Moving an existing 200 amp all-in-one panel with an overhead drop on a home. Moving from the back of the house to the side. Can I add a meter box with a 200 amp main feeder breaker to the side of the house and feed it to the existing panel? (would then become a sub-panel). Is there a blank cover for the existing meter being it won't be there anymore? Where would I tap the feeder wire on the now sub-panel? to the lugs the power company uses? which would go through another 200 amp breaker in the panel. Guess I'd have to since there are no lugs in the panel. (Gotta be a better way)
Or I could turn the existing panel into a junction box and splice and feed all the circuits over to the side where a new all-in-one panel would be.
(We use all-in one panels in AZ with the meter built into the same box with the breakers mounted outdoors. I know they don't use them back east).

Build new service with 200A feedthrough panel, and subfeed old panel. if they are going to build on back of house ghange to indoor panel

So your saying move the overhead drop with the meter on the side of the house and feed it to the old main panel (new sub-panel now). What about tapping the lugs where the old meter was, which is built into the whole panel. (all-in-one). Need a blank cover where the meter was. Never have seen this done before, but that was my first idea too.

First of all, and no disrespect intended, by the range of your questions I fear this task my be better performed by a licensed contractor who usually does this sort of thing.

There is a limit to the amount of 'rigging' you can do...before long, you're spending $100 to save $1- and it shows.

Relocating the service drop requires you comply with the local PoCo rules. They're usually pretty fussy as to where the drop will be. Either go to their office for a "cut sheet," or you might find it on the web.

Blank covers do exist, but are intended for temporary use. There is then the matter of the meter ring, and jumpering the meter socket. I really don't like the idea of either- especially since the blank covers usually set in the meter jaws- making a jumper impossible.

Assuming the PoCo approves your plan, the only real option is to replace everything. Using the old panel as a "junction box" has certainly been done before, but with the distance you wish to move the box, you might as well do some re-wiring inside the house.

Seems to me you're going to need to run a new riser cable from your new outside main disconnect to yur existing panel thats going to become a sub panel. I believe you're also going to have update all of your grounding and bonding, including running all them back the main disco.

With a "all in one" panel neutral is most likly permenently bonded to box and panel is labeled "Suitable only for use as service equipment", if that is the case how would one get around that with out voiding listing?

Here in Utah the power company requires that the meter be located within 10ft. of the front of the house. I've seen cases where the meter/main was not located within this 10ft. The power company required the installation of a pedistal mounted meter out front next to the transformer or J-box.
This fed the other existing meter/main. They had a cover that clipped into the spot where the meter was located and it provided the connection at the old meter location.
I believe the power company supplied this cover along with the meter. I have never done one so I'm not sure. I have seen several of them around though.
My brother had one on his previous residence. A bay window and gas meter made it so that he had no choice but to have the meter/main located 15ft. from the front. The power company would not connect his power until he added a pedistal meter out front next to the transformer.

[This message has been edited by A-Line (edited 09-18-2005).]

[This message has been edited by A-Line (edited 09-18-2005).]

Check with the power company and your local inspector. Here the power company has a booklet on all of their requirements that must be met before they will connect power.
I'm going to a seminar next week where they are going to discuss their latest requirments.

Norcal has a very good point, with the neutral bond in the existing (sounds like meter/main w/dist. combo) panel, it would make the idea of re-feeding it a NO-NO. As often the neutral is directly mounted to the can. If it saving a buck or two thats in mind, re-use the panel in the new location, or re-use the breakers in a panel of the same brand. And put a nema3 J-box at the old location, and feed your circuits from the new location. Or, start over with a new MM combo, and new sub inside or out.

renosteinke, I am a licenced contractor, but this is an odd situation I've not come across. I will check with the PoCo and the city to see what I can do.
I think changing the main panel to a junction box and splicing the circuits to the new all-in-one on the side of the house might be the only way to go.

Neutral and ground bonding take place at the main breaker so if only the meter is moved then the neutral and ground bonding would remain at old the location with the main breaker. You would also bond the neutral and ground at the meter. If you have the 2005 NEC Handbook there is an illistration showing this. Exhibit 250.8
There is also an illistration at the link below. Scroll down to Photo 250.4 General Requirements for Grounding and Bonding. http://mikeholt.com/freegraphics.php?id=2005

[This message has been edited by A-Line (edited 09-18-2005).]

aldav53,
If you are needing to relocate the meter so the power company can access it I think you could just move the meter only and leave the main in its existing location. This would allow the neutral and ground bonding to remain in its current location. You would need a blank installed at the old meter location. I have seen this done in my area and the blank snaps into the old meter location and provides a jumber across the meter connections. I think the power company supplied these blanks but I'm not sure.
I've never seen one on an overhead service but have seen them on underground services. The meter was placed in pedistal out by the road in front of the house. The service lateral was dug up near the j-box or transformer and the pedistal meter was installed in the service lateral. Neutral and Ground bonding remained at the old meter location. I would think this would also be possible with an overhead drop.

[This message has been edited by A-Line (edited 09-18-2005).]

After checking into it, looks like the best way to go is change the existing all-in-one panel to a junction box and move the existing box to the side. Will have to splice all the circuits , run about 40 ft of pipe to the new panel. Now to figure out the cost. What would some of you charge to do this?

I'm an apprentice and don't have much experience yet but wouldn't it be cheaper to replace the existing MM/Combo with a 200 amp subpanel and move the MM/Combo to the new location. Seems easier and cheaper to refeed the sub then splicing all the circuits in a J Box and running them through a single pipe back to the meter main. Derating will become a major factor with that many circuits.

Cow, not really, still would have to buy a 200 amp load center for the back of the house and feed it with probably 3/0 (a bit costly). The huge all-in-one panel/meter on the side would be empty except for an expensive 200 amp feeder breaker.
You'd have the main 200 amp for the buss bar, then another 200 amp feeder breaker.

cow, I good thought though..