RTP-NC
New member
- Location
- Durham, NC, USA
I have a unique situation that i can not get clearly resolved.:?
We all get odd requests and this may come up again.
"""The question is how to keep an existing garage meter box and service conductor intact for future re-use while adding a new feeder from the house since 2 services are not allowed."""
The last 5 years has cost over $1,000 in service fees for $20 of electricity for garage.
Plan is to run #6 in 1-1/4 conduit 75(110) ft as a 4 wire 50A feeder from house panel to garage panel. Enough for air compressor, lights and space heater etc.
I have met with the AHJ, POCO and several contractors none of whom could provide an acceptable complete response.
The situation is as follows:
Location is Durham, NC.
Construction 1978
Garage 900 sqr ft, interior fully finished.
25 ft wide cement driveway between house and garage/services.
No outside disconnects, just meter boxes.
200A buried service to house from street.(goes under driveway)
125A buried service to detached garage from street.
Water and phone between house and garage.
All wiring is good and to code when initial work done.
Met with AHJ who referred me to the POCO as for how to handle the garage meter and service/entry conductors.
Met with POCO tech who stated that if the garage service was disconnected at the street for an extended period of time that the service is abandoned and the POCO will not use it again(sounds to me like BS). The service conductor "has to remain energized".
The POCO tech's recommendation was to remove the garage meter box and cut off the service conductors.:rant:
The cost of installing 150 ft of buried 125A service is very expensive and abandonment is not an option.
Some thoughts are:
Terminate garage service and have meter removed.
1) also tape off meter entry feeders in garage panel? (need to change breaker for new feeder anyway)
2) also tape off meter entry feeders in meter socket?
3) or remove meter entry feeders completely (or just from meter socket)? (Last choice here due to drywall, but I think this is right.)
a) Is it allowed to have an unused meter box energized like this?
b) Will the energized service conductors to the garage meter box "count as a service" since it is still attached to the outside of the garage(Art.230)?
c) Is it allowed to have unconnected service entry wires in the meter box and/or panel this way?
d) Is this type of arrangement even allowed?
e) Should the meter box service neutral remain connected to the garage panel?
f) Currently garage Panel GEC conductor is run through the meter box to the rod. I am not sure if it just passes through or is tied to the meter? Comments???
g) Should the Meter service conductor still maintain the GEC? (I think so.)
h) The GEC would be shared now, Problem? Will 2 separate GEC (and/or rods) be needed?
i) If decide to change back to original 125A service can the newly installed feeder wires be left unconnected in both panels? (starts many of the questions all over again)
j) Any issues for re-using the "old" 125A service entry cable to meter and panel if it had been disconnected?
k) Is an ID plate needed on the old meter box to show where the service is now originating from?
Sorry for all the extra questions, but better to get a good complete answer than 20 piece mails.
We all get odd requests and this may come up again.
"""The question is how to keep an existing garage meter box and service conductor intact for future re-use while adding a new feeder from the house since 2 services are not allowed."""
The last 5 years has cost over $1,000 in service fees for $20 of electricity for garage.
Plan is to run #6 in 1-1/4 conduit 75(110) ft as a 4 wire 50A feeder from house panel to garage panel. Enough for air compressor, lights and space heater etc.
I have met with the AHJ, POCO and several contractors none of whom could provide an acceptable complete response.
The situation is as follows:
Location is Durham, NC.
Construction 1978
Garage 900 sqr ft, interior fully finished.
25 ft wide cement driveway between house and garage/services.
No outside disconnects, just meter boxes.
200A buried service to house from street.(goes under driveway)
125A buried service to detached garage from street.
Water and phone between house and garage.
All wiring is good and to code when initial work done.
Met with AHJ who referred me to the POCO as for how to handle the garage meter and service/entry conductors.
Met with POCO tech who stated that if the garage service was disconnected at the street for an extended period of time that the service is abandoned and the POCO will not use it again(sounds to me like BS). The service conductor "has to remain energized".
The POCO tech's recommendation was to remove the garage meter box and cut off the service conductors.:rant:
The cost of installing 150 ft of buried 125A service is very expensive and abandonment is not an option.
Some thoughts are:
Terminate garage service and have meter removed.
1) also tape off meter entry feeders in garage panel? (need to change breaker for new feeder anyway)
2) also tape off meter entry feeders in meter socket?
3) or remove meter entry feeders completely (or just from meter socket)? (Last choice here due to drywall, but I think this is right.)
a) Is it allowed to have an unused meter box energized like this?
b) Will the energized service conductors to the garage meter box "count as a service" since it is still attached to the outside of the garage(Art.230)?
c) Is it allowed to have unconnected service entry wires in the meter box and/or panel this way?
d) Is this type of arrangement even allowed?
e) Should the meter box service neutral remain connected to the garage panel?
f) Currently garage Panel GEC conductor is run through the meter box to the rod. I am not sure if it just passes through or is tied to the meter? Comments???
g) Should the Meter service conductor still maintain the GEC? (I think so.)
h) The GEC would be shared now, Problem? Will 2 separate GEC (and/or rods) be needed?
i) If decide to change back to original 125A service can the newly installed feeder wires be left unconnected in both panels? (starts many of the questions all over again)
j) Any issues for re-using the "old" 125A service entry cable to meter and panel if it had been disconnected?
k) Is an ID plate needed on the old meter box to show where the service is now originating from?
Sorry for all the extra questions, but better to get a good complete answer than 20 piece mails.
