Opinions, 2/0 or 3/0?

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joelj

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I'm currently in process of an unusual project in So. CA. The customer's wife is sensitive to the frequency produced by the POCO's "smart meter" so we are installing a meter pedestal approx 150' away from the home. We are intersecting the 3" undergound conduit and will use his existing all in one panel as a subpanel. I have another contractor assisting since this is at least a 2-man wire pull and we are having a discussion on wire size. Anyone have an opinion? It's a 200A pedestal and a 200A all in one that we're converting. I think the house load is about 120 - 130 max. So, 2/0 or 3/0? The customer, of course would like to save the money by using 2/0 and it would be slightly easier to pull. The POCO is currently using a 3/0 triplex AL if I'm not mistaken.
 
I did the basic calcs, sq ftg, app. ratings, a/c tonnage, etc. Had to do it all for the POCO anyway. It's a 3500 sq ft house. Electric except propane heat and water heater.
 
joelj said:
The customer's wife is sensitive to the frequency produced by the POCO's "smart meter"
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I find that a little hard to believe - but it landed you a project. How much other RF is around there? We have wireless communications everywhere anymore. Does she wear some kind of foil armor when she goes out in public?
 
kwired said:
I find that a little hard to believe - but it landed you a project. How much other RF is around there? We have wireless communications everywhere anymore. Does she wear some kind of foil armor when she goes out in public?
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EMF is a totally weird phenomena, I just smile and nod my head, if someone wants to pay - I do not care.

So, 2/0 or 3/0?
 
I'm sticking with 2/0.

Set up sounds similar to my house and I tested once with everything on I could find- two electric ovens, one stovetop, microwave, electric dryer, all the lights, stereo cranking, two t.v. sets, coffee pot, hair dryer, and all my cordless battery chargers charging.... Put the amp-clamp on and it read 84 Amps.
 
BTW. I think that is why they chose this home. It's in the rural area with poor cell phone reception. underground utilities, and 2-3 acre lot sizes.
 
joelj said:
Apparently, it's not that uncommon. She has some sort of an immunity disease and they replaced a $1500 cooktop and installed a $400 model to get rid of the electronics. http://stopsmartmeters.org/ http://www.eiwellspring.org/smartmeter/Smart_Meter_overview.htm
http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=2292

He tried to get the POCO to give him an analog meter but they refused.
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Not to be callous, but-are we answering a NEC question or are we supposed to consider this?
 
joelj said:
BTW. I think that is why they chose this home. It's in the rural area with poor cell phone reception. underground utilities, and 2-3 acre lot sizes.
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And there is no radio stations within 100 miles??

We also have signals coming from satellites that cover the US in particular pretty well.

I believe some of the energy coming from the sun is filled with radio waves also. Maybe not the right frequency from some of these sources?
 
It is difficult to determine whether it is the electromagnetic field or the autosuggestion that is causing the adverse health effects, for example,in the present case.
 
jumper said:
Not to be callous, but-are we answering a NEC question or are we supposed to consider this?
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It's more of an opinion than an NEC question. Some of this is a little off topic. NEC would allow either size wire. I'm just asking for opinions on wire size since I have a different opinion than my friend who is also a licensed EC.
 
150 feet , 200amp service, Residential, The minimum is 2/0 copper and that is from the give you residential a break table.
The run is 150 feet. I would consider voltage drop. I would hate for the customer to complian about flicker.
 
Unless the price of copper drops, it would be cheaper to go 3/0 one time than 2/0 then 3/0 later.
I would rather be looking at it then looking for it.
Why not put the house in a cage?
 
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