Grounding

[Sumboodie]

Between a remote mounted meter panel and the main breaker panel, does there need to be a dedicated ground?
IE 4 wires?

As far as I knew that was the case, but I think they just have a ground rod at each location. Which I guess "in theory" would do the same thing.

I can't trust any of the wiring. Tripped on the ground wire for the gas meter a few days ago. Ton of rain had washed away a bit of gravel.
They took a couple foot length of rebar, wrapped the ground wire 5-6 times around the end, flat the rebar flat and put gravel over it.

 

[PCustoms]

Between a remote mounted meter panel

This has a breaker or disconnect?

Then yes, the feed to the next panel needs 4 wires per current NEC*

*I have no clue what cycle Alaska is currently on, and if this was done before the "new" code was adopted then it's technically ok to have 3 wire.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Between a remote mounted meter panel ...

This has a breaker or disconnect?

Conversely, if this is just a meter base (no breakers or disconnect), then no.

 

[u2slow]

Conversely, if this is just a meter base (no breakers or disconnect), then no.

But watch out for the Utility's demands. Sometimes they overrule and say they won't allow a substantially long unprotected feeder, so they enforce a disconnect, and you need 4-wire.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

But watch out for the Utility's demands. Sometimes they overrule and say they won't allow a substantially long unprotected feeder, so they enforce a disconnect, and you need 4-wire.

^ TRUE!…….. MEET with the utility company rep because they have their own set of rules.

BTW! Some utilities don’t allow a "driven ground" wire in their metering sockets.

 

[Sumboodie]

Conversely, if this is just a meter base (no breakers or disconnect), then no.

100 amp Main breaker and 2 gauge aluminum wire to the building

 

[PCustoms]

100 amp Main breaker and 2 gauge aluminum wire to the building

Any idea what year it was put in?

 

[chinboys]

You can never have enough grounding but the question is really whether the respective "boxes" are themselves bonded to the utility's neutral line.
From the description, it appears you have a main panel and subpanel for the boxes.
NEC codes dictate the main panel be bonded and the subpanel not be bonded.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Between a remote mounted meter panel and the main breaker panel, does there need to be a dedicated ground? IE 4 wires?

As far as I knew that was the case, but I think they just have a ground rod at each location. Which I guess "in theory" would do the same thing.

Is there a disconnect at the meter?

The EGC (between panels) and grounding electrodes are most definitely not the same animal.

go read the write up here on my FAQ, regarding EGCs and grounding electrodes.

Electrical FAQs

Welcome All I have started this sticky as an FAQ thread for info on the basics that are encountered countless times every week on here. Hopefully this will help some. If u have a topic request, go ahead and post it. And if you have an FAQ you would like covered let me know.... Or if you...

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Also read post #3 on the same FAQ. it explains 3-wire vs 4-wire

I can't trust any of the wiring. Tripped on the ground wire for the gas meter a few days ago. Ton of rain had washed away a bit of gravel.
They took a couple foot length of rebar, wrapped the ground wire 5-6 times around the end, flat the rebar flat and put gravel over it.

yeah thats not kosher

 

[wyliesdiesels]

But watch out for the Utility's demands. Sometimes they overrule and say they won't allow a substantially long unprotected feeder, so they enforce a disconnect, and you need 4-wire.

umm unless the PoCo is also the AHJ, the PoCos responsibility and authority stops at the meter. what utility has a mandate of no "substantially long unprotected feeder"? whatever that means (no defined length?)....

 

[wyliesdiesels]

100 amp Main breaker and 2 gauge aluminum wire to the building

that doesnt quite answer the question. is there a disco at the meter? can you post some pics

 

[PCustoms]

that doesnt quite answer the question. is there a disco at the meter? can you post some pics

100 amp Main breaker and 2 gauge aluminum wire to the building

 

[Firebrick43]

Between a remote mounted meter panel and the main breaker panel, does there need to be a dedicated ground?
IE 4 wires?

As far as I knew that was the case, but I think they just have a ground rod at each location. Which I guess "in theory" would do the same thing.

I can't trust any of the wiring. Tripped on the ground wire for the gas meter a few days ago. Ton of rain had washed away a bit of gravel.
They took a couple foot length of rebar, wrapped the ground wire 5-6 times around the end, flat the rebar flat and put gravel over it.

Are you sure it’s a ground wire?

With yellow poly gas pipe they bury a tracer wire for line location in the future. Underground piping isn’t grounded by code and more recent versions actually require electrical isolation via a dielectric union from the houses piping which of course is not needed with poly pipe just copper.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

he could be referring to the main breaker in the panel in the building.

 

[PCustoms]

he could be referring to the main breaker in the panel in the building.

He could be referring to the breaker in my house.

But in context it seems clear that he was referring to the breaker in the meter pedestal that he was posting about, after at least 2 of us asked if it was just a meter or if it included a breaker.

 

[u2slow]

umm unless the PoCo is also the AHJ, the PoCos responsibility and authority stops at the meter. what utility has a mandate of no "substantially long unprotected feeder"? whatever that means (no defined length?)....

When they decide its too long, they refuse to hook up power, and insist on a disconnect @ meter. The have full authority to make demands that exceed Code. Pretty simple.

 

[Sumboodie]

Are you sure it’s a ground wire?

With yellow poly gas pipe they bury a tracer wire for line location in the future. Underground piping isn’t grounded by code and more recent versions actually require electrical isolation via a dielectric union from the houses piping which of course is not needed with poly pipe just copper.

Yes, it's clamped to the steel gas piping.

 

[Sumboodie]

He could be referring to the breaker in my house.

But in context it seems clear that he was referring to the breaker in the meter pedestal that he was posting about, after at least 2 of us asked if it was just a meter or if it included a breaker.

Yes. Meter panel has 100 amp main breaker.
Panel in building is breakers for all the branch circuits.

 

[Firebrick43]

Yes, it's clamped to the steel gas piping.

Wow, even the gas company guys in alaska are really messed up

 

[Sumboodie]

Wow, even the gas company guys in alaska are really messed up

I'm not sure who grounded it.

I know at my old place the water line was grounded in the same ground for the house panel.
The meter panel if that place was in the house.

This place it's just in a plywood and 2x6 in the middle of the yard, more or less in between the shop and house pad.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

When they decide its too long, they refuse to hook up power, and insist on a disconnect @ meter. The have full authority to make demands that exceed Code. Pretty simple.

wrong at least here. PoCo is not the AHJ and has no such authority. maybe your PoCo is different but your blanket statement does not cover all regions. Also PoCos do not have to abide by NEC code and most of them have no clue whats even in the NEC. They go by different rules that stop at the meter socket

 

[u2slow]

maybe your PoCo is different but your blanket statement does not cover all regions.

I didn't say it covered all regions. I'm saying watch out for the possibility.