I have been told that it is a code violation to have an interior breaker panel located more than 3 feet from the exterior meter main even if it is connected to the meter main by a 4 conductor sheathed cable rated at the ampacity of the service main. This propsed cable would enter the house and run through the rafter area and down to the circut panel a distance of 18' ... can anyone give me insight on this issue ???? thanks

I don't see that you have a problem. If indeed you have a "meter main", then that is your service, and the rest is a sub-panel..fed by the 2 hots, a neutral,and a ground.
If you are just going from a meter, then several feet to your service..that's where you run into difficulty..depending upon local rules, usually.

Ditto, elzappr.
Once you leave your service main, it becomes a feeder and you can run as far as you like with it. Without an external main, I would check with local AHJ for anything that exceeds 3 ft.

Thanks for your Rapid Replys .... its is a meter/main ... square D unit with a meter socket and a 200 amp breaker with 6 slots within the same enclosure .. this would be mounted out side the building and connected to an underground service form the power company ... from the load side of the 200 amp main c/p I am running a 200 amp al service cable which has 2 line 1 neutural and 1 bare ground wires all cased in a plastic sheath ... this would exit the meter main enclosure from the rear through the exterior wall of the house up to the overhead attic space across and down to the square d 200 amp 30 circuit panel ... the exterior box is grounded with a ground rod and #4 copper the interior panel is bonded to the bare ground lead of the service cable and neutural .... I dont see any problem with this arrangement ... i will be calling for a REVIEW with the local inspector and wanted to have my facts ... i can find nothing in the nec 2002 codes that would violate this arrangement .... more input is welcomed .... thanks

Before you ask for that review, check for any local (city or county) and/or state admendments to the NEC. Some cities here have length restrictions on services, and some have a conduit requirement for services and feeders.

Here, it used to be 25 ft. (WV Power), now it has to be back to back or a disco is required. (Allegheny Power).

My longest distance between disco and panel is about 400 ft. It was at the house with the solar panels/inverter setup.

Just to make sure.. You haven't connected the ground and neutral together at the sub-panel did you. I wondered, when you stated that the sub-panel was "bonded to the bare ground lead of the service cable and the neutral."

Would this apply?


110.10 Circuit Impedance and Other Characteristics.
The overcurrent protective devices, the total impedance, the component short-circuit current ratings, and other characteristics of the circuit to be protected shall be selected and coordinated to permit the circuit-protective devices used to clear a fault to do so without extensive damage to the electrical components of the circuit. This fault shall be assumed to be either between two or more of the circuit conductors or between any circuit conductor and the grounding conductor or enclosing metal raceway. Listed products applied in accordance with their listing shall be considered to meet the requirements of this section.

With a meter/main breaker combo and the conductor protected at its ampacity you can run to Timbuktu. An unprotected conductor can't. It's a feeder after the main, not a service conductor.
Virgil, don't you mean without a main c/b located @ the service?



[This message has been edited by electure (edited 01-31-2002).]

Yeah, back to back no Disconnect (w/ Main CB), not back to back, must have disco (W/ main CB)...

Did I clear my muddling up a little?

<in jest>(Listen to what I mean, not what I say...)</in jest>



The 400 ft run had a Main CB/ Disco adjacent to the meterbase, so technically, it was a "feeder" and not a "service".

Still a long run.

My longest run was 600 ft. of 1/0 Cu for a 240V 30A feed for a cell tower repeater.
That pull was a nightmare... I had used 2" PVC instead of 3" and will never do that again.

[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 01-31-2002).]

Thanks for all the responses ... i guess this did produce some interesting discussion ... Well i tend to agree with the majority of responses and go with this lifeline .... with a meter main as described i should be able to run my 18' to the panel .... the inspector is comming by tomorrow to look at it and discuss it with me ... not sure if he was clear about it he could not give me a straight answer ... i will let you guys know what he says ... thanks again for all your input we will see what the verdict is .... as the saga continues

ibuildit4u

let us know.....curious....

Well guys ... its ok ... inspector came and looked ... made some calls ... came back again and still wasnt sure ... he said the code was unclear ... i told him that it should apply to section regarding feeders not a service main ... finaly he agreeded and after more calls he told me it was ok .... oh well at least we got that one through .. thanks for all your input and i am sure i will be back with some more "issues"

ibuildit4u,

In some areas, inspectors are appointed by the local government or the inspector may be a "multi-hat" type of guy that inspects many trades. Some of these fellows don't have much experiance with the electrical end. Most of the ones I've run into were willing to learn, if you presented the information without making them look ignorant.

Luckily, you ran into one who was willing to take your word. Why don't you ask him if he has access to the internet & give him this web-page? You might gain a real friend if you do.