meter and X-fer switch hookup

[sky jumper]

you guys helped me figure out the feeder wire specs, so wanted to ask about the rest of the hardware to hookup my detached garage.

the house gets 200A service from underground 4/0 AL to a 200A meter and 200A main panel. There's a 100A subpanel hanging off the main panel. both panels are full.

so my plan was to replace the meter base with a combo meter/breaker Eaton 1008846CH. This meter base has a 200A breaker load and a 100A breaker load. seems perfect for my application. Run the 200A to the house and 100A to the garage.

Then I wanted to add a manual transfer switch between the Meter and the house, so I can hook up a portable generator during power outages.

The attached diagram shows what I have in mind.

Questions:
1) will this architecture work?
2) if so, will the Eaton 1008846CH work?
3) can you recommend a transfer switch and connection outlet to hook up the generator?
4) I assume any standard load center will work for the garage?
5) Am I missing anything?? I know I need to add grounds at the garage and separate the ground from neutral there.

my plan is to get as much of this hooked up as possible and then hire an electrician to replace the meter and hook up the rest.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

you guys helped me figure out the feeder wire specs, so wanted to ask about the rest of the hardware to hookup my detached garage.

the house gets 200A service from underground 4/0 AL to a 200A meter and 200A main panel. There's a 100A subpanel hanging off the main panel. both panels are full.

so my plan was to replace the meter base with a combo meter/breaker Eaton 1008846CH. This meter base has a 200A breaker load and a 100A breaker load. seems perfect for my application. Run the 200A to the house and 100A to the garage.

Then I wanted to add a manual transfer switch between the Meter and the house, so I can hook up a portable generator during power outages.

The attached diagram shows what I have in mind.

Questions:
1) will this architecture work?
2) if so, will the Eaton 1008846CH work?
3) can you recommend a transfer switch and connection outlet to hook up the generator?
4) I assume any standard load center will work for the garage?
5) Am I missing anything?? I know I need to add grounds at the garage and separate the ground from neutral there.

my plan is to get as much of this hooked up as possible and then hire an electrician to replace the meter and hook up the rest.

so current meter has no disconnect?

If so and you swap it for a meter main, then the current main service panel will need to be converted to a subpanel, which depending on the model and vintage, could be a pain.

This requires a new 4-wire feeder be ran to the house panel, isolating neutral bus, adding ground bars and moving grounds on neutral bar to ground bar. Also, the GEC and any plumbing bonds would need to be moved to the new meter main

what brand is your current main panel in the house?

then you want to add a transfer switch in between everything. This means transfer switch needs 4-wire feeder, then 4-wire feeder ran to subpanel in house.

Also, the current subpanel in your house SHOULD already be fed with 4-wire off the main panel. you show 3 wires in your diagram

 

[sky jumper]

to my knowledge the current meter has no disconnect. yes, I will have to move the ground to the new external meter. The existing subpanel is grounded via the metal conduit I believe (we are in Illinois). see attached pic of subpanel. the panels are Square D QO.

can all this be done? would like to buy the meter base, xfer swtich, garage panel, etc. but not sure what to get. my electrician said "get it all hooked up and I'll come in a make the final swap of the meter"... he may have to do more than that.

edit. I also added a pic of the main panel. the main panel was wet inside??? condensation??

 

[brewchief]

How about using a 200 amp 8 space meter main with feed thru lugs, your 200 amp house panel feeds of the lugs, you can add a 100 amp breaker for the outbuilding and then use a simple interlock breaker kit and power inlet to hook up the portable generator.
Utility companies have different requirements for meter bases so make sure what you are planning on meets their requirements.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[mm08822]

The sub-panel you show looks to be in very good condition. You may want to consider changing out your sub panel (or even main panel) in the house for a larger panel (# branch ckts). Re-use the one from the house in the garage. This assumes your garage would be well suited for a 20 space panel. Keep it all sq d qo.

This will give you future space in one of the house panels.

Call or go online and confirm what are acceptable meter mains as the POCO governs this.

***********
since you just posted the 40 space main panel pic, consider the above for the sub-panel.

 

[sky jumper]

brewchief would the interlock be installed on the meter base? or in the house main panel? I don't have any open spaces on the main panel.

 

[mm08822]

If you increased the sub-panel size and move 4 circuits out of the main panel, you could then use an interlock kit for a 50A power inlet using a 40A 2 P cb. then you don't need a new meter/main.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

looks like the neutral bars in your current main panel are on risers. so all you need to do is remove the green bonding screw and add 2 ground bars. also move any grounds from the neutral bars to the new ground bars.

If you are gonna continue to use the metal conduit for the EGC, you need to make sure it is continuous to the next panel to provide the fault current pathway.

If you do the interlock method for generator hookup, it would be a lot easier than a manual transfer switch.

 

[sky jumper]

so after a year of pondering this I am finally now getting ready to start (plus the village is on my case for not having it done yet)...

I'm planning to do what brewchief suggested and add an outdoor main breaker with feed through rather than change the meter base. Last year I did not understand what he was suggesting --- now I get it. the menards in Illinois doesn't stock these, but the out of state ones do https://www.menards.com/main/electr...040871-c-6437.htm?searchTermToProduct=3675377 --- does that mean these are not approved by the local POCO ComEd?? I'd go ahead an order one if I knew that I could use it leagally.

The plan is to attach the generac Xfer switch and outdoor main panel to the brick chimney about 5ft from the existing meter. See attached pic. there's just no room on the house immediately next to the meter for this equipment as you can see.

I also decided to step up to a whole house generator (probably Generac 22kw, unless any of you have a better suggestion). install it in that space in front of the chimney.

A couple other questions;
1) Does the 200A feeder from the meter to the Auto Xfer switch have to be underground or can I run it through 2" PVC attached to the side of the house? how far above ground does it have to be? I'll have to run it about 5ft away to clear the AC unit, and I'd rather not try to dig under the AC unit.
2) Same as #1 for the 200A feeder back to the house main panel from the outside panel feed-throughs. can it run above ground in conduit attached to the house.
3) can the feeder back to the house go back into the meter base and then through the existing 2" metal conduit into the house? I'd rather not have to punch another big hole through that wall there are so many already.