Question on service

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Tacobell2

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IOWA
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Electrician
I have a 200A meterbase disconnect with 8 spaces. It's going to feed a 150A existing panel. My plan was to get 2 pole 150A breaker and run 2/0 AL to feed existing 150A breaker. My issue is the 2 pole 150A breaker takes up 4 spaces and is so overly big it doesn't allow me to put any other breakers or surge protector on the opposite side of the Meter base disconnect.
Trying to come up with what to do. Do I buy a different surge protector and mount it in the 150A existing panel and continuing using the 2 pole 150A breaker in meter base making the meter base completely full?

Is there anyway an inspector would pass using 2/0 AL on the feed through lugs in the 200A meterbase if it is protected downstream by a 150A main breaker panel?

Or am I better off ordering new 4/0 AL wire and going directly on the feed through lugs to his existing 150A panel? Will the inspector ask for load calcs if I go with 4/0 4/0 and 2/0 for neutral?


Thanks for all the help
 
augie47

augie47

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Tennessee
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State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
Does you 150 amp panel have a main ?
How far is it form the meter/main to the 150 amp panel ?
 
augie47

augie47

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Tennessee
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State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
Be rare if it applied but you might look a 240.21(B)(5) and use your 2/0 off the feed thru lugs; otherwise a 4/0 feeder to the 150 amp panel
Someone may have another idea... give time for replies.
 
LarryFine

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
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Henrico County, VA
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Electrical Contractor
Unless you're supplying some load from the outside panel, they'll still only have what the inside feeder and panel are.
 
synchro

synchro

Senior Member
Location
Chicago, IL
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EE
Tacobell2 said:
Trying to come up with what to do. Do I buy a different surge protector and mount it in the 150A existing panel and continuing using the 2 pole 150A breaker in meter base making the meter base completely full?
Click to expand...

Would it help to use an external surge protection device so that you can wire it from feedthru lugs, and so it won't take any breaker spaces? Type 1 versions are even rated to be connected before the service disconnect. These surge protectors have small gauge wires, but they only draw current during short duration surges and so they still meet UL requirements.
Personally, I think it would be safer to have a surge protector outside of the house because they sometimes fail rather dramatically.
 
S

Strathead

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Location
Ocala, Florida, USA
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Electrician/Estimator/Project Manager/Superintendent
Tacobell2 said:
Yes it does have main breaker and roughly 40'
Click to expand...
To clarify others, as long as the conductors are outside the building and the 150 amp panel is either outside or immediately inside (back to back) the structure, the the conductors are fine being unprotected.

Another option, just get in line 30a fuse holders and fuses and run the surge from the feedthrough lug points with #10 wire.
 
joecalvin

joecalvin

Member
Location
Austin Tx
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Purchasing / Estimator
Tacobell2 said:
I have a 200A meterbase disconnect with 8 spaces. It's going to feed a 150A existing panel. My plan was to get 2 pole 150A breaker and run 2/0 AL to feed existing 150A breaker. My issue is the 2 pole 150A breaker takes up 4 spaces and is so overly big it doesn't allow me to put any other breakers or surge protector on the opposite side of the Meter base disconnect.
Trying to come up with what to do. Do I buy a different surge protector and mount it in the 150A existing panel and continuing using the 2 pole 150A breaker in meter base making the meter base completely full?

Is there anyway an inspector would pass using 2/0 AL on the feed through lugs in the 200A meterbase if it is protected downstream by a 150A main breaker panel?

Or am I better off ordering new 4/0 AL wire and going directly on the feed through lugs to his existing 150A panel? Will the inspector ask for load calcs if I go with 4/0 4/0 and 2/0 for neutral?


Thanks for all the help
Click to expand...
Put the surge protection breaker in the 150a panel (as long that is the main distribution panel for the structure). It does not matter what the meter can is rated for, the conductors only have to be rated for the amps of the main distribution panel it is feeding. Run 2/0 URD alum with ground to the 150a panel.
 
J

jap

Senior Member
Occupation
Electrician
Seems odd to me the Meter/Main wouldn't have an OCPD for the Service Disconnect.

I'm picturing a standard 200 amp meter/main with a 200 amp main breaker, that feeds a small 4 or 8 cirucuit distribution section with feed through lugs.

If he runs 2/0 URD alum to the existing 150a panel then he's actually tapping the 200a main to the existing panel and the tap rules would apply.

Why would you do that?

If this is an actual meter/main as I described, why not just utilize the feed through lugs, pull a conductor rated for the 200a from the meter/main to the existing 150a panel, forget the tap rule, use the space in the meter/main for a connection breaker to feed an SPD at the point of service where it belongs, and let it rock roll?

JAP>
 
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