New house electrical question
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Topic: New house electrical question
Posted By: JimD
Subject: New house electrical question
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2019 at 9:55pm
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So power co for new house requires a breaker next to the meter. Can't seem to find a simple 200 amp breaker at Lowe's that fits the need. Everything has multiple spots for extra breakers. Or is too small. And I missing something? ------------- Owner of http://www.OKtractor.com" rel="nofollow - OKtractor.com PM for an instant response on parts. Open M-F 9-6 Central. We have new and used parts. 877-378-6543 |
Replies:
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2019 at 10:04pm
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like this https://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D-QO-200-Amp-2-Pole-Outdoor-Circuit-Breaker-Enclosure-with-QOM2200VH-Breaker-QOM2E2200NRB/100210055" rel="nofollow - https://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D-QO-200-Amp-2-Pole-Outdoor-Circuit-Breaker-Enclosure-with-QOM2200VH-Breaker-QOM2E2200NRB/100210055 ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: LouSWPA
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2019 at 10:05pm
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breaker, or switch? ------------- I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Ps 27 |
Posted By: farmboy520
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2019 at 10:11pm
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Some electric companies will want a double throw disconnect if you are going to have a generator. ------------- On the farm: Agco Allis 9695, 7060, 7010, R66, Farmall H, and Farmall F20 (Great Grandpa's) |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2019 at 10:15pm
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another version at Lowes......... this is real common in the country in Illinois... sometimes the METER is also in the box with the breaker. https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-CB-Enclosure-2-Circuit-1-Space-200-Amp-Main-Breaker-Load-Center/3200595" rel="nofollow - https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-CB-Enclosure-2-Circuit-1-Space-200-Amp-Main-Breaker-Load-Center/3200595 ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2019 at 10:19pm
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another option is a 200 amp breaker with a small panel that you can add a 20 amp breaker below it to give you a power source out at the pole.........and the 200 amp continues thru to the house. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Eaton-Type-BR-8-Circuit-4-Space-200-Amp-Main-Breaker-Load-Center/1000963" rel="nofollow - https://www.lowes.com/pd/Eaton-Type-BR-8-Circuit-4-Space-200-Amp-Main-Breaker-Load-Center/1000963 ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: JimD
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2019 at 10:59pm
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Im sure those will work. Just seems odd that a fully loaded 200 ampwith breakers is less than a outdoor breaker. Guess it just stingmore since I'm doing 2 meters, ------------- Owner of http://www.OKtractor.com" rel="nofollow - OKtractor.com PM for an instant response on parts. Open M-F 9-6 Central. We have new and used parts. 877-378-6543 |
Posted By: DaveKamp
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2019 at 11:17pm
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Jim- What they're referring to, is probably a 'code philosophy' that they've adopted as S.O.P. for customer distribution: When you install a power service overhead to the side of a house, there's a meter box on the outside of the house, a short drop through rigid conduit, through an LB in the wall, to a utility panel with main disconnect. The only 'unprotected' span downstream of the meter, is that short length into the main disconnect. On a 'farm pole' service, a pole has a weatherhead up top, with rigid EMT down to meter, then immediately below meter box is a fused disconnect switch. From there, it either goes underground to a building, or back up another piece of EMT, through weatherhead, to overheads to other buildings. The fuseable disconnect does four things: 1) Overcurrent/short circuit protection (to keep overhead wiring, houses, and buildings from burning) 2) Supply protection- keeps pole transformers and overhead wiring from carrying fault current (fuse blows) 3) Establishes the max current of the service, to suit overhead wiring. You don't wanna pull 450A through a piece of overhead wire suitable for only 200A. 4) Safety shutoff/lock-tag - used for general service in a farm environment (overheads damaged in storms, machinery, etc), and also... provides a way of cutting power to a building in the event of a fire. My farm is supplied through a brand-new utility pole- I replaced the VERY VERY old wooden pole with a 21' 8" square 1/4" wall steel tube with meter box and 200A switch, EMT, weatherhead, insulator, and up top, a very nice trio of LED shoebox lamps on a T-bar. My 200A fused switchbox was REALLY costly... almost $800.  I bit the bullet, and bought the right thing, because it's built specifically for that purpose. ------------- Ten Amendments, Ten Commandments, and one Golden Rule solve most every problem. Citrus hand-cleaner with Pumice does the rest. |
Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2019 at 11:51pm
Here we pay $35 or $45 dollars per each meter we have. I used to have two, one to the house and one to the barn. Now I only have one and feed both the house and barn. Our electrical supplier got this idea from some other outfit so they could regulate and raise more money. A LOT of the farmers around here still have at least two meters because they don't want to spend the $$$$ to change it to one. COULD happen to you some day.....you never know, they are always looking for a new way to raise money. Being as it's new, why not put a pedestal out somewhere and have the meter on that and feed from there? We have them around here and it has the disconnect built into that. I don't remember what I paid for mine, but it was less than $300. Paid for itself the first year. ------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
JimD wrote:Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 6:21am
| Our meter feeds the House and my Shop, 1000A supply with a built in full disconnect AFTER the Meter. Meter is pole mounted. I have a Generator connection at the box base all signed off by the REA as to usable as the Disconnect has to be open for generator use. Can run the house heat, shop heat and well from the buildings to keep winter at bay and still have energy to do it without injuring a lineman or trying to feed ALL the neighbors. |
Posted By: Dave H
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 7:49am
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REA here. When they put the drop in they also provided the 200 Amp box/breaker that was fed by the incoming wires and transformer on the pole. I had to pay them for the drop and installing it on the pole. No choice, but it was seemingly way less than referred to here. Did you check with the utility co to see if they would install the box. From my breaker box on the pole the feeds go underground to the house and the barn service panels.
