tap at meter main

[GerryB]

My understanding is if you have in this case a 200 amp meter main outside the house and it feeds a 200 amp main lug panel, if you tap outside on the load side of the 200 amp breaker that you must add a 200 amp main breaker to the main lug panel inside. Is the reason that you could exceed 200 amps on the main lug panel without protection?. Thanks solar guys, trying to understand this.

 

[jaggedben]

That all sounds right. (I gather you a describing a meter main with only a main breaker and no other distribution.)

The code reference in the 2020 NEC is 705.12(B)(1)(b).

If for some reason you can't add the main breaker to the subpanel, one option might be to downsize the 200A breaker in the meter main so that when added to 125% of the inverter output the sum is less than 200A. Load calc allowing. There are other options, but probably more expensive and/or unsightly.

 

[GerryB]

Thanks. We are in 2017 but I have a 2020 to reference.