at least you can get a few exterior conduits in should something change later. I try to install conduit into the attic and crawl space, if there is one, on flush mounts to give someone a fighting chance later if that's the case. Makes the construction process a lot easier for siding or stucco so there's no riser in the way.
 
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