Service Relocation: Drop to lateral disconnect location?

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WadeC

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Electrician
A friend is adding about 40' to the back of his building. The 400amp service is attached to the back outside wall of the building and consists of a drop to meter to fused safety switch to panelboard all grouped next to each other. He wants to eliminate the drop and go lateral. My plan is to build a rack at the utility pole about 80 feet away from the new back outside wall of the building and move the meter and safety switch to it. Run underground from the safety switch to the panelboard at the original location. My question is do I need to add a disconnecting means for the existing panelboard now that it will be inside? I understand that I would need a disconnect for a panelboard on a detached structure but does this situation classify as that being that it comes straight from the service?
 
WadeC said:
My question is do I need to add a disconnecting means for the existing panelboard now that it will be inside? I understand that I would need a disconnect for a panelboard on a detached structure but does this situation classify as that being that it comes straight from the service?
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Welcome to the forum.

Yes, the building, being a separate structure from the pedestal, has the usual outside or immediately-inside disconnect requirements.
 
LarryFine said:
Welcome to the forum.

Yes, the building, being a separate structure from the pedestal, has the usual outside or immediately-inside disconnect requirements.
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WadeC said:
Shoot I was afraid of that. Thank you for your help.
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But if it's underground, it would be considered outside so you can do as you want.

I would not even put a disconnect at the rack, run service conductors right to the panelboard.
 
I agree with electrofelon. IF you can route the conductors underground to the point they emerge at the existing loadcenter, I would simply out the meter at the pole (if allowed) or pedestal and refeed the panelboard (or disconnect at it's present location)
 
augie47 said:
I agree with electrofelon. IF you can route the conductors underground to the point they emerge at the existing loadcenter, I would simply out the meter at the pole (if allowed) or pedestal and refeed the panelboard (or disconnect at it's present location)
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I can run underground from the meter to the existing disconnect. The feed from the load side of the meter doesn’t need a disconnect?
 
In that we (TN) are still under '17 NEC, I failed to take in to account 230.85.
In TX you might have to have an "emergency disconnect" on or withing sight of the dwelling.
If required, conductors from that disconnect could still be routed to you existing disconnect keeping 230.70(A)(1) in mind:
(1) Readily Accessible Location. The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors.
 
augie47 said:
In that we (TN) are still under '17 NEC, I failed to take in to account 230.85.
In TX you might have to have an "emergency disconnect" on or withing sight of the dwelling.
If required, conductors from that disconnect could still be routed to you existing disconnect keeping 230.70(A)(1) in mind:
(1) Readily Accessible Location. The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors.
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True, that did cross my mind, but it sounded like a non-dwelling to me, but OP did not specifically say.
 
augie47 said:
In that we (TN) are still under '17 NEC, I failed to take in to account 230.85.
In TX you might have to have an "emergency disconnect" on or withing sight of the dwelling.
If required, conductors from that disconnect could still be routed to you existing disconnect keeping 230.70(A)(1) in mind:
(1) Readily Accessible Location. The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors.
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I had this in mind when moving the disconnect to the meter rack. But if i didn't have to move it I wouldn't. The facility is mainly horse stables and has three small apartments for Ranch hands. So I suppose it's considered a dwelling. If i moved the disconnect to the meter rack could I land on the main lugs inside the existing loadcenter If I come straight up from underground into it?
 
Since 230.70 simply says "nearest the point of entry of the service conductors", the distance allowed would be determine by your AHJ.
Locally in your situation we would be allowed 5 or 6 ft.
There are several reason I would prefer to come into you existing disconnect.
 
augie47 said:
Since 230.70 simply says "nearest the point of entry of the service conductors", the distance allowed would be determine by your AHJ.
Locally in your situation we would be allowed 5 or 6 ft.
There are several reason I would prefer to come into you existing disconnect.
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Ok. Thank you for all of your help. I appreciate it.
 
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