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Meter/Breaker Combo - Grounding Question

C

coachc05

New member
Joined
Jan 19, 2024
Messages
1
Hi,

Apologies in advance if this has been asked. I've been searching an cannot find anything that seems to cover my answer.

I am installing a new 200 amp Home D meter/breaker combo. Since this is for a pump house the county is requiring I run my own service entrance cables underground. I'm getting really confused about grounding of the panel. I was planning on running 4/0 4/0 2/0 through conduit underground from the panel to their closest service pole. I've been told mixed information on whether this needs to have a ground wire as well (so four wires in total in the conduit - two hot, a neutral, and a ground).

However, I'm confused as to whether I need to run a ground wire through the conduit to the county electric pole since I am installing to 8' ground rods, six feet apart from the base of the service panel, and will be grounding at the panel? So do I run a ground wire in the conduit? Only ground on the ground rods at the panel? Or both?

My plan was to just run three wires in the conduit (the two hots and a neutral) to the county service pole, and separately run the ground out of the bottom to 2 8' ground rods. I'm attaching a picture of my panel with my belief of what needs to be done. Hopefully someone can just offer some advice. Thank you in advance.
 
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sparky 1971

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Joined
Oct 9, 2018
Messages
8,109
Location
Central Iowa
coachc05 said:
Hi,

Apologies in advance if this has been asked. I've been searching an cannot find anything that seems to cover my answer.

I am installing a new 200 amp Home D meter/breaker combo. Since this is for a pump house the county is requiring I run my own service entrance cables underground. I'm getting really confused about grounding of the panel. I was planning on running 4/0 4/0 2/0 through conduit underground from the panel to their closest service pole. I've been told mixed information on whether this needs to have a ground wire as well (so four wires in total in the conduit - two hot, a neutral, and a ground).

However, I'm confused as to whether I need to run a ground wire through the conduit to the county electric pole since I am installing to 8' ground rods, six feet apart from the base of the service panel, and will be grounding at the panel? So do I run a ground wire in the conduit? Only ground on the ground rods at the panel? Or both?

My plan was to just run three wires in the conduit (the two hots and a neutral) to the county service pole, and separately run the ground out of the bottom to 2 8' ground rods. I'm attaching a picture of my panel with my belief of what needs to be done. Hopefully someone can just offer some advice. Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
You will need to plant two ground rods at the pole as well as at the pump house. You will also need to pull a ground wire along with the feeder, a #4 aluminum or #6 copper will be sufficient. The panel in the pump house will be a sub panel, so the ground wires will have to be separate from the neutral, but the neutral and ground will be bonded at the meter main.

EDIT: I screwed up and read too fast...again. I thought it was about a meter main on a pole to the pump house panel. After reading it again, I think the question is about a meter main on the pump house and what to run from there to the POCO's pole. AFAIK, that should be three wires, but check with the POCO, they have the final say as the they are exempt from the NEC.
 
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M

mm08822

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Joined
Jan 13, 2012
Messages
6,190
Location
NJ
Why did the post disappear........................then re-appear???

1) Your POCO should have service installation requirements available. Look on their website.
2) since your meter/main is at the pump house, a 3-wire feed is all that is required between POCO pole and meter.
3) The ground rods and the conductor between them and meter/main have nothing to do with whether a grd wire is run along with the service entrance conductors.

My points 4 and 5 disappeared too....anyway, here they are now:

4) The sketch of the wiring of your meter was correct. (sketch has gone ****!!)
5) If you were to run a feeder to another building from the pump house, that would need to be a 4-wire feed.
 
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Norcal

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13,779
You can only run a 3-wire feeder to a meter main combo panel since they are only suitable for service equipment, most have a permanently bonded neutral.
 
W

wyliesdiesels

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 14, 2012
Messages
20,160
Location
Modesto, CA
coachc05 said:
Hi,

Apologies in advance if this has been asked. I've been searching an cannot find anything that seems to cover my answer.

I am installing a new 200 amp Home D meter/breaker combo. Since this is for a pump house the county is requiring I run my own service entrance cables underground. I'm getting really confused about grounding of the panel. I was planning on running 4/0 4/0 2/0 through conduit underground from the panel to their closest service pole. I've been told mixed information on whether this needs to have a ground wire as well (so four wires in total in the conduit - two hot, a neutral, and a ground).

However, I'm confused as to whether I need to run a ground wire through the conduit to the county electric pole since I am installing to 8' ground rods, six feet apart from the base of the service panel, and will be grounding at the panel? So do I run a ground wire in the conduit? Only ground on the ground rods at the panel? Or both?

My plan was to just run three wires in the conduit (the two hots and a neutral) to the county service pole, and separately run the ground out of the bottom to 2 8' ground rods. I'm attaching a picture of my panel with my belief of what needs to be done. Hopefully someone can just offer some advice. Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
dont know why there is always so much confusion on this topic. you only need 3-wire ahead of the first main disconnect

check out post #3 on the electrical FAQs

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...
www.garagejournal.com www.garagejournal.com
 
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