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#60438 01/02/06 08:09 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 74
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scjohn Offline OP
Member
On a single phase residential service, no disco, do you pull a 3 wire service entrance or a 4? I always thought that the panel or disc. was the first stop, allowing you to use the 3, and any other sub after that required the 4 wires.
Thanks, John

#60439 01/02/06 08:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,044
Tom Offline
Member
If I'm reading your post correctly (that may be doubtful) you would run 3 conductors to the service disconnecting means. After that, any feeders must have an equipment ground (4th wire or metal conduit).

Tom


Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.
#60440 01/02/06 08:25 PM
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scjohn Offline OP
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You read it right. In this case there is only a 200 amp meter, and a 200 amp main breaker in the panel box, no 'knife' switch. We have always ran 3 wires from the meter directly to the panel in this case when there was no disco between the two.

#60441 01/02/06 09:17 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,876
E
e57 Offline
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Local POCO won't allow a ground wire between the two, just a properly bonded conduit in RMC.


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
#60442 01/02/06 09:20 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 173
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Member
Exactly. You absolutley don't want a ground between the meter and main.


Speedy Petey

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein
#60443 01/02/06 09:43 PM
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scjohn Offline OP
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Is there any article in the nec refering to this? I can't find it.
Thanks again.
John

#60444 01/03/06 09:15 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 821
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Article 250 would be a likely starting place.

Start here: http://www.mikeholt.com/freevideo.php?id=GVB2005

Good luck!

#60445 01/03/06 10:18 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 74
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scjohn Offline OP
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Thanks, thats a great site. To bad my internet is running like dial up, and has been for the last few days. I guess to sum it up, is there any new revisions, or any thing wrong with runninga 3 wire seu with a bare grounded conductor from the meter base to the panel box with a main breaker? I bidded on these houses, and now the inspector says I have to run a 4 wire ser cable, almost twice the cost per foot. I would then need to seperate the ground wires from the neutral wires in the panel box to keep from a parrallel.
John

#60446 01/03/06 11:25 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 173
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If this is a typical "riser -to meter -to main panel" setup your inspector is nuts.
Ask him where exactly he expects you to terminate the extra wire.


Speedy Petey

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein
#60447 01/04/06 07:54 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 821
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I could be wrong (it wouldn't be the first time), but it seems that inspector wants you to use the 4-wire because the 200amp main panel isn't at the nearest point of entrance as required by article 230.70 (A) (1).

Also, the grounded conductor isn't the bare conductor, that's the bonding conductor. The grounded conductor is commonly referred to as the neutral conductor.

You will have to install a service disconnect (main disconnect) at the nearest point of entry, or beneath the meter on the outside of the house. This is where your GEC (article 250.66) EGC (article 250.122), and GROUNDED conductor (article 200) from the POCO will all be bonded together to create a solidly grounded electrical system.

I hope I have helped.

Good luck!

--Ron

[This message has been edited by ShockMe77 (edited 01-04-2006).]

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