More than 200A on a meter center?
- Thread starter mike9999
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I am not sure what a meter center is but a meter base can be purchased that is rated 320 amps but is used on a 400 amp service. We wont get into the rating part-- that's a different issue.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Here is a section of a Modular meter center.
We are looking at the top side of a vertical section
These become very practical when you need more meters than 4 or 5 in one location.
You hang a matching fused switch or breaker enclosure as the service disconnect, than you buy as many sections as you need. Each section may have 2 to 6 meter spots. All these vertical sections bolt together quickly including the connecting bus bars.
Typically the service is 208Y/120 with single phase meter sockets.
Now all that said I have never seen these modular meter centers above 200 amps per socket.
Last edited:
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Thanks Bobiwire said:
We call them meter banks. I should have made the connection
- Location
- Massachusetts
Dennis Alwon said:
The above picture is not what we call a meter bank in this area.
Here are what we would call meter banks.
or a newer one with an added lever bypass.
Modular meter centers will often have 10, 20, 30, 40 meters 5 rows high by 6 ,8, 10 columns wide.
They also have main breakers for each unit and a Main service disconnect all connected with out any field wiring.
Here is a small but better picture of a Meter Center, you can see the bus bars sticking out for the next section.
jaylectricity
Senior Member
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Occupation
- licensed journeyman electrician
Looking at those meter banks IWire posted it reminds me of a problem I'm about to have. I'm going to need 7 meters with one of them being a meter bypass socket. Can I get a 6 gang meter socket for outdoor use? The electric company wants them outside as they are currently in the basement. I have to replace 6 fuse panels with circuit breaker panels for apartments in the building, plus I need to add a 100 amp service to take care of the common areas plus we are adding a small laundry area.
Do I need to put 100 amp panels for each apartment? It seems excessive. They are currently fused by 60 amp mains for each apt. but I know that 100 amps is the minimum service allowed by law I just don't know if it still matters since the main service drop will be rated for 200 amps.
Will I need an outdoor main disconnect for the whole building?
I'm trying to put together a price but I don't have much experience in doing multi-meter services. Any help piecing this together would help me figure out what I need to do
Thanks,
Jay
P.S. -- I'm new to this site, I found it the other day while searching the web for ways to improve my skills. Hello to all.
Do I need to put 100 amp panels for each apartment? It seems excessive. They are currently fused by 60 amp mains for each apt. but I know that 100 amps is the minimum service allowed by law I just don't know if it still matters since the main service drop will be rated for 200 amps.
Will I need an outdoor main disconnect for the whole building?
I'm trying to put together a price but I don't have much experience in doing multi-meter services. Any help piecing this together would help me figure out what I need to do
Thanks,
Jay
P.S. -- I'm new to this site, I found it the other day while searching the web for ways to improve my skills. Hello to all.
allenwayne
Senior Member
iwire said:The above picture is not what we call a meter bank in this area.
Here are what we would call meter banks.
or a newer one with an added lever bypass.
Modular meter centers will often have 10, 20, 30, 40 meters 5 rows high by 6 ,8, 10 columns wide.
They also have main breakers for each unit and a Main service disconnect all connected with out any field wiring.
Here is a small but better picture of a Meter Center, you can see the bus bars sticking out for the next section.
I have used those same units a quick cam lock and they are connected.Beats the old style where you got meter banks and a box of bolts to connect them all to heck.
iwire said:Here is a section of a Modular meter center.
We are looking at the top side of a vertical section
These become very practical when you need more meters than 4 or 5 in one location.
You hang a matching fused switch or breaker enclosure as the service disconnect, than you buy as many sections as you need. Each section may have 2 to 6 meter spots. All these vertical sections bolt together quickly including the connecting bus bars.
Typically the service is 208Y/120 with single phase meter sockets.
Now all that said I have never seen these modular meter centers above 200 amps per socket.
The WMM6U looks like that model but has 6 sockets. Wouldn't it be kind of hard to keep the top breaker lower than 6' 7". That unit is 69 inches tall. The bottom socket would be only about 18" off the ground and covered with snow this time of year. The meter reader would be on hands and knees
growler
Senior Member
- Location
- Atlanta,GA
Around here a lot of the apartments will build a dog house type of thing so the meter center is not visible so you need to measure and try to find a repalcement that will fit in the area you have to work with. It does keep them out of the weather but meter centers have gotten bigger over the years. I have had to use siemens just to get the size that I need. I have found that if you look around then someone makes the product you need but it may not be the brand you wanted.
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