Feed wire from meter question and conduit

[machsnell]

i have a 200 amp meter.

I have 200 amp service to meter; however, the wire sizes down to feed a 150 amp panel.

I am replacing the panel to a 200 amp and need to upsize the wire from meter to panel.

i put stone on the front of my house and the wire leaves the meter base and goes down 3 feet along from of the house and then goes into the house and into the basement to the panel.

My question is what size and kind of wire is needed to go from meter to inside house. Also what do i put in? metal or plastic conduit? i will be putting stone back over the conduit.

I willl send picture tomorrow.

Thanks

 

[Mustang51js]

2/0 copper and 2 inch pvc is what I would do if you wanted to run it in pipe.

 

[pattenp]

Or 4/0 aluminum. You can use SER if the cable stays above ground from the meter base to where it enters the house. I suggest Sch 80 PVC.

 

[machsnell]

I am in Virginia if it matters.

I only have about a 6 foot distance to cover.

I know i hear copper is easier to work with and in theory a little safer as well it would take up less space in a conduit.

Does it matter?

If i did the 2/0 copper and 2 in conduit what type of copper.

I hear about SER and MHF and thhn and all the different types that some are allowed only indoors or not in coduit or must be in conduit etc that it makes my head spin.

Is there a specific name for the type that i can use from outside meter hub to inside if in conduit? Also considering that there will be mortar outside the conduit.

Thanks

 

[pattenp]

SE cable is typically used from the meter base to the main service panel. You can use either SER or SEU. You can get it in copper or aluminum. It's not required to put it in conduit unless it may be subjected to damage and in that case if using PVC it needs to be Sch80. As I said before if any of the run is below ground (buried) then SE cable cannot be used. If buried in conduit the wire needs to be THHN/THWN or XHHW or RHH/RHW rated. You also only need a total of 3 conductors ( 2 phase, 1 neutral) provided the main service panel is the first disconnect.

 

[Mustang51js]

You could do Seu cable also,but depending where it's at you may need pipe anyway. If it's within 2 feet of a walkway or driveway I have to use sch80 pvc. I personally would use the copper just because at that distance it wouldn't be much money, if longer than would go with aluminum for savings.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I am in Virginia if it matters.

I only have about a 6 foot distance to cover.

I know i hear copper is easier to work with and in theory a little safer as well it would take up less space in a conduit.

Does it matter?

If i did the 2/0 copper and 2 in conduit what type of copper.

I hear about SER and MHF and thhn and all the different types that some are allowed only indoors or not in coduit or must be in conduit etc that it makes my head spin.

Is there a specific name for the type that i can use from outside meter hub to inside if in conduit? Also considering that there will be mortar outside the conduit.

Thanks

Is there a disconnect at your meter?

You could do Seu cable also,but depending where it's at you may need pipe anyway. If it's within 2 feet of a walkway or driveway I have to use sch80 pvc. I personally would use the copper just because at that distance it wouldn't be much money, if longer than would go with aluminum for savings.

SER AND SEU CANNOT be run underground even in conduit as pattenp already said...

 

[Mustang51js]

He never said it was going underground,just 3 feet below the meter the into house

 

[wyliesdiesels]

He never said it was going underground,just 3 feet below the meter the into house

Yeah i know that. Nevermind. I misread what u wrote cause i was in a hurry...

 

[machsnell]

No disconnect at my meter. I will send a picture so you all can understand better. It is at ground level basically when it goes into house but buried behind stone and mortar.

 

[Mustang51js]

I would say use pipe since you plan on putting stone over it,you could run ser inside the pipe if you can't get the pipe directly to the panel but if you can I would go with separate runs of copper or aluminum. To be honest I never liked the idea of having the meter recessed into stone and the pipes covered. I know it looks better but makes it more difficult if anything needs to be changed

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Use copper, that short of a run, money doesn't matter, and it will be smaller thus easier to make the bends in the L's with. Why everyone is recommending sch 80 when it is going to be covered in stone is beyond me. Sch 80 is thicker wall, thus less interior room for wires. I would stick with sch 40 if it will be covered with stone.

Charles

 

[pattenp]

Use copper, that short of a run, money doesn't matter, and it will be smaller thus easier to make the bends in the L's with. Why everyone is recommending sch 80 when it is going to be covered in stone is beyond me. Sch 80 is thicker wall, thus less interior room for wires. I would stick with sch 40 if it will be covered with stone.

Charles

I suggested Sch 80 not thinking about the conduit being covered with stone. I was thinking exposed on the side of the house. Sch 40 is fine if being covered. With that being said, the Sch 80 will give the cable some added protection. The additional thickness as far as wire space goes is a non issue if the pipe is sized correctly.