Service Meter Relocation

newenergy

Before I'm told not to do this work, I'm not. I don't have that much info at this point and I'm only looking for background before I go into a meeting that concerns whether my company get a job of which this is only a small part financially.

I've been told that the homeowner discussed upgrading the service from 100A to 200A the utility (Southern California Edison) told him that he would need to relocate the service. Supposedly the meter is outside and accessible. I don't know why he is supposed to move it.

Is it likely that they just want the meter moved and not the service panel?

If they want the service panel moved would that generally mean moving the meter and putting in a new enclosure with a single main breaker, moving the ground, and then turning the existing service panel into a sub-panel?

Ok, not that I need to add this, but...fire away and have no mercy!

skidmeister

I would assume that inspections are basically the same in Ca. as they are here in Pa.(slow) and power companies aren't standing right there waiting for you to get your work done so that they can turn the power right back on (LOL). Your new service would HAVE to be relocated -usually right beside the old service, because you can't take the old service out and leave the homeowner without power until the inspection is done and power company decides to come hook it back up.

newenergy

That makes sense.

Is it possible to use the existing panel as a sub-panel or a junction box or do all the existing circuits need to be pulled out of the service panel and into a new junction box (because they probably wouldn't reach the new service panel) or sub-panel?

I was searching online and found this answer to basically the same question.

"You would be allowed to supply power to your old service box from a breaker in you new service box as a temporary use for a limit of 90 days only. By then you will either have to wire you old panel as a sub panel using the breaker and a four wire 6 awg cable containing two hots, one neutral, and one grounding conductor. YOu will then have to isolate all the white neutral conductor on a neutral bar isolated from teh of you old panel box and also from any grounding bar or any bare or green equipment grounding conductor. Then you have adapted the old service box to a sub panel and may use this coverted sub panel as long as you need. "

Is that basically ok? What if the current load center says that it is rated for use as service equipment only?

hbelectric

You need to decide where you would like to place the new panel/meter. SCE will ultimately decide, but they are willing to negotiate placement. It does not matter where the old panel/meter was placed, alot of homes had the meters placed in the back center of the house.

SCE ussually would like you to place the new meter on the back side/side back.
They will run new wires if, the old SCE feeder wires to don't reach. I do all work live, SCE only comes out to remove the meter lock.

Must get meter spot, call SCE.

Email me and i'll come out and look at it if need be, if it's close of course.

hbelectric

I would ussually never use the old panel as a sub-panel, mainly because it's old and partly the reason for the upgrade. some of these old panels/push-matic breakers are crap and best to be scraped.

The old panel will now be used as a j-box. I'm also assuming this is a overhead service, the underground services are ussually newer and put in the correct locations and can be changed out in location.

jrclen

Maybe it's the salt air out in your area. I see hundreds of old push-matic panels here in farm country and have seen very few problems with them. Now Wadsworth, ITE EQ, Federal Pacific, and GE, are prone to problems here. I agree about not using the old panel as a sub no matter what brand it is. I turn them into J boxes.

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John

tool junkie

Upgrading to 200A is typical with large scale additions, or if adding a lot of energy hungry features. Could be its really the homeowner that wanted the meter/panel move for asthetic reasons. Nonetheless buy a new panel, they dont cost that much.

Also keep in mind that the minimum clearance for the service drop wires to any building or other structure is 3 feet from windows, doors, porches, fire escapes, or similar locations. The service drop wires are not to pass over more than four feet of a building’s roof to reach the point of attachment and has to clear the roof by 3ft minimum. For 200A use 2" rigid conduit or pipe for the riser to the weatherhead.

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Bkessler

I would add the new panel to where edison wants it and put a new sub panel in where the existing panel is located and refeed the sub with 100 amps or less! If it's a small panel 70 amp feeder will work too. Most common reason I have had to move panels are because the overhead wires are to low over a pool. Or that an addition has been illegally built over the existing meter so it is actually in a room.