new 400 amp residential service

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dakcn

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bothell wa
I installed a new 400 amp meter base service located approximately 175 feet from my house. I am running two 200 amp feeders to the new house each with a 200 amp breaker on the 400 amp service. Inside the house the panels are right next to each other and both panels have a main breaker. The 400 amp meter base service has been inspected but the feeders have not. I have seen this setup before. I was reading the code book the other day and happened on article 225.30 and am now concerned that I can only have one large feeder going into the house which would be split inside. I am now in a panic that it will not pass inspection. Has any out there gone with this setup or can shed any light on 225.30.
Thank you very much for any help you can offer.
Chris
 
are there other stuctures on the property being fed from the service?

if you're in violation, you could always go w/ 225.30(E)
 
You may want to look into eliminating the service disconnect at the meter thereby changing the feeders to two sets of service conductors from the meter to the panels as allowed by 230.2 and 230.40 Exception 2.
 
iwire said:
You may want to look into eliminating the service disconnect at the meter thereby changing the feeders to two sets of service conductors from the meter to the panels as allowed by 230.2 and 230.40 Exception 2.
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I agree with Bob-- good solution. Many inspectors may not look at the 4x4 as a structure but by definition it could be construed as one.

There is really no need for a disc out at the meter so just eliminate that panel and all problems are solved.
 
Another option is to change the two - 200 amp feeders into one paralleled 400 amp feeder and at the house use the 3' or 10' tap rule to split the 400 amp feeder to both 200 amp MB panels.
 
iwire said:
Another option is to change the two - 200 amp feeders into one paralleled 400 amp feeder and at the house use the 3' or 10' tap rule to split the 400 amp feeder to both 200 amp MB panels.
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Boy are you finding loopholes or what???? :)
 
All good suggestions thanks. At the 400 amp service the max breaker size is 200 amps and no main lugs just a 400 amp main breaker feeding the bus bars. It is all one unit and would need to be replaced. The conduits are in and buried. I am hoping now that it will be ok with the inspector as is. I have seen a few of the same setups in other areas and being that there is is not more than one building I am thinking 225.30 will not apply. In searching other threads about 225.30 it seems to be a gray area. Have any of you installed or seen something familiar? I talked to a inspector friend of mine and he thought it was ok but of course he is not the one to give the ok. Yikes! I now have that old sick feeling of apprehension. I will post what finally happens. Thanks for your comments and any more that you have.
Chris
 
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We did that exact installation you described a couple years ago. Inspector failed it for that reason. We appealed the decision to the state and they let it pass. Not sure if we would try it again though....
 
Cow said:
We did that exact installation you described a couple years ago. Inspector failed it for that reason. We appealed the decision to the state and they let it pass. Not sure if we would try it again though....
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The installation, or the appeal?
 
LarryFine said:
The installation, or the appeal?
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The installation.

We don't hardly do any residential and this particular house was for a good commercial customer, so this scenario hasn't came up since.
 
Is the POCO requiring a disconnect at the pedestal? I know in VErmont the POCO requires a disconnect so that they can kill the load before they pull the meter.
 
just recently took over a job that had the underground done to the house split 400 on a pedestal 270 ft away at street was energized so they could get around having to pay for temp power. It was supposed to feed a 7000 sq ft house. The panel inside the garage was a 200 amp and there were two 100 amp panels in the home. Had to give the bad news to the homeowner. Cutler hammer makes a 400amp distibution panel we installed in the garage and are waiting on finish so we can tear out panel at street and replace it with CH 400amp meter w/main dual lug for parralel. They want to continue to have power so no choice but to leave panel for now. What a mess the rest of the house was a mess also.
 
The inspector came out today and looked at the installation. He said everything was fine but mentioned in some jurisdictions it is not allowed. That is great for me but I fined it very irritating that it is not spelled out more clearly. It has been in the code since 2002 so there has been plenty of time to get the wording worked out. It is something I would not do again.
That you all again for your insight.
Chris
 
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