Service in an attic.

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dduffee260

dduffee260

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A person installed a MCB loadcenter on one side of a new dwelling and the meter socket is on the opposite side, about 60ft or more. They say that it is code to run 2/0 AL SE cable from the meter socket in the attic to the loadcenter without any overcurrent protection. I say they have to install a 150 amp overcurrent protection device to protect the wire in the attic. Am I correct? And I am thinking it is 2/0 AL SE. I may be different, it could be a 100 or 200 amp service.
 
dduffee260 said:
A person installed a MCB loadcenter on one side of a new dwelling and the meter socket is on the opposite side, about 60ft or more. They say that it is code to run 2/0 AL SE cable from the meter socket in the attic to the loadcenter without any overcurrent protection. I say they have to install a 150 amp overcurrent protection device to protect the wire in the attic. Am I correct? And I am thinking it is 2/0 AL SE. I may be different, it could be a 100 or 200 amp service.
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60' is much too far to travel into a building with service conductors. There should be a service disconnect adjacent to the meter or at the nearest point where these conductors enter the building.
 
230.70(A)(1)outside or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors. by me this was determined by the ahj to be 6'
 
dduffee260 said:
A person installed a MCB loadcenter on one side of a new dwelling and the meter socket is on the opposite side, about 60ft or more. They say that it is code to run 2/0 AL SE cable from the meter socket in the attic to the loadcenter without any overcurrent protection. I say they have to install a 150 amp overcurrent protection device to protect the wire in the attic. Am I correct? And I am thinking it is 2/0 AL SE. I may be different, it could be a 100 or 200 amp service.
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You are correct... unless its in conduit and encased in 3" of concrete... oops shouldn't put SE in conduit :D
By the way did they remember to derate the wire for the 200+ degree ambient in that attic?

Here and home its 5'
 
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Either follow the "inside nearest the point of entrance" [230.71(A)(1)] or have no restrictions at all.
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It is common on the west coast to run a rigid mast down through the roof coninue down inside the wall to a flush mounted meter service panel combo.

It is just a local way of doing services, I know it would not pass here.

The power company even provides a hand out on how to do it so the mast is held fast.

Here is an ECN thread about this practice.
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
If you are correct for that measurement, my question is why restrict it to 30 feet?
What is the difference of 5 feet or 20 feet or 30 feet?

Either follow the "inside nearest the point of entrance" [230.71(A)(1)] or have no restrictions at all.
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I couldn't begin to assume how they came up with 30'.

Bob is right it is very common to run RMC or IMC through the roof down to a meter main combo, the only restriction is that the riser be braced if taller then 24'' above the roof.I have seen houses that have EMT run this way,that is no longer allowed through the roof.
 
There was a post earlier this month on the same issue. Out here in the west, most places like the main at the service on the outside, and then, either a combo service, or split, to two sub panels inside the house.

I think part of the big difference here is 90-4 for the region. Depends on what nature can throw down in worst case scenarios. That is to say, in the northwest, never hear about a hurricane, but it doesn't mean the wind doesn't hit a 100+ miles an hour during a good storm.

Look at the slang from region to region in the electrical industry!
 
Instead of going through the attic, you could stay outside and run the cable under the eaves. Ugly, but it is not entering the structure this way so you don't have a length limit.
 
Originally Posted by Pierre C Belarge
If you are correct for that measurement, my question is why restrict it to 30 feet?
What is the difference of 5 feet or 20 feet or 30 feet?

Either follow the "inside nearest the point of entrance" [230.71(A)(1)] or have no restrictions at all.


I couldn't agree more.... I can't believe people can even give out a footage....
 
Our interpretation here says "...or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors," shall be interpreted to mean immediately at the actual point of penetration through the exterior shell or floor of a building.

And yes I have documentation.
 
Our interpretation here says "...or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors," shall be interpreted to mean immediately at the actual point of penetration through the exterior shell or floor of a building.
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It is my opinion that this is what the rule actually says and does not require an interpretation...the interpretation is only required where you want to extend the service conductors "x" feet into the building.
Don
 
Don, I agree with you, but I wouldn't have had to write it if it weren't necessary, if you get my drift.

And yes we do run them through the walls and down to the meter section out here on the west coast, but that is allowed by the serving utilities.
 
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