Tips or advice on first multi family project.

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CoopSparky

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New york
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Electrician
Hi everyone,

I love the forum, I follow closely and read lots of different threads. (Although this is my first post) I enjoy mikes monthly news letters that highlight to highest trending topics. I am a ‘Mike Holt grad’ I completed my license after using the ultimate library 👍🏻 I’m an 8 year electrician working mainly in new residential and remodels, very little commercial experience. This is my first multi family project.

I’d love some advice/ tips/ things to watch for or remember when taking on my first multi family project. Also, if anyone has brands for 3ph 600 main breakers and stackable meters that they like to use, or ones to avoid that would be great.
I quickly drew up a little diagram showing my plan, hopefully this can help you all see what I’m trying to achieve.
If more details will be helpful, or if I should provide more specs, then please let me know.
I am currently on the 2017 nec

Connor

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Thank you very much C10!
We are in the process of finalising design with the power company and village code officials
 
I don't understand why you have wireway with unneeded blocks etc. get Siemens multi family PAKS. You'll have a service main CB module that will slide and bolt to their meter modules. It's so easy.
 
Farmantenna, thank you very much for the information, your input is exactly what I was hoping to get! I will look into the Siemens multi family paks.
If anyone has pics of previous installs I could look at/ digest that would be awesome also.. I have seen some really clean stuff on insta gram and I speak with some sparks on there!
this community is awesome!!
 
we had 20 30 apartments per building. Common panel had it's own meter module. I'm can't remember amperage of common. I think it was 400 amps. two large over kill panels. totally unneeded.
 
I'll take one today just so I can remember what I did!! it's only been 3 years. ask about fire caulking responsibilities. Some building inspectors are very strict. on common apartment walls with units outlets close together use Allied molded tan boxes which are UL listed for 6" separation between them otherwise you'll have to be more than 24" apart.
Don't rely on an apprentice to accurately label and terminate apartment feeders and check after you're done using continuity and phones/radios.
 
Why the 600 amp on house. All the Fedders are 200 a single phase correct. 400 on A, 400 on B, 400 on C.
Then I'm not sure on you have main breaker enclouser with the feeders to panels terminated. Maybe just gernic drawing.
Maybe have main breaker panel with 200 amp breakers for feeders?
Lot of questions however let start there.
Also the house panles? Are all three for house loads. What is you load for the house panels.
3 sets of 3/0 and 600 amp may not be needed.
The house will use a different calc than the dwelling units.
I'm sure you have done these so share for future comment.

Is all equipment/ appliances (range)in the dwelling side rated 208/230.
 
get a clear idea of what the wall types will be between apartments and the common hall and apartments type. Make sure the GC knows this. could be double 5/8" with metal resilient channel
 
Tulsa,
600 a commons is for communal washers, dryers, water heaters, ventilation system, ext lighting, recepts and car chargers 195kva (around there)

As for the drawing, it’s not great, I’m planning on the main breaker with 3 x 200amp breakers and feeders to a mechanical room.

And yes, all line to line equipment is rated at 208v.
Thanks for the input
 
195*1000= 195000/208=937.50/200=4.6875; 200 amp single phase panels
I would think @160 amps each it would take 6 single phase panels for a three phase 195 kva load.
With three single phase 200 amp panels the most kva would be 400*208*1.732=144102.4 va or 144.1024 KVA @ 120/208 three phase 4-wire
I'm I looking at this wrong?
 
From an inspections standpoint: arrange for an inspection (R.I. & Final) on one or two units to begin with and not all 13 at one time.
If you happen to overlook something it is far better to correct it on one unit and avoid the problem on the other12 than have to correct all 13.
 
this is one of the buildings I did. It isn't Siemens meter Pak but their multifamily modular powermod. I believe it was 800amps 3phase and the house was 200amps 3 phase. Everything was natural gas or small heat pump

have you considered a 3 phase 600 amp ML house panel
 

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farmantenna said:
this is one of the buildings I did. It isn't Siemens meter Pak but their multifamily modular powermod. I believe it was 800amps 3phase and the house was 200amps 3 phase. Everything was natural gas or small heat pump

have you considered a 3 phase 600 amp ML house panel
Click to expand...
That’s super clean farmantenna! Thanks for sharing that..
I have not, maybe I should.. Do you have any links so I could look one up?
 
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