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Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 8:02am
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You also have to remember this is OUTSIDE box, so it is a little better construction and somewhat more SEALED than the inside breaker distribution boxes. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 8:04am
this isThis is what REA installs around central Illinois... there meter goes on top, your 200 amp breaker is in the bottom half. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: tadams(OH)
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 12:35pm
| My electric company furnished and installed a meter with a place to put in 3 breakers if you wanted you could run 3 200 amp breakers |
Posted By: wfmurray
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 5:17pm
| House is all electric so when i wanted power to my shop they said put in a center pole.They furnished pole and i had to put in breaker and run wire to weather head and one recteable.Move meter out on pole and changed to a 20 muliplier.All power comes through same meter.150 amp breaker with 150 taps on bottom could go any where and check with no one. |
Posted By: JimD
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 6:34pm
 ------------- Owner of http://www.OKtractor.com" rel="nofollow - OKtractor.com PM for an instant response on parts. Open M-F 9-6 Central. We have new and used parts. 877-378-6543 |
Posted By: JimD
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 6:38pm
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Here is why there are 2 meters. It's sort of a duplex. Our house is on the left, and Mom's is on the right. She needs as much independance as possible, and I can easily see her living here another 25+ years. So she has her own meter. The above solutions will work, I just don't see why they are so stinking big when they only have 2 breakers. I'll upload a pic of the spec sheet they gave me. ------------- Owner of http://www.OKtractor.com" rel="nofollow - OKtractor.com PM for an instant response on parts. Open M-F 9-6 Central. We have new and used parts. 877-378-6543 |
Posted By: JimD
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 6:44pm
Here is the spec sheet: Its cut off but the bottom says "Will need breaker box adjacent to both meters"
------------- Owner of http://www.OKtractor.com" rel="nofollow - OKtractor.com PM for an instant response on parts. Open M-F 9-6 Central. We have new and used parts. 877-378-6543 |
Posted By: JimD
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 6:46pm
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Oh, did I mention that when our shop burned down, we decided to build a new house? Shop and warehouse will go in right after we move in. ------------- Owner of http://www.OKtractor.com" rel="nofollow - OKtractor.com PM for an instant response on parts. Open M-F 9-6 Central. We have new and used parts. 877-378-6543 |
Posted By: Kenny L.
