Feeding Sub panel from 200amp Meter Combo

[Fergiebear13]

Hi all. I'm currently getting ready to upgrade the electrical in my shop with a 200 amp meter/Main combo. I had already purchased a 100 amp sub panel before I scrapped the idea of upgrading fees from the house. I still want to use it as the main/sub panel in the shop. My question is can I feed it from the 200 amp main outside? I can't find the answer anywhere. I know I can add breakers in my meter combo slots but I need to know if they are powered by the main meter lugs? Not many good learning sources out there and I'm trying. Thanks in advance.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

since you didnt post pics of what youve got or a model #, theres no way we could tell you either way

 

[Fergiebear13]

So I don't have any pictures yet because everything is still waiting to be put up when I get the time, but I found what I have online and got a couple pictures. The first will be of the meter combo and the second will be the 100 amp panel. I just need to know which way to hook up the panel since it will be my main one inside. There's space in the combo for 100 amp breaker that I have. Just need to know if I hook the 100 amp panel from the 200 amp shut off or by adding the breaker? I hope I'm making sense. I'm confused on how to connect because in a normal situation there would be a 200 amp panel hooked to the main in the meter and mine is 100 amp. Thanks.

 

[PCustoms]

Assuming you posted pics of the actual panels, Looks like the 200A panel has feed through lugs. Those are controlled by the 200A breaker.

Deleted balance of post

 

[Fergiebear13]

Ok. I was just really making sure that I could do that because I couldn't find anywhere if I could connect the 100 amp panel to the lugs for the 200 amp shut off. Mine is exactly like the one in the picture. So just put the cable directly into the lugs under the 200 amp shut off and run them to the 100 amp panel with the cable sized for the 100 amp right?

 

[sparky 1971]

Ok. I was just really making sure that I could do that because I couldn't find anywhere if I could connect the 100 amp panel to the lugs for the 200 amp shut off. Mine is exactly like the one in the picture. So just put the cable directly into the lugs under the 200 amp shut off and run them to the 100 amp panel with the cable sized for the 100 amp right?

No. You can't protect a 100 amp panel with a 200 amp breaker. Even if it was permissive, the lugs on the panel will only accept up to a 1/0 wire, which isn't good for 200 amps. Put the 100 amp breaker in the meter main and use #3 copper or #1 aluminum wire.

 

[sparky 1971]

Assuming you posted pics of the actual panels, Looks like the 200A panel has feed through lugs. Those are controlled by the 200A breaker.

Connect to them to feed the 100A panel, which will need 4 wires feeding it and the 100A panel should not be bonded.

Nope.

 

[PCustoms]

Nope.

What am I missing?

200A disconnect, feeding 200A rated wire.

 

[alfredeneuman]

So just put the cable directly into the lugs under the 200 amp shut off and run them to the 100 amp panel with the cable sized for the 100 amp right?

Only if the installation starts and terminates outside" NEC 240.21 (B) (5)
"Outside Taps of Unlimited Length. Where the conductors are located outside of a building or structure, except at the point of load termination, and comply with all of the following
conditions:
(1) The tap conductors are protected from physical damage in an approved manner.
(2) The tap conductors terminate at a single circuit breaker or a single set of fuses that limits the load to the ampacity of the tap conductors. This single overcurrent device shall
be permitted to supply any number of additional overcurrent devices on its load side.
(3) The overcurrent device for the tap conductors is an integral part of a disconnecting means or shall be located immediately adjacent thereto.
(4) The disconnecting means for the tap conductors is installed at a readily accessible location complying with one ofthe following:
a. Outside of a building or structure
b. Inside, nearest the point of entrance of the tap
conductors
c. Where installed in accordance with 230.6, nearest the
point of entrance of the tap conductors

 

[sparky 1971]

What am I missing?

200A disconnect, feeding 200A rated wire.

It's a 100 amp panel, and the specs for it state it will accept up to a 1/0 wire. Going by the tap rules, it might be possible to install a back fed main in the panel, but I don't know if a hold down kit will be available and I'm not going to look for one.

 

[Fergiebear13]

No. You can't protect a 100 amp panel with a 200 amp breaker. Even if it was permissive, the lugs on the panel will only accept up to a 1/0 wire, which isn't good for 200 amps. Put the 100 amp breaker in the meter main and use #3 copper or #1 aluminum wire.

So everything will work as it should with nothing hooked into the 200 amp lugs because the main feed from the power pole powers the 200 amp and below right? Just put my 100 ap breaker in the extra meter slots wire the 100 amp panel and I'm good to go?

 

[sparky 1971]

So everything will work as it should with nothing hooked into the 200 amp lugs because the main feed from the power pole powers the 200 amp and below right? Just put my 100 ap breaker in the extra meter slots wire the 100 amp panel and I'm good to go?

You are not obligated to use the feed through lugs. Save them for something else in the future.

 

[PCustoms]

It's a 100 amp panel, and the specs for it state it will accept up to a 1/0 wire. Going by the tap rules, it might be possible to install a back fed main in the panel, but I don't know if a hold down kit will be available and I'm not going to look for one.

Guess I needed more coffee/to read closer this morning.

@Fergiebear13 would returning the 100A sub and buying a 200A save you money over buying additional breakers?

 

[Fergiebear13]

You are not obligated to use the feed through lugs. Save them for something else in the future.

Thank you so much. This helped alot. I knew this was the right place to ask.

 

[sparky 1971]

Guess I needed more coffee/to read closer this morning.

@Fergiebear13 would returning the 100A sub and buying a 200A save you money over buying additional breakers?

He already has the 100 amp breaker. Post #3.

 

[PCustoms]

He already has the 100 amp breaker. Post #3.

Like I said, caffeine.

I'll show myself out.

 

[Norcal]

That feed through panel looks to have provisions for installation of a few branch breakers, install a 100A breaker & will be good to go.

 

[Bert_]

No. You can't protect a 100 amp panel with a 200 amp breaker. Even if it was permissive, the lugs on the panel will only accept up to a 1/0 wire, which isn't good for 200 amps. Put the 100 amp breaker in the meter main and use #3 copper or #1 aluminum wire.

I don't think it's the best way in this case but you absolutely could feed a 100A mcb panel (which is what the op listed) from the 200A breaker in the meter box. You could do it with 100A rated wire. Since this would be a tap running inside the building you would be limited to 25' of wire.

 

[sparky 1971]

I don't think it's the best way in this case but you absolutely could feed a 100A mcb panel (which is what the op listed) from the 200A breaker in the meter box. You could do it with 100A rated wire. Since this would be a tap running inside the building you would be limited to 25' of wire.

My bad. I thought it was a MLO panel, which is why I stated in post #10 a hold down kit would be required and I didn't know if one was available. That's the kind of thing that happens when I'm too lazy to get my cheater glasses on when using my tablet. Now that I'm on the desktop, I can clearly see that it's a main breaker panel.