Existing 200A/200A Split Main Breaker Panel

[ToddW]

As pointed out by ARD above, the length of the overhead and underground service lateral and the 400a dictates VERY large wire to combat voltage drop. Plus PoCo most likely would need to retrench and lay new pipe.

But perhaps instead they wouldve ran high voltage primary over or under that 400' then set a pad mount transformer which would get rid of the voltage drop problem over that distance.

The $15k quoted seems more likely to be for a pad mount transformer...

Who is your PoCo? PG&E?

Yep, PG&E.

Do they do pad mount transformer in snow country?

We try to avoid aerial due to living in the forest and high winds not to mention once the wires are on my property I HAVE to maintain trees/safety/etc... I can also trench myself and no concrete drive,etc to deal with.

Sorry to get off-track I'll post any questions in my own thread back on track for this thread

 

[ard]

FYI youre not suppose to open that section. Did it have a meter seal tag on it?

Yeah, thought that too. Clamp onto those lugs and free power....

Looks like there may have been a tamper tag that was painted over? Anyway, now your REALLY need to talk to the poco.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yeah i went back and looked at the panel pics.

There was 2 seals on that pull section.

Hopefully his PoCo doesnt notice.

 

[Radix2]

Is removing the tags really that big a deal in CA?

AFAIK around here, if you or anyone needs to access to work, you cut it off... next time the meter reader comes, they put a new one on. No big deal. I have cut them off many times, never gave it a thought, never had a complaint.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Is removing the tags really that big a deal in CA?

AFAIK around here, if you or anyone needs to access to work, you cut it off... next time the meter reader comes, they put a new one on. No big deal. I have cut them off many times, never gave it a thought, never had a complaint.

Yes it is a huge deal in Cali.

Ive seen PG&E and MID charge huge fines for cut meter tags.

 

[Norcal]

Yes it is a huge deal in Cali.

Ive seen PG&E and MID charge huge fines for cut meter tags.

It's not that hard to remove & replace PG&E's seals. Did it on a bootleg panel swap where the idiot(s) chose not to use the supplied hub gasket & the water infiltration played havoc with the aluminum bus.

 

[Radix2]

Yes it is a huge deal in Cali.

Ive seen PG&E and MID charge huge fines for cut meter tags.

So any work that requires the power cut at the meter requires the utility to be on-site? How does that work ? They need to pull the meter, you work, then they come back?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It's not that hard to remove & replace PG&E's seals. Did it on a bootleg panel swap where the idiot(s) chose not to use the supplied hub gasket & the water infiltration played havoc with the aluminum bus.

PM sent

So any work that requires the power cut at the meter requires the utility to be on-site? How does that work ? They need to pull the meter, you work, then they come back?

Yup thats exactly how it works.

Have had to call PoCos many times to arrange for disconnects.

 

[AntonLargiader]

Around here I think people just cut them off and the PoCo puts them back. I asked once when I saw it done, and it seemed to be just cut it off and then maybe call later and say it needs a new seal. This was commercial.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Yep, PG&E.

Do they do pad mount transformer in snow country?

We try to avoid aerial due to living in the forest and high winds not to mention once the wires are on my property I HAVE to maintain trees/safety/etc... I can also trench myself and no concrete drive,etc to deal with.

Sorry to get off-track I'll post any questions in my own thread back on track for this thread

I dont see why they wouldnt. I would call them about that.

 

[broncokrawler]

I got a call back today from the poco, and they said my existing bkr panel is good to go for 400 amp service, and that there requirements are different than mine regarding wire thickness. I mentioned the tamperproof wires and they said it was a felony to remove, but they would send out a tech to reinstall. So I have the green light for my detached garage subpanel!

Thanks for the comments,

Brent

 

[ard]

Doncha love the poco?

To CYA, Id send them a letter, to the engineer or whomever you talked to. "Here are my power calcs, here is what is installed (panel, meter, wire sizes), here is what I plan to add (200A sub attached to current panel)...and 'this note confirms my understanding that you have approved this installation"


My belief is that they just go "Ah, he'll never pull over 225, 250- and if it causes issues we can change it later"

Having said that, maybe this **IS** the best approach?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I got a call back today from the poco, and they said my existing bkr panel is good to go for 400 amp service, and that there requirements are different than mine regarding wire thickness. I mentioned the tamperproof wires and they said it was a felony to remove, but they would send out a tech to reinstall. So I have the green light for my detached garage subpanel!

Thanks for the comments,

Brent

yes they do have different ampacities for their wire.

But its best to check first. The other thing to factor in is the transformer.

You are lucky they didnt nail your *** for the meter seal.

 

[broncokrawler]

Is it okay to use a 100 amp subpanel main breaker panel in the garage coming from the split 200 amp main breakers? or do I need to have a 200 amp main breaker panel in the garage?

Also what would be the max allowed 120v 20 amp outlets would be allowed on a 20 amp breaker?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Is it okay to use a 100 amp subpanel main breaker panel in the garage coming from the split 200 amp main breakers? or do I need to have a 200 amp main breaker panel in the garage?

Also what would be the max allowed 120v 20 amp outlets would be allowed on a 20 amp breaker?

What size wire will u be running to the subpanel?

As far as outlets go there is no limit in residential buildings. But its best to have multiple circuits with fewer outlets each vs. a bunch of outlets on a single circuit.