meter disconnects

[allen wagner]

i have a little problem, i did a home insp. on a town house that was built 15 years ago. the electrical cont. at that time installed a metered dics.on the outside of the house and ran se cable into the panel instead of ser cable. i wrote this up as a safty problem and needed to be replaced, the county building insp said this was acceptiable and not a problem. when did the code change to allow se cable instead of ser.

 

[benaround]

Re: meter disconnects

After the first disconnect, its SER cable,always has been the way.

 

[iwire]

Re: meter disconnects

The code has not changed if there is a service disconnect at the meter you are still required to have 4 (or 5) distinct conductors from that point to the panel.

2 (or 3) - ungrounded

1 - grounded

1 - grounding

 

[allen wagner]

Re: meter disconnects

can you give me a code date that precedes 1990 in order to prove that i'm right or a code book ref.

 

[charlie]

Re: meter disconnects

Everything I have is packed up right now since I have just moved from one side of town to the other. However, the home is only 15 years old and the grounding requirements for feeders and branch circuits came into the Code around 1955 (give or take 10 years). The bottom line is that you can go to the bank with SER instead of SE being a requirement for a home of that age.

 

[suemarkp]

Re: meter disconnects

Do these disconnects contain overcurrent protection (or are they immediately adjacent to a main overcurrent device)? If not, they are not service disconnects (230.91).

Only past the service disconnecting means must the grounded and grounding conductors remain separated. (250.142(B))

So if these are only switches with no overcurrent protection and listed as meter disconnects, I think SE cable is OK as long as there is a proper service disconnect at the downstream main panel.

 

[allen wagner]

Re: meter disconnects

this is a meter on top with a 200amp main disc.in the bottom half which serves as a main disc. for the entire townhome.

 

[allenwayne]

Re: meter disconnects

Come on what have we collectively seen. In 32 years I have seen MLO panels and no means of disconnect several times.pennies behind glass plug fuses.Oh a hose clamp to a 60 amp a/c service disc.instead of the original screw terminal.Grounds as neutrals.2p60`s with #10 wire for 8kw a/h/u.etc. etc.Some are drive by inspections and some are DIY installs.Either way they are out there.

 

[allen wagner]

Re: meter disconnects

come on now, what did that have to do with the original question?

 

[dlhoule]

Re: meter disconnects

So if these are only switches with no overcurrent protection and listed as meter disconnects, I think SE cable is OK as long as there is a proper service disconnect at the downstream main panel.

Good answer Mark! I agree.

 

[Paul B]

Re: meter disconnects

I think I agree as long as the se does not run to far inside the residence.

Paul

 

[charlie]

Re: meter disconnects

Be careful with what you are calling a meter disconnect switch. Generally, they are used for 480 volt installations with self contained meters (those that plug in and do not use separate CTs or PTs). In addition, most will become locked and sealed by the serving electric utility to prevent tampering since they are installed in front of the meter (on the line side).

 

[allen wagner]

Re: meter disconnects

these main disc.services are all fused and are used as the main disc.


allen wagner

virginia

[ January 05, 2006, 08:45 AM: Message edited by: allen wagner ]