400 amp service question

[Steppenwolfe]

So... I am having a new electric service run for my antiquated farmhouse service of 60 amps. The local power company is going to bring in a brand new service from the road to a new 50 kva pad transformer. This will be located behind the existing shop building, and 140ft from the house. From there I am to trench 3ft deep to the house, provide a 4" schedule 40 conduit with a pull rope to a 400 amp meter base that they will provide. Here is my question... How best to do two, 200 amp disconnects from the single meter base? One will run back to the shop and one into the house, both with 200 amp panels. I would prefer to do this on the shop, but the local inspector says no, it must be run to the house first then backtrack to the shop. Can I buy a two pole disconnect with two 200 amp mains or do I do two separate disconnects???

 

[RoyKing]

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Install two of these feed from the meter can, bury 200 aluminum underground service no tube required, or put two meters so you can deduct barn electric. Don't listen to power company they don't inspect or pass it, or pay for it. There business stops at the meter can.

 

[ovrszd]

400amp service split into two 200amp disconnects. One conduit brings power to meter setter. One conduit takes 200amp power to shop. One conduit takes 200amp power to house.

 

[m7040]

My meter on our old farm house failed last year. It provides power to the house, Barn and machine shed. The county had upgraded the requirements to now require a disconnect switch and install it on a separate pole. I can now disconnect all three services with the switch at the pole. But it was costly compared to just replacing the power meter and box

 

[radios1]

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Install two of these feed from the meter can, bury 200 aluminum underground service no tube required, or put two meters so you can deduct barn electric. Don't listen to power company they don't inspect or pass it, or pay for it. There business stops at the meter can.

they can refuse you service if you don't follow their instructions!.

 

[JethroB]

400amp service split into two 200amp disconnects. One conduit brings power to meter setter. One conduit takes 200amp power to shop. One conduit takes 200amp power to house.




View attachment 674354

That is nice and clean. I am working to get something similar but with service to my new house, two separate buildings that already have sub panels and a new 600 ft well. Im anxious to see the plan my electrician and power company come up with. Now if they would just call me back .

 

[RoyKing]

They don't get to dictate after the meter can, that is up to your city/county inspector. Same with transformer, find out how far on your property they will come and then you pick the spot. I would ask about the meter can options also, my provider sent me a list with prices and got the one in I wanted came in a week for $43.00. That can pictured with the two breakers is very nice but bet it was very expensive.

Best way to handle the permit is turn in a detailed drawing and spec list to the permit dept in advance, home owner can do all the work themselves.

Everybody told my neighbor to get an automatic transfer switch you had to have a electrician pull permits. I helped him and the inspected commented best job he had seen.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

SIEMENS W44MB12CT 2 Amp Outdoor Trailer Panel - Wood Moldings And Trims - Amazon.com

Install two of these feed from the meter can, bury 200 aluminum underground service no tube required, or put two meters so you can deduct barn electric. Don't listen to power company they don't inspect or pass it, or pay for it. There business stops at the meter can.

The power company locally won't even show up for the install till the local Electrical Inspector passes the meter base and disconnect...

 

[Steppenwolfe]

400amp service split into two 200amp disconnects. One conduit brings power to meter setter. One conduit takes 200amp power to shop. One conduit takes 200amp power to house.




View attachment 674354

That is exactly what I wanted to do on the outside of my shop wall. Then run one feed to house and the other to the shop. Inspector said no; it has to be at the house. I need to find a way to question him. I sure can't tell him that's how we used to do it up NORTH.... BTW, nice set up...

 

[3Ts]

That is exactly what I wanted to do on the outside of my shop wall. Then run one feed to house and the other to the shop. Inspector said no; it has to be at the house. I need to find a way to question him. I sure can't tell him that's how we used to do it up NORTH.... BTW, nice set up...

It seems very arbitrary, but ---. I am not allowed to have a ground transformer for any price, but the next county over (about 1 mile), that is the preferred installation, and they're the same electric company.

 

[workinonit]

All of these electrical rules and code variations are different state to state and county to county and city to city. We don't have to get inspected at all but we have to do exactly what the power company wants or they will drive by and wave. ****, they may not even wave.

 

[3gunr]

At my farm that is exactly how the power company did my meter base .A fter they set it it was up to me to run the power to the houe and soon to be new 28x36 shop. they didnt tell me how to do anything.

 

[MossRoad]

That is exactly what I wanted to do on the outside of my shop wall. Then run one feed to house and the other to the shop. Inspector said no; it has to be at the house. I need to find a way to question him. I sure can't tell him that's how we used to do it up NORTH.... BTW, nice set up...

Ask him about a farm service panel.

 

[Diggin It]

WHO is determining where the pad will go? Can it be placed closer to the house?

 

[ovrszd]

At my farm that is exactly how the power company did my meter base .A fter they set it it was up to me to run the power to the houe and soon to be new 28x36 shop. they didnt tell me how to do anything.

Yep. I asked for advice? They said do it however you like. Love living in the country!!!!

 

[ovrszd]

WHO is determining where the pad will go? Can it be placed closer to the house?

My Power Company didn't care about distance from a structure. I paid by the foot from the power line to the pad setting. They laid the power cable to their specs which where I measured was 55" deep. The size of transformer was based on expected use. 25 worked for me. I don't have electric heat in the house or shop. I do have a welder in the shop.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

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Install two of these feed from the meter can, bury 200 aluminum underground service no tube required, or put two meters so you can deduct barn electric. Don't listen to power company they don't inspect or pass it, or pay for it. There business stops at the meter can.

You definitely don't want 2 meters, most power company's and every co-op in Florida, have what is called a customer charge on your monthly bill and it is per meter, I remember when it was $9 then $14 and today it's $28.00, I have a service to a well for cow water and never use over a couple of dollars worth of electricity per month, but that $28.00 customer charge is there every month.

 

[3gunr]

Whan they brought my service in they set two poles and the meter base . I paid them 2200 dollars but i received that much in free electricity. I had no bill for over 2 yrs.

 

[JethroB]

All of these electrical rules and code variations are different state to state and county to county and city to city. We don't have to get inspected at all but we have to do exactly what the power company wants or they will drive by and wave. ****, they may not even wave.

Yep this ^^^^.

So far my electric co-op have been very agreeable so I am not interested in ticking them off. They even offered to dig the 100 foot trench to the well from my house.

 

[ovrszd]

You definitely don't want 2 meters, most power company's and every co-op in Florida, have what is called a customer charge on your monthly bill and it is per meter, I remember when it was $9 then $14 and today it's $28.00, I have a service to a well for cow water and never use over a couple of dollars worth of electricity per month, but that $28.00 customer charge is there every month.

Absolutely agree!!!! Our Co-op charges $29 per month. I used to be on three. Now I'm on one. That's a lot of KWs of electricity. I'm .15 cents per KWH.