Meter Socket

[don]

A neighbor of mine is installing a new service entrance and the line running from the meter socket to the circuit breaker panel runs along the side of the house about ten foot before it enters the house. What does the nec say about the length after the meter socket before line must enter house?

 

[pierre]

Re: Meter Socket

It can wrapped around the house like christmas lights

Pierre

 

[bill addiss]

Re: Meter Socket

don,

Seriously, there is no maximum length specified for the service cable, before or after the Meter, but only on the outside of the house.

If the line you were talking about ran inside 10 feet before hitting the panel that would be seen as a violation in most areas unless a Main Disconnect (~ Main Breaker) was located outside. (or immediately inside)

Bill

[ December 06, 2003, 11:04 AM: Message edited by: bill addiss ]

 

[bennie]

Re: Meter Socket

I interpret 230.6.1.&2 to require 2 inches of concrete between the conductors and the wall surface, to rule the cable is outside the building.

This should get many opposing remarks

 

[iwire]

Re: Meter Socket

Originally posted by bennie:
I interpret 230.6.1.&2 to require 2 inches of concrete between the conductors and the wall surface, to rule the cable is outside the building.

This should get many opposing remarks

Bennie all kidding aside if I want go more than 5' or 6' in the building without a main outside I will indeed have to encase it in concrete.

Been there, done that, many times.

Edit: I just realized you are talking about the conductors outside the building. :roll: :roll:

[ December 06, 2003, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]

 

[roger]

Re: Meter Socket

230.6(1) is dealing with beneath the building and 230.6(2) within the building.

If the exterior wall is not the outside of the building we are going to have to reconsider 220.3(A)


Edited to correct 250 to 230
Roger

[ December 06, 2003, 02:16 PM: Message edited by: roger ]

 

[bennie]

Re: Meter Socket

Is the concrete encasement for protecting the cable from fire or protecting the building from the cable?

 

[iwire]

Re: Meter Socket

I don't know Bennie.

IMO a SE cable that faults in a building has a much higher likely hood of causing a fire than the same cable with the same fault on the exterior of a building.

I do not picture a slow overload that raises the temp of the conductor until the material it is secured to ignites, the main breaker prevents a long period of overload.

I picture some physical damage to the cable causing an explosive fault sending hot copper or aluminum in all directions.

If I had to choose where on my property to have such an event I would choose outside.

[ December 06, 2003, 04:20 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]

 

[don]

Re: Meter Socket

thanks,

 

[tom baker]

Re: Meter Socket

Some local codes restrict the length inside a building of service entrance conductors, I have seen 15 ft, 10 ft, 5 and 3. In washington state we restrict the length and what wiring method can be used.

 

[electricmanscott]

Re: Meter Socket

Boy you guys certainly know how to take a simple question and confuse the hell out of it. After the meter on the outside of the house there is no NEC limit as to length.

 

[gwz2]

Re: Meter Socket

Don't you mean SERVICE DISCONNECT ( with the required OCPD )?

gwz2

 

[a.wayne3@verizon.net]

Re: Meter Socket

If it is run in conduit under the slab to a panel in the home then the first point of entry is met even if 100 ft. away.So at that point no disconnect required.(adjacent to the meter or first point of entry is the key....Just an extended back to back service at that point

 

[don]

Re: Meter Socket

the reason for the question was it just looks unsafe, the home was a house which was converted into a duplex, I have a few just like it, I installed a double meter socket with disconnects built in, ran the sub feed cable from that to the circuit boxes, drillin the holes through the 2 by 12s or whatever they are is not fun but the end result is the subfeed cable is tucked away from everything and has the added safety of havin a breaker on it even if it's a main. An inspector told me about this and I have done it this way ever since.