Looking for 4/0 splicing options.

[4x4dually]

Background: POCO is removing the transformer at the pole and running the HV underground to a new pad mount transformer right between the old house and the new house. This means the old service from the pole to the house will not be used for the house, however, both barns are tied to it in the meter/breaker combo.

What I need to do is use the old 200A service conductors to feed both barns except it will be fed from the other direction now since transformer is being moved to the other end. POCO said they are abandoning the pole and it becomes mine after they cut the top half off and they are going to pull the meter base from it. This leaves me with all three feeds stubbed up out of the ground.

What I'm going to do is get an enclosure to put back on top of the conduits and tie the three feeds back together. My question is, what do you all recommend to splice the three runs together with? Do I just get Polaris splices, do I try to find power distribution blocks, or is there some enclosure combo out there that I can buy and install with everything I need in it? I've never done this kind of swap so I'm curious as to what kind of options are out there you all are familiar with.

CAD image below for reference. Old on the left, new of course on the right.

What would be super dooper is if I found an old meter base and used the guts or just put a blank in the meter hole. That thought just now crossed my mind as I typed this. I can't talk them into pulling the meter out and leaving me with the enclosure and guts. They just won't do it for some reason. Anyone have one of these enclosures laying around they'd part with?

Any who.....looking for options if you all have any good advice. Barns will never pull more than 50A and that's "if" I use a welder in them which I probably never will. Mostly lights, a few exhaust fans, etc.



Someone had added a GCFI to it and that will get removed. It has no current protection so don't start critiquing' it. It will get cleaned up.

Current enclosure. You know they won't resuse this 18 year old enclosure. I wonder if I can talk them into leaving me the guts to put in a different box? I'll have to work on them some more maybe. I guess I'll post this since I've went to the effort now of creating it just to see what ya'll think.

 

[4x4dually]

I just sent POCO an email pleading with them to leave it. It really make zero sense for them to take it and scrap it like you know they will. Liability reasons or not, that's just silly.

 

[Buck Parrish]

I just one did one similar' I installed a 200 amp panel at the pole. Then fed the other barns with 100 amp breakers . Then I installed an outlet at the pole.
The custOmer was pleased to have a cut off right their as one barn was not used much any way.

 

[augie47]

Equipment grounding conductors seem to be an issue,

 

[4x4dually]

Equipment grounding conductors seem to be an issue,

I did find that ground rods were driven at both barns but there's no way for me to add those conductors to the runs. Gonna have to live with it because I'm not digging it up to change it.

 

[Buck Parrish]

Equipment grounding conductors seem to be an issue,

The one I was refering to did not have a grounding wire either. But with the additional overcurrent protection I still considered it safer.
The 89 year old lady had called because the diesel pump was shocking her every time she filled up her tractor. That's why I installed an aditional outlet at the pole because her diesel pump was not on a breaker.
I swear her barn was like walking into an antique store.
All of the lights and all of the outlets where a grounding wire was present, it was simply cut off as soon as it came out of the romex or sheath. .
Some of you all may have heard me talk about Indiana wiring methods before. But I will not get into that.

 

[4x4dually]

Things could be way worse.....like...way worse. LMAO

 

[tom baker]

Interesting, coupling below the weather coffee pot. Be interesting to see what the house strike is.

 

[augie47]

In regard to the OP I would lean toward Polaris type connectors.

 

[4x4dually]

In regard to the OP I would lean toward Polaris type connectors.

Thanks. A power distribution block would be clean and look nice and I'm not sure what would be cheaper, one three bank block or three separate Polaris connectors. I'll check and see what the supply house has after work when I go pick up all the new service wire and conduit for the new house. I'll continue to harass the POCO until they give me the dang box. LOL

 

[4x4dually]

Welp....got her did. POCO refused to let me keep the meter can enclosure so I had to re-do it all. They replaced the entire pole so I just made it work. I didn't heat the stub ups and form them all nicely like I could have but it's done and looks decent enough.

Contractors showed up last Wednesday with underground and overhead crew and knocked it out for me. I used a PCV enclosure for the J-box and some Polaris connectors. I also installed a DIN rail and two 20A DIN mounting breakers. One protects the Metal Halide lamp wire that is switched going up top and the other protects a 20A GCFI I mounted on the side of the box. I tapped them off the splices. Worked out nicely.

 

[electrofelon]

I have been doing solar systems lately where, due to the unavailability of 320 meter sockets, I need to splice three sets of service conductors, usually 4/0 and/or 250. I have been using an 18x18x18 3R box with h taps. The H taps are super cheap, like $3.50 each:

Blackburn® WR179 Type WR Wide Range Compression H-Tap Connector, H, 3 to 1/0 AWG Main/Run, 6 to 4 AWG Tap, Aluminum | SMC

Blackburn® Compression H-Tap Connector, Type WR Wide Range, H, 3 to 1/0 AWG Main/Run Size, 6 to 4 AWG Tap, ACSR/Aluminum/Copper/Solid/Stranded Conductor, O Die Code, 0.266 to 0.398 in Dia Conductor Main, 0.162 to 0.266 in Dia Conductor Tap, 2-Conductor, 90 deg C, Aluminum, 1-7/8 in L

www.smcelectric.com

 

[Sberry]

If I can help it I use a 200 8 space with feed thru if I can for something like that, looks like you got it.