Main Panel disconnect location

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

msmeyers.md

Member
Location
Amarillo TX
My home system has buried service cables via an easement originating in an alley ~150 feet from the house/property line. The meter AND main disconnect/breaker are in the alley. The main entrance panel has no disconnect except for breaker to two subpanels. Should I attempt to have the meter/service entrance moved to the side of the house? If so, will I be required to pay for new lines or will the power company test and reuse the lines in place? Or, should I just replace the main Panel with a disconnect/breaker accessable from the house?
 
This thread had been temporarily closed. This action was taken because it appeared to be an attempt by a Do It Yourself person to obtain "how-to" information.

In an exchange of Private Messages, the Original Poster has provided assurances that this is not the case. The OP stated that he intends arrange for an electrician to perform the work, and is merely seeking information to assist in planning the project. Therefore, the thread is being reopened. I offer an apology to the OP for the inconvenience and the delay.
 
To clarify, was this ever up to code (home built in 1985) and would installing a new panel with breaker/disconnect be up to 2008 code even with the remote meter/service entrance?
 
Some poco's install disconnects like that closer to their equipment.
You are still code compliant with out a main. You can go up to six 2 pole
breakers
 
msmeyers.md said:
The main entrance panel has no disconnect except for breaker to two subpanels.
Click to expand...
Do I correctly understand that, when the conductors first come into the house, they land on a set of two breakers? This could be two boxes, each with one breaker, sitting side by side, or it could be one box that contains two breakers. From there, each of the two breakers provides power to a sub-panel. Is that right?

That is code compliant today, and has been for a long time.
 
This is incorrect. The three lines come directly into main panel with one to the neutral/ ground bus and the other two to a power bus each. The only breaker (200 amp) to shut off house power is in the alley ~ 150 feet away and over two fences. There is one breaker(125 amp) in this panel to shut off power to two subpanels directly from the power buses after ~20 branch circuit breakers. The two subpanels are next to each other 75 feet from main panel. The first subpanel has a main disconnect breaker but the second one does not. They are serially connected. No neutral to ground at the subpanels.
 
Last edited:
That was legal when the house was built. The 2008 NEC would now require a 4th wire to be run to the house which would be your equip. grounding conductor.
 
msmeyers.md said:
This is incorrect. The three lines come directly into main panel with one to the neutral/ ground bus and the other two to a power bus each. The only breaker (200 amp) to shut off house power is in the alley ~ 150 feet away and over two fences. There is one breaker(125 amp) in this panel to shut off power to two subpanels directly from the power buses after ~20 branch circuit breakers. The two subpanels are next to each other 75 feet from main panel. The first subpanel has a main disconnect breaker but the second one does not. They are serially connected. No neutral to ground at the subpanels.
Click to expand...

I don't see how this installation complies with the code. The only service equipment is in the Alley. There's a three-wire to a load center (no main breaker) in the house. Wrong. The house needs a main breaker nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors if they're being regrounded as permitted by 250.32. If they're being used as a feeder assembly, where's the fourth wire? For feeders, see 225.31 & 225.32
 
Last edited:
If this 4th wire was present, would the neutral/ground bond be only in the alley or where the service enters the house? If I have a new main panel with a breaker installed, will the electrician be required to update this to include the 4th wire? Since this is now 2008 code. should I have this updated for safety purposes whether required or not? There is a swimming pool on the premises so I would prefer to have the safest system installed. After reading Leeper and Riley books I am still a bit confused about the grounding location in this case. I missed the previous post before I wrote this. Thanks for your responses.
 
Last edited:
Dennis Alwon said:
That was legal when the house was built. The 2008 NEC would now require a 4th wire to be run to the house which would be your equip. grounding conductor.
Click to expand...

It's probably metal conduit as an equipment ground.;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top