New electrical service to metal building questions

[Jhenry1745]

I'm having new service brought into a new metal building and have to install the pedestal meter socket for the underground service. My question is how should the wire be brought into the building from the meter socket? Does it have to be inside PVC conduit, or can it be simply clamped at the socket box and at the main service panel and brought thru a hole in the siding? The service panel is on the inside wall nearly directly behind the meter socket so there will only be a short run of 2/0 wire between the two.

Also, because of the ribbing in the metal siding, the meter socket box cannot be placed tight to the outside wall and there will be a small gap between the box and the siding. How is this handled?

 

[kd3pc]

most installs will need to account for the "ribbing"...usually thin kendorf or composite shims on one/both sides of the metal siding.

similarly you need a "close ******" or short PVC, with bushings between the meter can and the panel.

The meter can and the panel need to be securely mounted. Inside the panel is often mounted on two by lumber, or again kendorf securely attached to the building skeleton.

 

[mm08822]

You will need to secure the meter pan and panel to rigid supports. Exactly how depends on what is available for the interior framing to attach to. Unistrut may be the easiest.

Install a conduit ****** with locknuts and bushings from the back of the meter pan through the sheet metal wall and into the back of the panel.

 

[cory58]

Unistrut is secured to 2x4s on the inside that are also used to mount the breaker panel.

 

[Evan(CA)]

Unistrut is secured to 2x4s on the inside that are also used to mount the breaker panel.

That's slick, did it come in a kit or is that pieced together by hand? Is there a quick and easy way to shim that all level or is just trial and error with washers?

 

[Jhenry1745]

Some good advice here! Thanks!

 

[cory58]

That's slick, did it come in a kit or is that pieced together by hand? Is there a quick and easy way to shim that all level or is just trial and error with washers?

No kit. Just pieced together by the electrician and me. The pipe boot is made for a flat roof. I wasn't watching when the electrician shimmed it, so I don't know what they did (eyeball, level, ????).

If it's not obvious, I'm paranoid about future water leaks into the building.

Cory

 

[barnjunkie]

I think I would just cut a hole, insert conduit, and caulk.

 

[sberry]

A threaded adapter sticking out the back of the can is about the right thickness to make a "hub" of sorts and I run a bead of caulk around it. Steel building steel is deeper than typical pole barn so some of this is considered, the size of the pipe is a factor too as the adapter hub can be different if that makes any sense.

 

[sberry]

Remember, this needs a bond from the service neutral in the main to the building frame too.

 

[rkantor]

Cory,
Can you show a picture of the inside panel?

 

[cory58]

Cory,
Can you show a picture of the inside panel?

electric panel 1 by cory58f5, on Flickr

electric panel 2 by cory58f5, on Flickr

 

[rkantor]

Great thanks!

 

[arkieguide]

I can accept that looks good.