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 6:59pm
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Posted By: Dusty MI
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 7:57pm
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We are in a RV park in Florida and we have the 2 meter system for every 2 units. Dusty ------------- 917 H, '48 G, '65 D-10 series III "Allis Express" |
Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 02 Feb 2019 at 11:12pm
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Thanks Kenny, that makes sense now ------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
Posted By: shameless dude
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2019 at 1:40am
| that's a really cool looking house Jim! |
Posted By: shameless dude
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2019 at 1:47am
| after being a fire dispatcher for many years, I learned to have a power shut off/breaker box added to the pole outside where the meter is. here when there is a fire to a house or out building the fire department won't squirt water until the power is cut to that building. that requires the electric company rep to come pull the meter. if it's in the middle of the night...that's a lot of time to wait for their rep and usually caused a total loss to the home/building owner. sometimes the fire dept did pull the meter before the power co rep got there, but after some many law suits they quit that! (it's different now) so I had a shut off installed at my house, then meter doesn't hafta be pulled. only regret was I didn't have any plug ins added to the shut off box. |
Posted By: CTuckerNWIL
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2019 at 10:52am
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My one neighbor has a meter out on the pole. He sold the farm and kept the house, garage and about an acre of land. The power company said they can't put 2 meters in to split his power from the grain bins and machine shed, unless the farm side is set up on a commercial rating. More money for them I guess, but it sounds kinda fishy to me. ------------- http://www.ae-ta.com" rel="nofollow - http://www.ae-ta.com Lena 1935 WC12xxx, Willie 1951 CA6xx Dad bought new, 1954WD45 PS, 1960 D17 NF |
Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2019 at 3:02pm
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I have a sequence box (meter mounting enclosure and lugs for meter) in the shop with a meter I bought off E-bay , so I know how much electric is used for shop and also have on in basement for kilns the wife had for her ceramics studio. I know a disconnect was needed IF a meter was mounted on a central pole for farm use in many places and also some type of limiting fusing for branch circuits . Now NEA codes are always being updated so keeping up with them is a constant study of codes . ------------- Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something. "Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." |
Posted By: Ted J
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2019 at 9:58pm
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We couldn't pull the meters either. We had an attic fire and the guy from Northern States pulled the meter, but we still had power up in that attic. After the fire was out and our inspectors got to looking around, they found that when the owner built the house next door for his son, they ran power to it from his until it was built. They never disconnected that line. So sometimes the 'good ole days' aren't so good. ------------- "Allis-Express" 19?? WC / 1941 C / 1952 CA / 1956 WD45 / 1957 WD45 / 1958 D-17 |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2019 at 6:26am
| Mother in Law's neighbor was caught power tapping from a rental home next to their live in home. He had added four extension cords underground to snitch power to run the washer and drier and a few rooms lights on the rental meter. Got caught when two of the four burnt up in winter and left a heat trail in the ground between the two, damned lucky did not set BOTH houses on fire. He weren't none two brite!! |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2019 at 6:32am
This is our meter base/disconnect. I left the Temporary 50A plug we used for builder power so if need to(found don't) can plug in a generator. The photo was on one of those 'Bad' days we all have!! Two drop legs, one to house one to shop, 1000Asupply base.
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Posted By: JimD
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2019 at 3:20pm
 Will this work for 200 amp service from meter to breaker box? ------------- Owner of http://www.OKtractor.com" rel="nofollow - OKtractor.com PM for an instant response on parts. Open M-F 9-6 Central. We have new and used parts. 877-378-6543 |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2019 at 4:35pm
| Should work fine, how far have to run and any severe rock in the soil? Under NEC code also needs to be at least 24" down. |
Posted By: JimD
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2019 at 5:35pm
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Do not need to bury, this will be interior run. ------------- Owner of http://www.OKtractor.com" rel="nofollow - OKtractor.com PM for an instant response on parts. Open M-F 9-6 Central. We have new and used parts. 877-378-6543 |
Posted By: JimD
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2019 at 5:35pm
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It's just a lot cheaper than copper 3/0. ------------- Owner of http://www.OKtractor.com" rel="nofollow - OKtractor.com PM for an instant response on parts. Open M-F 9-6 Central. We have new and used parts. 877-378-6543 |
Posted By: allis g
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2019 at 12:48am
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That looks like aluminum can’t ’ Use it in Calif I wouldn’t anyhow too high fire risk. It expands and contracts too much. |
Posted By: shameless dude
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2019 at 2:01am
| I spose running an extension cord is outta the question huh? lol |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2019 at 1:11pm
| All the local electrical contractors use is Aluminum Tri Plex for high amp runs. My own home as are 90% are is fed from the meter base to the breaker panel with same. Not so much a concern for heat and fire probabilities as the old 12/2 w/grd house wire. |
Posted By: Allis dave
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2019 at 1:28pm
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The boxes aren't "Big" to hold a bunch of breakers. The boxes are big to have plenty of room to route those big 4/0 service feed cable and maintain proper bend radius. Depending on code in your state, you may have to run a 4-wire for your house. In Indiana, all grounds have to run back to the main disconnect.
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Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 05 Feb 2019 at 4:37pm
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4/0 AL cable is good for 205 amps ......... the ground wire 2/0 is good for about 150 amps.... that should be fine for entrance cable. I have had similar in my house for 40 years. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Ryanlark
Date Posted: 08 May 2021 at 7:35am
| Maybe you should hire a professional electrical company? I am kind of afraid of stuff like this to do it on my own, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. I just learned that from my own mistake. When I moved to my new house, in the beginning everything was perfect. I hired a professional moving company https://texasmovingusa.com/" rel="nofollow - https://texasmovingusa.com/ to help me with everything. After I settled in, I noticed there is a problem with the kitchen switch. I tried to fix it on my own, but the problem was way complicated then I knew. I ended up hurting myself pretty bad, and even made the switch problem worse. So, know I just hire people to help me. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 08 May 2021 at 8:48am
After 2 years....i HOPE he already has it installed !!  ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 08 May 2021 at 9:23am
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Me too! Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |