Install means of disconnect 400 amps

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JMWElectric

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Location
Martinez CA
Hey guys I have a quick question:

A building has a 6 meter switchgear and is only using 5 meters. Trying to install 6th meter and city requires means of disconnect. The switchgear is older and has no main disconnect to install the 6th meter.

Existing:
400 amp 3 phase 240v with stinger switch gear 6 meters located inside building no means of disconnect


Proposed:
Intercept service feeders and route through wall and land on a 400 amp disconnect. Feed back through to switchgear. Now disconnecting means are outside.

My question obviously is if this would work I see no problem with it and just wanted to get another perspective. I included a very basic picture of layout.
145956b8b6fcf8ceca9cda9878724253.jpg


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I'm confused, city is requiring a means of disconnect for what?

The entire meter center? If so does it not have feeder breaker associated with each meter? Up to six would comply with NEC for most situations if this is the service equipment.

They want an outdoor disconnect for potential firefighting needs?

Is city the also the POCO and it is requested from POCO point of view or is it a city electrical inspector requesting this, or some other matter requiring this?
 
kwired said:
I'm confused, city is requiring a means of disconnect for what?

The entire meter center? If so does it not have feeder breaker associated with each meter? Up to six would comply with NEC for most situations if this is the service equipment.

They want an outdoor disconnect for potential firefighting needs?

Is city the also the POCO and it is requested from POCO point of view or is it a city electrical inspector requesting this, or some other matter requiring this?
Click to expand...

City inspector is requiring means of disconnect of entire switchgear to allow service provider to install 6th meter. And outdoor disconnect is only location to install disconnect.

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JMWElectric said:
City inspector is requiring means of disconnect of entire switchgear to allow service provider to install 6th meter. And outdoor disconnect is only location to install disconnect.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yes it will work but it makes no sense and may not meet code.

The conductors belong to the power company until they hit the existing mete stack.

If service conductors go inside a building they are supposed to hit a disconnect as soon as they can. The code is ambiguous about how far they are allowed to enter before landing in a disconnect but I have never thought about going inside the building and then back outside to the disco.
 
JMWElectric said:
City inspector is requiring means of disconnect of entire switchgear to allow service provider to install 6th meter. And outdoor disconnect is only location to install disconnect.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Some POCO's won't like that because a disconnect ahead of meters gives potential easy access to unmetered conductors. What is there is code compliant.

Nearly all self contained single meter services (and most 2-6 meter services) have a hot meter socket whenever the meter is being serviced. Some POCO do want a switch ahead of 480/277 meter sockets.
 
JMWElectric said:
City inspector is requiring means of disconnect of entire switchgear to allow service provider to install 6th meter. And outdoor disconnect is only location to install disconnect.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Something is wrong here. I'm thinking someone at the City is misinterpreting what you are trying to do. The "service provider" would be the power company, right? if you are to install a 400A disconnect AHEAD of the meter stack, they will have to come out and disconnect power at the pole. What's the difference between them doing that for your disconnect, or them doing that to add a 6th meter?
 
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