Electrical Question

Lineman North Florida · Aug 4, 2009

I forgot most power companies won't allow you to put a meter can on their poles as it creates a hazard to lineman climbing the pole,also whatever you do don't direct bury your wire put it in pipe someone will thank you someday,I have probably forgotten some more things to tell you, but I tried.

Kfbeal · Aug 5, 2009

There's many utilities in Texas where the meter can and disconnect is on the xfmr. pole. Unsure of the reason, but it increases the cost to the consumer to purchase copper to run a further distance. At our coop we provide the service and pole at no charge unless it's over a certain cost estimate.

On our home, when we built, I planned to add our 30x40 garage/shop a year later. I installed a Mobile Home feed-through disconnect with 8 or 16 extra spaces on the outside. I then fed my home from the feed-through to an inside distribution panel. Then on the outside I have 8 or 16 spaces to use for my water well, garage, etc.

This installation has worked out well for us. On any underground we require it to be in conduit, anything above ground has to be Schedule 80 up to 6' or so above ground, and a marking tape/ribbon (provided by us with our phone number and name on it) has to be used. I would also use the long sweeping 90's for easier pulling.

Believer · Aug 12, 2009

Thanks guys. I called the rural electric and they said they would supply the meter socket and install it on the transformer pole. I think I've learned, with you help, what to do. After the meter socket, I'll install a 200-300 amp safety switch/disconnect on the pole. From, I go underground to a pedestal box. In it, I can have a few pedestals to distribute underground service entrances to a) house, b) barn, c) well. House and barn will have breaker boxes and circuit protection, but how to I get the well circuit protection? I'd like to wire from the pedestal box to the pump? Should I use a combo breaker (if that's the right terminology) for the main safety switch/disconnect at the transformer pole?

MarkV · Aug 12, 2009

I think you are going to find that your well has to go through one of your panels. It doesn't matter if it is the one in the house or the barn. I guess if you were going to build a well house you could put a panel in it though.

You should check and see if you service provider would provide the wire from the pole to the meter if you wanted the meter on the house. The service wire is expensive and if they will run that far for you may want to put your pedestal there.

MarkV

Erik_in_Hoyt · Aug 12, 2009

our electrical co-op sells service cable "at cost" to their customers -- I bought the 200 A underground rates supply for my house at abut $1.86 a foot when lowe's wanted twice that.
I also highly recommend putting a small service/breaker panel with disconnect in the well house -- that way it's easier to know the electricity is off when doing maintenance.

good luck!

Believer · Aug 14, 2009

As described above, I'm planning a disconnect at the meter, then go underground about 150 feet away to the house. At the house, I'll have a main breaker/distribution panel. Question about the disconnect: does it need circuit protection, i.e., breaker or fusible? Or do I just put a mechanical disconnect? Thanks.

bdeboer · Aug 14, 2009

One method that is common around here is to mount an outdoor circuit breaker panel beneath the meter on the pole or on an appropriately sized piece of plywood with one support leg being the pole and the other being a 4x4. The breaker panel will then house the 200 Amp for the house and 100 amp for the barn and maybe a 60 for an additional outbuilding. Another option to check into with utility would be the option of upgrading the outdoor meter/panel to a 400 amp service. The transformer on the pole etcetera may make this option too costly. The breakers in this panel act as the outdoor disconnecting means for the individual buildings.

My house built in 2000 has an outdoor 200 amp panel that feeds the 200 Amp indoor panel as a subpanel and has an additional 100 Amp circuit to feed the barn. The panel at this location is mounted to the side of the house next to the meter base.

Another property we own is an old farmhouse this has an older 200 Amp panel mounted to the pole with 2 100 amp circuits in it, one for the barn and one for the house.

It also doesn't hurt to have a few extra spaces for 20 Amp convenience receptacle circuits at the bottom of the outdoor panel.

Erik_in_Hoyt · Aug 15, 2009

my meter has a 200 amp disconnect and 3 sets of lugs - for house and outbuildings.
I buried 2" carlon and pulled cable to the house panel from there and when the new shop is dried in I'll do the same for it. I'll also wire a generator outlet to the shop so if we have a power outage I can throw the disconnect at the pole and run power from the shop back to the house.