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Need to add another wire to Meter Socket

kirth

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
16
The google machine is not helping me here. I am adding a detached garage and my breaker panel in the house bought is a mess and is full. I talked to my electrical inspector getting the okee dokee after the inspector okayed my conduit to bury after running the conduit from the bottom of the meter socket.

The load side only has room for one wire, he mentioned that there is t connector that you can put the leg of the tee and then add another wire on the load side of the meter lugs. He called it a shotgun lug. If you look at the end that the lug it looks like a double barrel shotgun barrel.

Confused I am.
 
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sparky 1971

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Joined
Oct 9, 2018
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8,095
Location
Central Iowa
I have doubts about either one of the lugs I posted working in a meter socket. The first one is too wide and the 2nd probably sticks out too far and may come in contact with the back of the meter. I do have to say that I have never tried it though. Every double lugged meter socket I have ever used came from the factory that way. Hell, I don't even know how the lugs are attached. Never tried to take one off.
 

wyliesdiesels

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Joined
Aug 14, 2012
Messages
20,143
Location
Modesto, CA
you could do a tap but do you really want all that unfused wire on the property?

the cutouts on the transformer will NOT blow if you short the line.

It would be better do to a tap and feed it into a disconnect. then run 4-wire to the detached building
 

theoldwizard1

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Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,464
Location
SE MI
you could do a tap but do you really want all that unfused wire on the property?

the cutouts on the transformer will NOT blow if you short the line.

It would be better do to a tap and feed it into a disconnect. then run 4-wire to the detached building

I would go one step further. Replace you meter base with a combination meter base and load center/breaker panel (aka meter combo) with just a couple of breakers.

Capture.JPG

Yes, more expensive, but a lot safer.
 

wyliesdiesels

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 14, 2012
Messages
20,143
Location
Modesto, CA
I would go one step further. Replace you meter base with a combination meter base and load center/breaker panel (aka meter combo) with just a couple of breakers.

Capture.JPG

Yes, more expensive, but a lot safer.

Thats easier said than done.

If he did that, then he would have to convert the panel in his house to subpanel which means running a 4-wire feeder and separating the neutrals and ground wires. The GEC and any plumbing bonds would also need to be moved.
 
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