Double Lug off meter to feed panel in new detached garage?

Hi, I have an old house with a 100AMP fuse box in the kitchen and have no room to upgrade to a newer panel box. I am having a new detached garage built in bridgeview, Illinois and am trying to figure out my options for adding electric. Would code allow me to feed a second panel mounted in the garage off off the meter base by changing it to a double lugged base to feed my house panel and garage? I have read that NEC 230.71 would allow that to be done but don't know if bridgeview follows that code or the chicago code. Otherwise I might have to add a 60AMP subpanel box somewhere in the house and feed it from the main panel fuses that the A/C uses but change the fuses to 60AMP & use #6 wire. Then run #6 out to the garage to another box. I could live with 60AMP but would like 100AMP if its possible. I thought about having another service put on the garage but comed said I would be billed at a commercial rate which I want to avoid. Any ideas, advice? thanks

Also, What about the 3/4 pipe that is going to my A/C disconnect box outside, can that wire and box be changed and from there the subpanel box in the garage be fed?

call a licensed electrician that works in bridgeview.

Ask you're local inspection dept what code book they are using, and if it's ok.

Consider putting in a new 200A service to the garage (instead of your current 100A service to the house), then feeding the existing house pannel from a 100A breaker in the garage.

Back in 1991, Bridgeview was using the Chicago code and I imagine they still are. At that time, the building inspectors were pretty easy to get along with and helpful, so stop by the village hall and ask them.

I smell recipe for disaster.

The minute you start looking at 'creative' ways to make more power available, you end up being one of the reasons the NEC exists and keeps getting modified.

It sounds like you are already on the ragged edge of the available power out of your 100A panel. Even if you could double up, is your incoming wires rated for the extra load?

Do it right. Besides, if your needing more power now, in the future, your going to want even more power.

I just did a double lug 320amp meter with (2) 200amp main breaker panels - 1 in the shop and 1 in the house - single meter/single billing. This is not a subpanel arrangement but each panel gets feed from the meter irrespective of the other. The meter is about $180 if you shop around. Other advantages are you can stay with 3 wire to each panel vs. 4 wire for a feeder/subpanel.


http://www.homedepot.com/buy/electr...ringless-underground-meter-socket-146410.html


Typically (if ever), you can't legally double lug a meter not designed to do such.

Yup, 20 years ago when I built my shop, I double tapped off the meter base load side with three conductors ran underground in conduit to my shop.

Inside the shop I installed a regular residential style 200 amp breaker panel with main breaker, with panel and shop wired exactly as you would a stand alone residential panel, with neutrals and bares all bonded and the box bonded to 8' copper ground rod.

I got lucky in that the house already had the style meter base that would allow me to do that.

Recently, when our power company installed a smart meter, the installer noted the base was double tapped and mentioned it was no longer allowed by the company for new service, but still allowed by code for existing installs if done correctly.

I belive the code is Cook County.
Amost all towns in Cook County, including Chicago, have adopted the county code.
I also belive you can be grandfathered it if the base was designed for it.

But I like the idea of a new service to the garage with the house fed off it.