Meter Mains

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jap

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If you had to change a 200 amp service from overhead to underground where the utility pole was 100ft away and had to pay for the pipe wire and new meter main either way,

Would you put the meter main out at the pole or put it on the house ?
Considering meter main on the house would be a service fom the pole to the house, meter main at the pole would Turn the run to the house a feeder.
I can see pros and cons to each.
Which would you say is the better choice?


Jap>
 
jap said:
If you had to change a 200 amp service from overhead to underground where the utility pole was 100ft away and had to pay for the pipe wire and new meter main either way,

Would you put the meter main out at the pole or put it on the house ?
Considering meter main on the house would be a service fom the pole to the house, meter main at the pole would Turn the run to the house a feeder.
I can see pros and cons to each.
Which would you say is the better choice?


Jap>
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I depends. First, meter-mains are not required by the utility here so I dont generally use them. I also generally dont use pedestals unless there is a good reason such as construction power needed or using 230.40 Ex #3. So, my preference would be to run the service to a meter-only on the house, SEC to a MB panel inside.
 
You don't need an equipment grounding conductor if you put it at the house.

You will have slightly less potential for stray voltage issues the closer to the source you place the main bonding jumper. You do still get similar stray voltage issues that originate from POCO's MGN either way.
 
If you put it at the pole you are buying and installing pedestal at the pole and an additional disconnect at the structure.

How is that anything but added cost for no reason?
 
iwire said:
If you put it at the pole you are buying and installing pedestal at the pole and an additional disconnect at the structure.

How is that anything but added cost for no reason?
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If he put a meter/main combo, he wouldn't need a disc. at the house. (outside)

Now, I wouldn't do that as I like them at the house but he could put it at the pole and not need an outside disconnect at the house if using the meter/main.
 
Little Bill said:
If he put a meter/main combo, he wouldn't need a disc. at the house. (outside)

Now, I wouldn't do that as I like them at the house but he could put it at the pole and not need an outside disconnect at the house if using the meter/main.
Click to expand...

It took me a second to figure out the logic there. You should have started that with, "For situations where the panel couldnt be located near the point of entry of the conductors...."

I assume that is what you were thinking, unless you have a local or utility rule requiring an ouside service disconnect.
 
Little Bill said:
If he put a meter/main combo, he wouldn't need a disc. at the house. (outside)
Click to expand...


Maybe, but he asked if the meter main should be used at the house or the pole. That being the case it sounds like he needs an outdoor disco at the house. Could be local requirement or the inside panel may not be close.
 
electrofelon said:
It took me a second to figure out the logic there. You should have started that with, "For situations where the panel couldnt be located near the point of entry of the conductors...."

I assume that is what you were thinking, unless you have a local or utility rule requiring an ouside service disconnect.
Click to expand...

iwire said:
Maybe, but he asked if the meter main should be used at the house or the pole. That being the case it sounds like he needs an outdoor disco at the house. Could be local requirement or the inside panel may not be close.
Click to expand...

Kind of obvious, if OP was going to use a meter/main at the house anyway he most likely is required to have an outside disconnect. I was just saying if one was at the pole, a 2nd disc. wouldn't be needed at the house other than inside.
 
Other then some local rule, the disconnect on the house isn't required to be outside just near the point of entry.

My service disconnect in my house is about as close to center of home on the basement level as it can get - but entry is from below the basement floor, so the amount of service conductor that is considered entering the structure is still pretty limited.

If the building is supplied by a feeder 225.32 still has similar requirement that the first disconnect be near the point of entry like the rules for services has - nothing changes at the house other then a feeder supply will have an EGC. You still need a grounding electrode system at the house with either supply method.
 
The owner is planning on building a shed between where the utility pole is and the house using the added pole spaces in the combo to feed it.
It's the same distance wether the feed comes from the house or the pole.

Just trying to decide the pro's or con's of one way or the other. Other than the obvious.

JAP>
 
jap said:
The owner is planning on building a shed between where the utility pole is and the house using the added pole spaces in the combo to feed it.
It's the same distance wether the feed comes from the house or the pole.

Just trying to decide the pro's or con's of one way or the other. Other than the obvious.

JAP>
Click to expand...
Depends on what some of the rules of the POCO might be as well.

Some of them around here don't even want the meter on the pole, they want it on a customer owned structure - could be a post just a few feet away if that is what customer wants - but same POCO wants customer to install underground raceway (to POCO specifications) to the meter and provide the meter socket, but POCO will pull conductors through it and provide any future maintenance it may need, besides trench settling. Another POCO does provide meter/main on the pole - because they don't want to have to maintain the underground down the road.
 
As it is now the panel in the house is within 6' of the outside wall and has a Main in it already with a Meter Only on the outside of the house but the overhead is going directly over where the new shed will be built and it doesn't have enough clearance.

The combo would just be for convienience to be able to get to the shed once its built without trying to get back outside from the inside panel.


JAP>
 
jap said:
As it is now the panel in the house is within 6' of the outside wall and has a Main in it already with a Meter Only on the outside of the house but the overhead is going directly over where the new shed will be built and it doesn't have enough clearance.

The combo would just be for convienience to be able to get to the shed once its built without trying to get back outside from the inside panel.


JAP>
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Have you spoken to your AHJ? General rule here is no more then 5 feet of entry, but on something existing they are more likely to let it go at 6 feet, they are pretty consistent with 5 feet on new construction though.

If you do move the disconnect to the outside of the house (service or feeder supplied) you now have to add an EGC to the inside panel, separate the neutrals and grounds inside, and move the GEC to the outside disconnect.
 
Aware of all the requirements just weighing pros and cons of having Service Conductors running through the yard to the house versus a Feeder.
All the houses around here are about 50/50.

JAP>
 
If possible I'd probably put the meter on the new shed and then feed the house, but your construction schedule and other issues may not allow that.
 
Little Bill said:
Kind of obvious, if OP was going to use a meter/main at the house anyway he most likely is required to have an outside disconnect. I was just saying if one was at the pole, a 2nd disc. wouldn't be needed at the house other than inside.
Click to expand...

And I am saying you are assuming that.

He may well need an outdoor disconnect at both locations
 
Hey is there a reason that out east you folks usually never use a Meter main or Meter/main combo.
Out here in the west that is basically the standard.

I think it has to do with firefighter access.
 
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