ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Partial Service Upgrade - OK?

There is a big desire for "separation" in loadcenters nowadays. When you do the calculation for a new home and come up with a need for a 100A or less service, you can bet that when you're actually wiring the house you'll find you need more than 20 poles in your panel. I was glad to see ITE and SqD respond with 30 and 32 pole 100A panels. Normally I'll just jump up to a 200A service and always use a 40 pole panel. But when doing duplex condos you can't always do that. I did put a 40 pole panel with a 100A main in my garage just for the ability to separate, dedicate and isolate. My computed load is less than 60A.

glenn35,

Hey, what's a hooplah anyway?

I'm just collecting info and opinions here. I see no problem with it but it does seem to make people think twice.

Yes, We can use 2/0 Copper for Residential 200A Service. You should be able to also unless there's a local thing against it. See Table 310-15(b)(6)
For other than single phase Resi we need 3/0 Copper too.

Yes, they give us the connectors to make the final connections for up to 200A Resi services. Maybe an effort to bring down what was one of the highest rates in the country (?)

Fred,

Since they went to the bypass type our meterpans cost about $100 with hub. And it is rated for 200A.

Bill

Redsy the 400A meters we use are self contained. Meaning that no other equipment such as CT's or PT's are needed. I have been at this utility for 16 yrs and they have always been around. The meter does not plug into a socket like a standard meter. Instead they bolt onto the metercans terminals.

The city I work in requires 150A min on service. The utility no longer furnishes the meter base, either. I put in almost 200 A exclusively, the panels are cheaper. Also the utility runs a 1/0 Aluminum drop no matter what the meter base is rated at.