Sizing meter bank and considering future loads

Tainted

Tainted

Senior Member
Location
New York
Occupation
Engineer (PE)
An existing apartment building has old meter banks that cannot handle the capacity needed for future apartment renovations and upgrades.

I propose to add a new meter bank with higher capacity for future use.

There is no way to know what the future loads would be because each apartment renovation is different. How would I know if the new meter bank is sized adequately if future loads are not known?

Typically I put 15-20 apartments on a 600A meter bank and I use 220.84 as a guide but I just use rule of thumb to estimate what the future load could be. If there are space constraints I would go as far to put 25 apartments on a 600A meter bank. Is 25 apartments on a 600A meter bank not adequate?

is this the right approach? What are your techniques?
 
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Their are factors to consider , Laundry ? Gas appliances ? Garage for EV?

But ... How would I know if the new meter bank is sized adequately if future loads are not known? You can not
 
Buck Parrish said:
Their are factors to consider , Laundry ? Gas appliances ? Garage for EV?

But ... How would I know if the new meter bank is sized adequately if future loads are not known? You can not
Click to expand...
I usually consider all electric appliances no gas.

Another thing I consider when sizing meter bank is that 220.84 over estimates the load.
220.87 can be used periodically to ensure loads can be added to the new meter bank until it reaches it's max.
 
electrofelon said:
I was going to say 220.87 can be your friend here. Does your utility have demand data for these accounts?
Click to expand...

Yea 220.87 will have be performed when the meter bank is utilized by half apartments and then it can be checked periodically for capacity to add more load.

I don't think the utility data would have the amperes on that single new meter bank
 
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