NEC reference to meter pan size

[patricknola]

Good morning, I'm wiring a new construction house with a friend(he's also a licensed electrician), I'm normally a service electrician. He asked and I want to know: There will be a meter socket and dis-connects outside for sub-panel and 2 ac compressors. He wanted to put a 200 amp sub panel inside which will accompany a 40 amp and a 30 amp ac compressor(total load). Can he use a 200 amp meter pan? More importantly for me what part of the NEC code book will explain to me how these are properly calculated? TIA

 

[tom baker]

The NEC does not require meters, there is some language. Typically a 200 amp meter socket is used on a 200 amp service. Do you have a copy of the POCO customer service handbook?

 

[Little Bill]

You could use a 200A meter/main combo. That would also serve as the outside disconnect. You could use the feed-through lugs to feed the inside panel. Then you could run a 100A subpanel off the main (other inside) panel.

 

[suemarkp]

Are you afraid that the 200A meter is inadequate because there would be potentially 30A + 40A + 200A of load connected to the meter? I can't tell from your post if there are three service disconnects all off the meter, or if there is a 200A main disconnect panel which then feeds the 30A, 40A AC disconnects and the interior subpanel.

If it is 200A + 30A + 40A, that could still come off a 200A meter if the total calculated load is 200A. Using a 200A main breaker panel off a 200A meter is more idiot proof, but not code required as long as people are doing calculations. The meter main suggestion is a good way to handle it if it has 200A rated feed through lugs and you need more than 100A inside.

You can also feed a 200A rated interior panel from a circuit breaker rated less than 200A.

 

[patricknola]

Are you afraid that the 200A meter is inadequate because there would be potentially 30A + 40A + 200A of load connected to the meter? I can't tell from your post if there are three service disconnects all off the meter, or if there is a 200A main disconnect panel which then feeds the 30A, 40A AC disconnects and the interior subpanel.

If it is 200A + 30A + 40A, that could still come off a 200A meter if the total calculated load is 200A. Using a 200A main breaker panel off a 200A meter is more idiot proof, but not code required as long as people are doing calculations. The meter main suggestion is a good way to handle it if it has 200A rated feed through lugs and you need more than 100A inside.

You can also feed a 200A rated interior panel from a circuit breaker rated less than 200A.

Good morning, thanks for responding. I'm thinking about installing a 200 amp meter pan/12 circuit distribution panel w/main breaker. I'd like to feed a 30 amp ac comp, a 40 amp comp, a 50 amp oven, and either 150 or if possible a 200 amp sub panel(inside). Where in the code book does it tell me how many amps can come out of the meter pan/distribution panel?

 

[Buck Parrish]

Good morning, thanks for responding. I'm thinking about installing a 200 amp meter pan/12 circuit distribution panel w/main breaker. I'd like to feed a 30 amp ac comp, a 40 amp comp, a 50 amp oven, and either 150 or if possible a 200 amp sub panel(inside). Where in the code book does it tell me how many amps can come out of the meter pan/distribution panel?

NEC 220 - 230

 

[LarryFine]

I'm thinking about installing a 200 amp meter pan/12 circuit distribution panel w/main breaker. I'd like to feed a 30 amp ac comp, a 40 amp comp, a 50 amp oven, and either 150 or if possible a 200 amp sub panel(inside).

With the 200a main breaker, you can have any combination downstream, even several 100 and 200a breakers.

 

[augie47]

Numerous possibilities.
As Buck states, step 1 would be a load calculation per Art 220.
Simplest but definitely not the only solution would be a 200 amp M/B feed-thru panel with a 200 amp feeder from the feed-thru lugs to a MLO 200 amp panel. Other feeds would definitely be an option.

 

[infinity]

Good morning, thanks for responding. I'm thinking about installing a 200 amp meter pan/12 circuit distribution panel w/main breaker. I'd like to feed a 30 amp ac comp, a 40 amp comp, a 50 amp oven, and either 150 or if possible a 200 amp sub panel(inside). Where in the code book does it tell me how many amps can come out of the meter pan/distribution panel?

You'll need a load calculation to determine one, is a 200 amps service adequate and two what size feeder is needed for the sub-panel. If the 200 amp service is adequate then you could install 200 amp feeder and 200 amp sub-panel.