So a meter isn't a disconnect huh?....

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fishin' electrician

fishin' electrician

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Connecticut
Would/could this be red flagged?

servicedisconnect.jpg
 
If I were a Fireman,during a fire I wouldn't want to have to cut the meter ring
and remove the meter. I'd rather throw a switch and focus my energy
on fighting the fire. All that aside, Yes, the meter is a service disconnect.
 
does it have a bypass switch in it ? If yes then i would say maybe . Depends on if its rated to open the bypass with meter removed. If MDP is located inside the building then you dont need this meter to be a disconnect
 
I dont believe that meter sockets are rated as load break devices. I do know if that is the easiest way to kill the power, the fire dept will pull a meter.

~Matt
 
I don't get it. A meter is not a disconnect. Suppose that was a ct cabinet with a separate meter. That would not disconnect the house.

What is the purpose of the question? A disconnect doesn't have to be located next to the meter unless there is a local ordinance.

Theoretically I could have a meter on a pole and the power enter the building and install a disco as near as possible to where the service enters the building. The fire department would not even know where the breaker box or meter might be.
 
A meter is a disconnect. You pull the meter and you have no power.
You open a SP switch to a light fixture you have no power.
You open a disconnect to a motor you have no power to the motor.
Pulling a meter is the same as turning off a breaker. Pulling a meter
is opening the supply circuit. I'd rather throw a switch than remove fuses
to open a circuit but either way, it is a means of diconnecting a circuit.
Thus a disconnect.
 
Karl H said:
A meter is a disconnect. You pull the meter and you have no power.
You open a SP switch to a light fixture you have no power.
You open a disconnect to a motor you have no power to the motor.
Pulling a meter is the same as turning off a breaker. Pulling a meter
is opening the supply circuit. I'd rather throw a switch than remove fuses
to open a circuit but either way, it is a means of diconnecting a circuit.
Thus a disconnect.
Click to expand...

So is a pair of klines but not a very safe way.
 
NEC 230.91 requires that "the service overcurrent device shall be an integral part of the service disconnecting means or shall be located immediately adjacent thereto". So I'd say this isn't a legal Service Disconnect unless there is some overcurrent protection in that meter cabinet. It may be a disconnect in the sense that it disconnects electricity, but not a Service Disconnect.
 
Would the OP please re-state the question, "Is this a NEC compliant service
disconnecting means?" It is a disconnecting means but, is it compliant with
the NEC? :D
 
Dennis Alwon said:
I don't get it. A meter is not a disconnect. Suppose that was a ct cabinet with a separate meter. That would not disconnect the house.

What is the purpose of the question? A disconnect doesn't have to be located next to the meter unless there is a local ordinance.

Theoretically I could have a meter on a pole and the power enter the building and install a disco as near as possible to where the service enters the building. The fire department would not even know where the breaker box or meter might be.
Click to expand...

I totally don't get this thread but this is, at least I think , the sanest response.

Edit: Error A
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
So is a pair of klines
Click to expand...

Every fire depatment has way bigger stuff than this, so forget about it, just pull the service pole out of the ground and jump up and down on it for 5 or 10 minutes until it stops working. All this stupid disconnect stuff can be eliminated from code and save a good $40.00 in materials and about the same in labor on every single building in America. Maybe I should be president, Just think of the savings, oops economic stimulous requires spending, not saving, damn it I'm stupid.

Edit: Error B
 
I don't think a meter can be considered an NEC -compliant disconnect for two reasons:

One, as was pointed out in another post, if the meter is fed by CT's not only is it NOT a disconnect you WILL create a serious hazard when pulling the meter open-circuits the CT's.....

Two, A meter under load (or fault conditions) cannot be pulled fast enough to prevent a serious arc flash from the meter clips. I have seen it happen to others and it has happened to me. :)
 
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