Please allow for my ignorance... I am not familiar with Canadian rules; perhaps someone could explain something to me.

I am told that many Canadian EC'c have licenses that limit their practice to 200 amp services, or smaller.

A common type of housing is having four apartments in one building, with each apartment receiving a 100 amp service.
To circumvent the "200 amp" limit, contractors are running two service masts into a common gutter, that in turn feeds the 4 disconnects.

It seems to me that four residences do NOT require 400 amps of service. If you did your load calculations, then the de-rating factors for multiple services..... it looks to me that you would most likely be able to serve all four services with a single 200 amp service drop.

Am I correct?

I guess it would depend on the province, in Alberta we have a master electrician licence, that allows electricians to work with any voltage or amperage. There used to be a restricted master electrician license, that only allowed electricians to work up to 200 amps and 300 volts. I don't believe this restricted licence is available to new electricians anymore, however old licences can still be renewed, I think. Your question about a fourplex residential service, no it would not be served with a 400 amp service, most times a 200 amp service would be okay according to code.

In ontario the master license is just code and business related or so ive been told.I think the 442a and 309a is limited to 600v and ??a.I work up to 1200a and have never been questioned by inspection.Anything over 700v needs a high voltage license.Please correct me if im wrong.
The poco comes in and shuts it down and grounds the busses so we can do our spring cleaning on the 4160v, they do the 27000v system themselves.
What i found stange was when they came in to one of our sites to install the new pulse meters they required me to shut down the 600v 1200a standard sevice and transfer the emergency loads to generator.I couldn't get them to open the switch at the pole for nothing.I got the impression that the didn't trust it.
cheers




[This message has been edited by frank (edited 07-15-2006).]

Okay heres my first attempt at posting a pic

I am a little concerned about the lack of mechanical protection on those service cables though
This was done about 4 houses down the street from me.

200A limit?? Never heard of that..
I always thought they ran 2-200A services like what you see in that picture for ease of install... Think of it, would you rather run a pair of standard 2 1/2" masts and install 3 x 3/0 R-90 conductors in each OR would you prefer to run some 3 or 3 1/2" pipe up a wall, have it strapped to an angle iron at the top for support and have to pull a trio of 500 Kcm cables up through that??? Not to mention having to bend said 500 around in the gutter...
Meh, I think I will take the first option just so I dont have to bend any 500 Kcm around.. ( And besides TWO smaller services strapped to the wall would look neater than one big honkin ugly one)..

A.D

Here in British Columbia there is 3 classes of contracting tickets
Class C is restricted to 200 amps single phase 300 volts
class B 750 volt 3 phase
Class A no restrictions
Hope this explains the subject

Doug, I am curious about your comment re the mechanical protection. It is probably a bit of a judgement call, and I know those are service conductors, but they are teck and shouldnt require mechanical protection. If so, then just about every service with conduit out the bottom of the meter base needs mechanical protection based on most meters being within 5 feet or so of the ground.

I can understand your point. One thing though is I have seen almost everyone that has live there over the years use that space for parking. Maybe thats what made me think.

The other thing they are service conductors and that window does open. Not sure if thats only for triplex installations though.
See those brand new stairs... the last ones were taken out by a car accident.
Ripped all the railing out and I guess insurance piad for new concrete stairs too.

[This message has been edited by dougwells (edited 07-18-2006).]

Doug, given the history there, common sense does indicate a need for some kind of barrier in that area, even though teck does provide some protection. 6-112 talks about the windows, and refers to conductors relating to the supply authority. As you know, triplex insulation can break down over time, and access would be more of a concern than with teck.

Where Do I start?
Doug explained the levels of Contractors licences in BC so that is coverd for me too. The meter base is a 400 amp 4 position meter base not 2 times 200. The service is therefore a 400 amp service or maybe less if say the load calc showed 260 amps it could be a 260 amp service if smaller conductors were installed subject to the rules for parallel conductors. Regardless no C licenced contractor could work on this house in Victoria or I expect the rest of BC.
BC Hydro will not drop two triplexes to a parallel service like that. The will drop a single 400 amp triplex and terminate the conductors in single 3 barrel lugs. A mast is defined as a maximum of 200 amps and any need for a greater size service will require a certification from a structural engineer or a 6X6 wood mast for the side load of a 400 amp drop. We don't normally approve parrallel masts as meeting the specs for a single mast but on that point I would need to speak to an engineer to decide if it is adequate to the load for a single 400 amp triplex drop.
As for Mechanical protection it always depends on the hazard. Parking blocks might be enough or a bollard. if cars can pull up to the house. Mechanical protection can be required for ridgid steel pipe if there is a hazard of mechanical damage beyond what ridgid pipe would normally be able to continuously withstand. Fuel for the fire.

Thanks

[This message has been edited by dougwells (edited 07-31-2006).]

They Ran 2 seperate triplexs one to each Mast I had a closer look today.

Never heard of the up to 200amp thing before? When I wrote my licence there was a guy writing his residential licence. Not sure what voltages or amps he can go up to. (This is in Ontario)
Also, isn't there a rule for mechanical protection in a driveway? I'll look it up when I'm in my truck.
"Here in British Columbia there is 3 classes of contracting tickets
Class C is restricted to 200 amps single phase 300 volts
class B 750 volt 3 phase
Class A no restrictions"

I have my Construction and Maintenance Inter-provincial licence in Ontario. Would I have any restrictions out west?