meter socket question

[champion]

I need to provide service for a pull barn. The person owns about 6 acres or so and the pull barn is no more than 20 feet square.
The service really does not need to be any greater than 30amp and I was going to provide at least 60amp for the barn. A 100amp panel with a 60amp disconnect. 120/240v 1ph service. Lights and outlets only. Instead of a service drop, I want to run the service leads underground in conduit and have the ok from the local utility to do so. I want to run the lateral into the meter socket from below and the service entrance cables out the top of the meter socket to the main disconnect and panel.
Question 1-------So for all the electrical supply companies I have called indicate that only the 200amp meter socket provides lateral entrance from below.
If I can't find or obtain a 100amp meter socket designed for entrance from below, is it ok to run the lateral conduit from below and bend the entrance cable inside the meter box to terminate in the top of the meter socket and the same for the service entrance conductors?
Question 2------Do the utility companies utilize any meters smaller than 100amp and do they fit in 100amp meter sockets?
Question 3------Do they make or design and sell 30amp or 60amp meter sockets?
Question 4------Anyone know of any catalogs I can get my hands on that reflects various meter socket types for single supply to single family residential services.
Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[mdshunk]

Re: meter socket question

Question 1-------So for all the electrical supply companies I have called indicate that only the 200amp meter socket provides lateral entrance from below.
If I can't find or obtain a 100amp meter socket designed for entrance from below, is it ok to run the lateral conduit from below and bend the entrance cable inside the meter box to terminate in the top of the meter socket and the same for the service entrance conductors?Use the 200 amp rated meter can for any underground service 200 amps and smaller. This is standard stuff.
Question 2------Do the utility companies utilize any meters smaller than 100amp and do they fit in 100amp meter sockets?A meter is a meter is a meter (for the most part). It will physically fit in the meter socket.
Question 3------Do they make or design and sell 30amp or 60amp meter sockets?Somebody may, but the price difference between sizes is very nominal.
Question 4------Anyone know of any catalogs I can get my hands on that reflects various meter socket types for single supply to single family residential services.The Milbank website is a wealth of meter socket information. Your local utility normally has a list of approved meter models and brands. Like I say, if you're going undergrond, it's most normal to hang the 200 amp underground type meter can and install whatever size service you need up to 200 amps.

Pull barn?? I'm sure that you mean POLE barn, right?

I'm a little puzzled why you want a seperate service for this. Isn't there something nearby (like the house or another barn) that you can subfeed out of? Your method seems like the most expensive way to do this.

 

[George Stolz]

Re: meter socket question

This guy is never going to build a house on the six acres? I'd put at least a 200 amp service on the premises in case they build a house later. You'd never need to bother the utility again.

Seems odd to have a service for a small pole barn. What are they doing for water? Who's caring for the animals?

 

[champion]

Re: meter socket question

Thanks for the information gentlemen.
By the way----there is already a home on the six acres with 200amp service. The home is 190 feet from the barn and the utility pole that is closest to the barn is 75ft.
I'll use the 200a meter socket, Thanks.

Jim

 

[George Stolz]

Re: meter socket question

If there isn't water in his barn, it shouldn't be too hard to talk him into trenching from the house. He can get water out there at the same time.

It's only 115' difference.

 

[mc5w]

Re: meter socket question

A SquareD 1003880A or UTZRS101A socket ( no bypass ) or UHTRS101B or UGHTRS11C socket ( horn bypass ) will work in your application and takes #8-2/0 copper of aluminum wire.

If you are required to use a lever bypass meter socket because this is a commercial account, then the smallest thing that you can get is 200 amps.

Also, for some utilities, the house at a farm must be on a meter that is separate from the farm loads because commercial power and residential power are different rates. In some places only 1 meter is installed on the basis that electric household appliances and farm equipment can be demand managed against each other. All depends on what rate structures or sucktures are offered as well as state law.

 

[charlie]

Re: meter socket question

Also, for some utilities, the house at a farm must be on a meter that is separate from the farm loads because commercial power and residential power are different rates.

We only require a single meter as long as the farmstead power is used for their own purposes. If they dry grain, board horses, or do any other type of commercial business, we require a commercial rate. We have as large as a 2000 ampere service on a residential rate for a farmstead. As mc5w said, other electric utilities are different.