Bonding 3R box?

[haveissues]

So as of yesterday I have a new 320 amp service and 200 amps running to the new shop but have a question on bonding a 3r box. Until yesterday I had a meter pan back to back with a 200 amp panel at my house (meter pan outside, 200 amp panel inside). I moved my meter to a pedestal and now have a 200 amp panel at the shop and the same 200 amp panel I had before at the house but replaced the meter pan with a slightly larger 3r box that I am using as a splice box. 2" PVC conduit comes in to that box from underground and 2" pvc conduit comes out of the back and in to my indoor panel.

Here is my question-there was no bonding in the meter pan that I removed. I spliced the 4/0, 4/0, 2/0 with polaris connectors where the meter would have been. Should that 3r box be bonded and what wire gauge? Hope that makes sense...

I am also surprised the meter pan is not bonded to ground. Whoever did the work was no amateur as the breaker panel is very very neat and tidy. Whoever did it must have been down right **** (not a bad thing, I like neat).

 

[Terry D]

Your old meter socket was bonded through the neutral. That metal outside enclosure should be bonded. Is there a 10/32 threaded hole on it somewhere? They usually have something to mount a lug. Since you only have a 3-wire feed (no equipment ground ) I would install a #6 green copper THWN from your ground bar in the panel that is back to back with this enclosure (Im suggesting a #6 because that is the size equipment ground for 200 amp) through the 2 inch ****** and connect it to a lug . If you have to drill to mount a lug, drill the bottom and use a nut and bolt. This way you wont have to worry about water.

Commercial Electric Copper Mechanical Connector #4 Stranded to #14 Solid Wire (2-Pack) L70-B2-5 - The Home Depot

Get the Steel City #4 Stranded to #14 Solid Type L Mechanical Connectors (2-Pack) L70-B2, copper terminal lugs are used to terminate the conductors on equipment or grounding applications from The Home

www.homedepot.com

 

[haveissues]

Your old meter socket was bonded through the neutral. That metal outside enclosure should be bonded. Is there a 10/32 threaded hole on it somewhere? They usually have something to mount a lug. Since you only have a 3-wire feed (no equipment ground ) I would install a #6 green copper THWN from your ground bar in the panel that is back to back with this enclosure (Im suggesting a #6 because that is the size equipment ground for 200 amp) through the 2 inch ****** and connect it to a lug . If you have to drill to mount a lug, drill the bottom and use a nut and bolt. This way you wont have to worry about water.

Commercial Electric Copper Mechanical Connector #4 Stranded to #14 Solid Wire (2-Pack) L70-B2-5 - The Home Depot

Get the Steel City #4 Stranded to #14 Solid Type L Mechanical Connectors (2-Pack) L70-B2, copper terminal lugs are used to terminate the conductors on equipment or grounding applications from The Home

www.homedepot.com

Great, thank you. The enclosure used to have a 10/32 mounting hole for bonding but that was located right where I needed a knockout for the 2" ****** to go. I'll grab the lug you suggested.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Be sure to remove the paint from the box behind where the lug goes
(You can tap your own fine thread hole wherever you want)

 

[Bert_]

You have a breaker or disconnect at the meter?

 

[haveissues]

You have a breaker or disconnect at the meter?

I do not, which is why it is a 3 wire feed.

 

[Bert_]

I do not, which is why it is a 3 wire feed.

Just checking. A lug bolted to the back of the box is the solution. You bond it to the neutral wire.

 

[Terry D]

You are allowed to use the neutral to bond a enclosure on the line side of a service, but by the time you buy a 3 barrel polaris connector or a split bolt for 4/0, i still think it would be cheaper to run a #6 to the panel on the other side of the wall.

 

[haveissues]

You are allowed to use the neutral to bond a enclosure on the line side of a service, but by the time you buy a 3 barrel polaris connector or a split bolt for 4/0, i still think it would be cheaper to run a #6 to the panel on the other side of the wall.

This is what I will do. They don't exactly give away polaris connectors and I only need 2 feet or so of #6 to run in to the panel.. I might even have that lying around.

 

[nadogail]

Unless I am mistaken, if a part of the system is metal, it should be bonded.