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What size wire for my panel?

188slo50

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Virginia
What size wire do I need to run from my 150a panel to the meter? I need about a 10' piece so it doesn't need to go far.
 
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alfredeneuman

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Fullerton, CA
Being it's a residential service you only need to run #1 Copper or 2/0 Aluminum to the panel.

Table 310.15(B)(7), shall be permitted as
120/240-volt, 3-wire, single-phase service-entrance conductors, service-lateral conductors, and feeder conductors that serve as the main power feeder to each dwelling unit and are installed in raceway or cable with or without an equipment grounding conductor
 

Stuff

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Aug 31, 2013
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572
Check out your power company's web site. They should have a document that has all of the rules about what they and you are responsible for. Called the electrician's orangebook or similar.

Normally you own the meter base and all of the wiring to their hand-off. It can be the weatherhead where they make their connections or if underground could be in basement or out in yard where you provide a junction box.

And to complicate things further: It is not your meter, it is their meter. In some places it is a criminal offense to pull it without their permission.
 
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188slo50

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Where I'm at it's there meter you run the line out from panel the rest they do an are responsible for.
 

wyliesdiesels

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Modesto, CA
No I install panel and stub the wire out side they do everything outside.

Ok were going round and round cause i think im not being clear enough.

So from what u wrote your main service panel will be the 150a. What Im asking is, will the meter pan, which will be on the outside, have a disconnect on it? If youre saying the PoCo will be installing this, u may wanna double check this, especially if u will have overhead service, as the mast and service entrance wire is almost always the customer's responsibility to install and is owned by the customer. The PoCo's responsibility stops at the service drop.

The reason Im asking is because if youre meter pan has a disconnect on it then u will need to run a 4-wire feeder from the disconnect to your main panel and insulate/isolate the neutral bus bar from the panel enclosure and ground bar(s).
 
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Charles (in GA)

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POCO doesn't want to, nor need to be messing with your building. Normally the owner installs the meter socket, and if required by local codes, or desired by the owner, a disconnect in combination with the meter socket, or below/next to it. If overhead service the owner generally installs the mast and mast wires. The POCO makes the connection at the weatherhead. If underground the POCO makes the connections in the meter socket, with the owner providing the conduit from below ground to the meter socket.

At one time, I did own a house that the POCO owned the meter socket, the service entrance and the circuit breaker panel. Electrician friend told me to stand guard over the panel if a POCO man ever accessed it as they would try to remove the sticker showing they owned it...... to get out of any maintenance or liability for owning it. They don't do that any more. You provide everything and they run the wires. Some POCOs will give you a meter socket for you to install.

Charles
 

Bib Overalls

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Jonesboro, Arkansas
Normally the owner installs the meter socket, and if required by local codes, or desired by the owner, a disconnect in combination with the meter socket, or below/next to it. If overhead service the owner generally installs the mast and mast wires. The POCO makes the connection at the weatherhead. If underground the POCO makes the connections in the meter socket, with the owner providing the conduit from below ground to the meter socket.

That is the way it is around here. At one time the rural CoOp provided a meter box for the owner to install but I don't think they have done that for several years now. In the city an outside "fireman's disconnect" is required. Not required in the country.
 
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188slo50

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Virginia
Power company told me to hang box where I want it, run line from the box and hook to my panel. The PC comes out burrys a line and attach to pole and meter, there is no disconnect unless they pull meter.
 

Charles (in GA)

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50 mi south of Atlanta
Personally, I very much like the idea of having an outside disconnect. It makes me a lot more comfortable working in the panel when I know all of it is dead, and not just the bus bars. (I'm still careful however, and do check to see that it is really dead).

Charles
 
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