New service today

[kwired]

From Art 100:

Service-Entrance Conductors, Overhead System.
The service conductors between the terminals of the service equipment and a point usually outside the building, clear of building walls, where joined by tap or splice to the service drop or overhead service conductors.


Service-Entrance Conductors, Underground System.
The service conductors between the terminals of the service equipment and the point of connection to the service lateral or underground service conductors.


Informational Note: Where service equipment is located outside the building walls, there may be no service-entrance conductors or they may be entirely outside the building.

The incoming 1/0 conductors are service entrance conductors.

Per these definitions the #2 conductors between them and the service disconnecting means are also included.

I don't think it is the intent to size the GEC per the total area of those #2 conductors, and don't see why they should be sized per those conductors.

If one were to put a 150 amp main breaker on the incoming 1/0 (presuming it is copper) and leave everything else the same as far as routing of ungrounded conductors went - now you have essentially the same thing but smaller service entrance conductors and can use a smaller GEC. Makes no sense to me, though I see how some how some are interpreting it.

Too much emphasis is put on grounding electrodes, that short amount of #2 already inside the building isn't going to have that much impact on how much of a surge might enter the building from lightning or if a high voltage line fell onto a low voltage line. That is mostly dependent on the incoming 1/0.

I am not interested in trying to submit any changes to this so don't tell me to do that either. It is what it is for me, and I will deal with it if ever questioned on such a thing by an inspector. If no building steel or metal water pipe - usually only concerned with having #4 to the CEE and/or #6 to any rods anyway.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

kwired, you can do whatever you want to but on this forum we need to let people know what is code and what your opinion may be. I don't doubt that there may be too much emphasis on this issue in this case but it is, imo how the code reads. It is not my job to decide what may or may not be safe in this situation.

 

[kwired]

kwired, you can do whatever you want to but on this forum we need to let people know what is code and what your opinion may be. I don't doubt that there may be too much emphasis on this issue in this case but it is, imo how the code reads. It is not my job to decide what may or may not be safe in this situation.

As written, I guess it isn't as questionable as some things can be at times though you do need to read some definitions fairly carefully to interpret it - what the intent is, I really don't know. That is about all I can say on this one.

 

[nickelec]

What size are the conductors from the meter to the first disconnect?
#2

These are also service conductors and there are 5 of them so if they are #2 then you need an even larger gec

Idont think that a meter interrupting the #2s would constitute separate SEC's?



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[nickelec]

I also see kwires point put a 150 disconnect right after that endbox fed with those 1/0s and your good with the number 6 that's a definite this in my opinion you need the calculation method wether or not I'm right or wrong I'm not sure maybe we should submit something

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[Dennis Alwon]

Idont think that a meter interrupting the #2s would constitute separate SEC's?



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The wires between the meter and the disconnect are service conductors. Table 250.66 states to use the largest ungrounded conductors.

IMO, that would be the 5 sets to the discos. Is it necessary, Idk

 

[nickelec]

The wires between the meter and the disconnect are service conductors. Table 250.66 states to use the largest ungrounded conductors.

IMO, that would be the 5 sets to the discos. Is it necessary, Idk

We could probably debate this one forever but I'm leaning more towards the calculation of the 3 sets of #2 maybe other weigh in

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[kwired]

I also see kwires point put a 150 disconnect right after that endbox fed with those 1/0s and your good with the number 6 that's a definite this in my opinion you need the calculation method wether or not I'm right or wrong I'm not sure maybe we should submit something

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I don't feel it is what is right or intended, but will conceded to:

The wires between the meter and the disconnect are service conductors. Table 250.66 states to use the largest ungrounded conductors.

IMO, that would be the 5 sets to the discos. Is it necessary, Idk

Don't think one would get very far at convincing the CMP that this needs changed - it has been the way it is forever (well at least a pretty long time) and you would need to be pretty convincing that it needs changed. You might even get people on that CMP that will tell you in your situation the GEC needs sized to the 1/0 supply conductor and yet say that the current wording doesn't need changed.

 

[Adamjamma]

Man, this is a lot to try to wrap my head around. I have gotten confused trying to follow it, in relation to the areas that I work in and the various wording used.
Now, maybe it is just terminology or wording, or maybe Jamaica is different from the USA by so much, or maybe even the Jamaican way is actually dangerous..not sure... but,
the standard homes here have between one and three meters on a post, usually cement post, at the fence line of the property. From this meter post the home is fed underground or above ground to the building, usually to an internal wall, where the first panel is placed.
If the homeowner has apartments, they are fed from the same meter post to panels in those apartments.
The Utility wants a separate feedpoint at the top of the meter post for each meter, rather than flitting at the meters... plus from each meter to the panel fed by the meter must be in its own conduit.
Now, is this a violation of the feeds to the building? Although not required in Jamaica, should there be some sort of breaker at the meter pole between the meter and the underground conduit to the building?
Or, am I just overthinking everything because I still have not learned enough in my coursework?