Multiple meter sockets....trough or modular

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flick

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I'd like some opinions concerning multiple metering.

I have the opportunity to bid to install new service to two 8 unit apartment buildings. Each building will have 9 meters; 8 apartments and 1 house meter.

Do you think that setting up a 9 meter trough, with main disconnect ahead of all, and individual disconnects for each meter, or a 9 meter modular unit with main disconnect and individual apartment disconnects?

This will be the largest project I have undertaken to date, and I am just digging into the details. I need to speak with the local utility rep and AHJ concerning the details, but I wanted to get a jump on this aspect of the project because if I go with a modular unit, I need to check lead times for delivery.

Thanks for your opinions.


John
 
I just did a 5 unit service change the end of November. The price for a gutter, 5 meters, and 5 breaker type disconnects was only $77 less than a meter pack. With the meter pack, you save all that labor you wouldn't have to spend putting nipples into gutters and mounting all that seperate equipment. Mind you, the space available for mounting equpiment can sometimes dictate one method or the other. This recent price check when I did the 5 unit was an eye opening experience. The meter packs are such a slick install too, and at substantial labor savings for about the same material cost.
 
I'd check the price difference on the materials. I got surprised when I did my first service upgrade on a duplex. A two-socket meter cost way more than two single-socket meters. The counter guy at the supply house said that multi-socket meters cost so much more because they don't sell nearly as many of them as they do the singles.
 
jeff43222 said:
A two-socket meter cost way more than two single-socket meters.
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Way more? I pay 88 dollars for a double 100. I pay just $29 for a single 100. Yeah, it is a little more, but not enough to discourage me from using one. The savings really starts to show in when you have multiple meters and disconnects associated with each.
 
I've used Modular metering from C-H many times and the product usually takes 7-10 days to arrive. I just installed 400A3ph main switch and 9 100A 1ph meter socket/disconnect and it was @1500 total IIRC.

Tom

Make sure if you have a House/Common meter it has a Bypass(if POCO required).
 
mdshunk said:
Way more? I pay 88 dollars for a double 100. I pay just $29 for a single 100. Yeah, it is a little more, but not enough to discourage me from using one. The savings really starts to show in when you have multiple meters and disconnects associated with each.
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That sounds quite reasonable, and I'd do it if I could. But the supply houses around here don't even carry 100s. The smallest they have is 200s. Where I got whacked was a single 200 costs around $100, but a dual 200 was over $450! Both supply houses I use are pretty close to each other in price on these items.
 
jeff43222 said:
Where I got whacked was a single 200 costs around $100, but a dual 200 was over $450! .
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That's nuts. The 5 socket one I put in a few weeks ago even had 5 breaker type disconnects in it, and it was only a shade over 650 bucks. It was Square D, and was a normal stock item at my supplier.
 
mdshunk said:
That's nuts. The 5 socket one I put in a few weeks ago even had 5 breaker type disconnects in it, and it was only a shade over 650 bucks. It was Square D, and was a normal stock item at my supplier.
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I agree. The dual socket I mentioned didn't even have discos in it. They were just two plain ol' bypass sockets with a common bus for the SE wires on the line side.

I pay about $425 for a single 200A socket with a built-in disco.
 
Around here we pay $0.00 since the POCO gives you the dual meter pan for a two family service. Regarding multiple meters we always use a modular meter pack since it saves a lot on labor costs which can outweigh the cost of the equipment.
 
IMO, modular is the way to go. Easy to install, compact. Many times, on those types of buildings, that's about all you'll have room for. You might check the elevations to see if space is a problem on the building you're looking at.

I've used Square D and Siemens and they both make a good product. I'd say of the pair, I favored Square D a bit more.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to starting getting quotes on the meter packs.

Jeff, why don't you buy online? Get a list of approved cans from your POCOs and then order from outside your area.

Here, a duplex meter can, no breaker, costs approx 150 dollars. That's 200 Amp milbank brand. I bet you could order these from an online supplier and save a LOT of money. The prices you are paying are outrageous!


John
 
"we always use a modular meter pack since it saves a lot on labor costs which can outweigh the cost of the equipment."

It sure does save money, and it leaves a nice neat job that people have good thing to say about it, rather then look at that rust bucket on the side of the building, but we like the guys that do those gutter jobs, their customer usually become our next customer.
 
flick said:
Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to starting getting quotes on the meter packs.

Jeff, why don't you buy online? Get a list of approved cans from your POCOs and then order from outside your area.

Here, a duplex meter can, no breaker, costs approx 150 dollars. That's 200 Amp milbank brand. I bet you could order these from an online supplier and save a LOT of money. The prices you are paying are outrageous!


John
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I'm pretty sure the one I bought for $450+ was a Milbank. I even asked the guys at the supply house if they were giving me the "good guy" price or the "grab your ankles" price. They told me there's only one price for the duals, and it's high because they don't sell many of them. I ran into a similar situation when I wanted a 24-space 100A panel recently. The price was something like $170, but my inside guy said it was because they only sell a couple of them per year, vs. the several hundred 20-space panels they sell at half that price.
 
jeff43222 said:
I'm pretty sure the one I bought for $450+ was a Milbank.
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I think it is time for you to get a different supply house. Very seldom do I tell a guy that he's getting ripped off, but it sure appears that you are. Your profile says Minneapolis, but I'm not sure if you just picked a big city that was nearby your villiage. In any event, I'd certainly encourage you to shop around. I'm in a rural area, and your prices are even way out of line compared to what I pay in Podunk.
 
mdshunk said:
I think it is time for you to get a different supply house. Very seldom do I tell a guy that he's getting ripped off, but it sure appears that you are. Your profile says Minneapolis, but I'm not sure if you just picked a big city that was nearby your villiage. In any event, I'd certainly encourage you to shop around. I'm in a rural area, and your prices are even way out of line compared to what I pay in Podunk.
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No, I actually live in the city, and both supply houses I use are in the city.
 
mdshunk said:
I think it is time for you to get a different supply house. Very seldom do I tell a guy that he's getting ripped off, but it sure appears that you are. Your profile says Minneapolis, but I'm not sure if you just picked a big city that was nearby your villiage. In any event, I'd certainly encourage you to shop around. I'm in a rural area, and your prices are even way out of line compared to what I pay in Podunk.
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I agree, you're paying way too much. Sounds to me like there's some price fixing going on. Surely there are more than two supply houses in Minneapolis, and really, check with some of the mfg. reps too. Go to their websites and look for authorized distributors of their products, then call them up.

I've even gone to the mfg's themselves at times and asked for their list prices. Seriously, those prices are outrageous.

John
 
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