Adding single circuit at meter can

[wanderer]

My electrical meter and service disconnect are about 300’ north of my house, mounted on a pole. From there it comes underground into my house. On the main disconnect I have three lugs, two of which are being used. These lugs are very big, sized for 2/0 wire. The third lug I plan to use when I build my barn.

I would like to have an electrical outlet in this area. A single 20 amp circuit would be fine. Running it from the house is an option but I really don’t want to for logistical reasons. Electrically I understand well enough how the connections need to work but there are few things that I don’t understand.

1) assuming I install a 20 amp breaker how do I protect the wire between my main disconnect and the breaker? The largest wire size I can fit in the panel is 2awg, which is too small for the 200a disconnect. Larger won’t fit in the terminal of my breaker. Obviously cost is no issue here because I only need a foot or two.

2) what is the best way to add a fourth lug to my disconnect?

This is what I was planning to use:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Eaton-B...Lug-Loadcenter-with-Cover-BR24L70RP/100128514



Plan B is to install a larger load center and then just feed the barn from there but I don’t really want to do that just to get a single 20a circuit.

 

[danfromsyr]

possibly add a hot tub or AC disconnect box with a smaller 20a breaker.

 

[wanderer]

possibly add a hot tub or AC disconnect box with a smaller 20a breaker.

Yeah I’ve got that figured out but how do I protect the wire? With a 200 amp circuit breaker the wire size should be capable of handling 200 A also but that wire size won’t fit into a 20 amp breaker.

 

[Bert_]

Yeah I’ve got that figured out but how do I protect the wire? With a 200 amp circuit breaker the wire size should be capable of handling 200 A also but that wire size won’t fit into a 20 amp breaker.

If the meter has a breaker then it's called a feeder tap. Sounds like this is outside so there is no limit on length or wire size. Just have to have the appropriately-sized breaker on the end.

Those lugs will have a wire size range. Probably something like #6-250.

 

[wanderer]

If the meter has a breaker then it's called a feeder tap. Sounds like this is outside so there is no limit on length or wire size. Just have to have the appropriately-sized breaker on the end.

Those lugs will have a wire size range. Probably something like #6-250.

Yeah I wondered about that. Not that I would want to do anything dangerous but certainly if there was a fire it wouldn’t affect any of my property. no building codes here either.

So you think I’d be good to get a 20 amp breaker with the largest wire size the lugs will fit? The wire will be all of a foot-long or something.

 

[jimindm]

If I understand it right, just the meter is on the pole?

You would have no way of disconnecting the power yourself would you. Maybe by pulling the meter, which the poco may have a problem with that.

If just the meter is there is that not 220? Is that what you want to power off. For 110 you would need some sort of ground and a neutral. You maybe able to do it if you put some sort of disconnect box out there.

 

[slow]

It sounds like the service disconnect is at the meter.

What model is the disconnect? If it was my house, i would just do something like this for now, overkill for your ask, but has large input and could also be used for other purposes if needed. Might be able to find something similar with just a single outlet

http://www.rvparksupplies.com/p/503020AMPSMPOWER/

 

[Bert_]

Yeah I wondered about that. Not that I would want to do anything dangerous but certainly if there was a fire it wouldn’t affect any of my property. no building codes here either.

So you think I’d be good to get a 20 amp breaker with the largest wire size the lugs will fit? The wire will be all of a foot-long or something.

Check the lugs on the disconnect. Good chance they are rated down to #6. If so then just use #6 to feed the small panel. If the main disconnect lugs are rated down to #12 then you could use #12 to feed the small panel.

If this were in a building then there would be ruled about length of the tap and a minimum size of wire. Outdoors it is unlimited length with no restriction on wire size.

 

[Bert_]

It sounds like the service disconnect is at the meter.

What model is the disconnect? If it was my house, i would just do something like this for now, overkill for your ask, but has large input and could also be used for other purposes if needed. Might be able to find something similar with just a single outlet

http://www.rvparksupplies.com/p/503020AMPSMPOWER/

Since he will be making a tap that box would need a single main breaker. It doesn't have one so he would need an additional panel with a main sized for the tap conductors.

 

[slow]

good call, disregard my suggestion.