Meterbase Taps

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horses

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Bradenton, Florida
Is it a code violation to tap a meterbase on a single family dwelling to feed a garage that is 25' away? My immediate response is yes. This is a 200A single phase meter that is feeding a 200A single phase 200A main breaker panel inside the house & someone has tapped the meterbase outside to feed a 100A sub-panel in the garage. I would just like to hear your opinions. I have not physically seen this yet so Im not sure if they ran 3 or 4 wires, if I had to guess they probably ran 3 beings the local power company will not allow you to put an egc in their meterbases.
 
Are you a electrical contractor?

If so, read section 230.40 in the National Electrical Code.

Also 110.14

steve
 
Meterbase Taps

Yes! I'am an Electrical Contractor! If this is allowed per 230.40 ex. #3, I would think that a means of disconnect for the 100A feeders running to the garage would be required @ the meterbase which does'nt exist?
 
Is the garage attached or detached? If attached, this panel needs a main and must be grouped with the other 200A panel (up to a total of 6 disconnects allowed and must be grouped together). If detached, the detached garage only needs a local main disconnect (which could be a main breaker in this panel).

In both cases, these sound like Service Conductors and not feeders, so the appropriate wire type has to be used. Most meters are rated in continuous amps (200A continuous). A 200A panel is only good for 160 continuous amps, so there is some margin in the meter. But I wonder what size service conductors are feeding the meter. And was a load calculation done to verify the service isn't being overloaded?
 
horses said:
Yes! I'am an Electrical Contractor! If this is allowed per 230.40 ex. #3, I would think that a means of disconnect for the 100A feeders running to the garage would be required @ the meterbase which does'nt exist?
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IMO, since the conductors going to the garage are SEC's, the disconnect can be at the garage and not at the house...
 
in my experience, the violation normally exists in that most 200 amp meter bases are not listed to permit "taps" and are limited to one wire per lug.
 
augie47 said:
in my experience, the violation normally exists in that most 200 amp meter bases are not listed to permit "taps" and are limited to one wire per lug.
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right, but a trough under the meter would be fine for the splice....
 
Meterbase Taps

I was thinking that the disconnect should be under the meterbase. This is an existing installation that a friend had called me & asked if it was per code. Thanks for all of your input. Oh & by the way I liked the comment about the trough.
 
Remember, most lugs in a meter base (or meter pan) are rated for one wire each. If you are going to tap the meter, you have to have sufficient lugs.

Also, the meter base is not a junction box. No splicing in the meter base.

(I installed a 320 meter base on Monday that has double barrel lugs.)
 
horses, I'm doing this part off the top of my head, so I may get corrected, but I believe the Code clarifified a while back that as long as the conductors remianed outside goint to the detached garage, no disconnect was required at the meter.
 
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