Considering 3 Phase...

[sublimate]

Please note the 1st part of my comment: "Except for a few exceptions, meters for services over 200A require current transformers.

Around here, 320A has a normal meter. Over that is when you have to go CT.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It looks like 'CT Metering' might be the deciding factor. The service drop, the outside disconnect, meter pans, the giant wiring feeding the subpanels inside- that stuff is long gone and that's what I need to buy. The CT transformers and special meter etc just sound like MORE MONEY to me.

I'll call PoCo again and ask what's the biggest service I can get with direct metering- it might be plenty for me.

Can you have single phase AND 3-phase service in the same building? If that's a possibility, then I could have single phase in the front office part and three phase in the big workshop, two smaller meters instead of one bigger one.

It's late- am I talking all crazy? I'm just excited because next week I get temporary power, and I won't have to power up the place with a generator!

There is many flavors of 3-phase. What u need depends on your equipment and what you can get depends on the utility. some utiulities are no longer offering Delta 240v/120v for new services. There is both delta and wye services. Delta 240v/120v will give u 3 phase 240v and single phase 120v between the neutral and 2 legs(watch out for the stinger leg-208v between leg and neutral). 208Y/120v will give u 3 phase & single phase @ 208v and single phase between neutral and all 3 legs. Then there's 480V Delta and 480Y/277v (wye).

For any of these you wouldn't need 2 meters to meter the 3 phase and single phase usage, one meter can measure both.

And yes that box looks like it would be the CT cabinet since below the meter is a CT meter pan terminal block. Why don't u open it up and look. If the CTs are still there, they look like donuts with a hole in the middle that the wire runs through. They will each have 2 smaller gauge wires running from the iron core to the terminal block below the meter.

 

[tavernaut]

The PoCo engineer lady was extremely helpful- enough to actually make me a little suspicious!

I can run a 320A service with self-contained (direct) metering. I can also have a 200 amp single-phase meter & service to the small upstairs office space- 2 meters, different voltages, from the same service drop. That way when I rent that little space out, the tenant will have a separate meter.

In my case at least, it looks like it's pretty easy & affordable to have 3-phase power in my shop space. Which is good because I bought a 3-phase, 10HP, 18" cutoff saw today at auction for $20. Nobody else had 3-phase power in their playrooms...

 

[wyliesdiesels]

The PoCo engineer lady was extremely helpful- enough to actually make me a little suspicious!

I can run a 320A service with self-contained (direct) metering. I can also have a 200 amp single-phase meter & service to the small upstairs office space- 2 meters, different voltages, from the same service drop. That way when I rent that little space out, the tenant will have a separate meter.

In my case at least, it looks like it's pretty easy & affordable to have 3-phase power in my shop space. Which is good because I bought a 3-phase, 10HP, 18" cutoff saw today at auction for $20. Nobody else had 3-phase power in their playrooms...

Im curious what she meant by different voltages from the same service drop. That doesnt make sense.

 

[tavernaut]

Im curious what she meant by different voltages from the same service drop. That doesnt make sense.

I *think* she meant: They will bring the 240V 3-phase to the building, and I can branch one leg off to run through a separate, single-phase 120/240 meter. They only want to bring one service drop per building but she made it seem like I could have 240V 3phase, and 120/240 single phase, going to different parts of the building, through separate meters, from the single service drop. I think.


Clearly I need to do some more homework but when I'm on the phone with the nice lady I have to gauge how far I'm stretching her patience.

 

[MTW]

This should help clear things up for you.
Two separately metered services from one drop.
One has single phase connections only.
Other has single and three phase.
Usually the main disconnects need to be grouped together in the same place.


MTW Ω

 

[tavernaut]

This should help clear things up for you.

MTW Ω

Thank you! That is exactly what I was trying to explain, after the nice PoCo lady was trying to explain it to me. I'm pretty much settled on maintaining 3 phase service, although not the giant (ridiculously expensive) 600A service that's getting pulled out.

PROBLEM SOLVED courtesy of GJ. Thanks, folks.

 

[kalika]

Use of three phase equipment is best option.Generally when considering a 3 phase circuit it is consistent of sinusoidal currents and voltages under a balanced load.Try to use three phase equipment as far as possible.

vashikaran specialist

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I *think* she meant: They will bring the 240V 3-phase to the building, and I can branch one leg off to run through a separate, single-phase 120/240 meter. They only want to bring one service drop per building but she made it seem like I could have 240V 3phase, and 120/240 single phase, going to different parts of the building, through separate meters, from the single service drop. I think.


Clearly I need to do some more homework but when I'm on the phone with the nice lady I have to gauge how far I'm stretching her patience.

That wouldnt be different voltages then. Just single and 3-phase meter pans!