Wow, what a thread. Almost to much to read, let alone understand.
In Colorado, all homes such as these are to be approved by the state. They decide if it is a manufactured home, using the UBC, or a mobile home, using the HUD standard. either way, there is a sticker mounted on it to identify it.
If it is a manufactured home, then you can put the service equipment on the outside face of the home. From there you run into a distribution panel. If the metering is over 30' from the home, then installing this equipment on the side of the home will comply with code to get the disconnect correctly installed.
You can never run into a home (manufactured or stick built) more than a few feet at the most, without an outside disconnect.
A mobile home is treated much the same, but you can never install the service equipment directly to the home. 1" to 30' away is ok, but not on it.
Another thing about USE wire. This type of cable (USE & USE-2) cannot be run into a building. The older style you mention could be run from the meter pole to the pedistal, or other outside disconnect, but not into the home. This info is in the UL white book.
I do agree that Article 550 is for all homes of this type, not just those in parks. The only thing that it does not cover is the actual wiring (inside) of the home. This falls under a federal standard, but this standard does include alot of NEC driven rules, such as GFCI etc... There are other rules that wouldn't see the light of day in the NEC, such as a panel in a closet, which is allowable under the federal standard.
Rick Miell
