Central Distribution Meter...

mdshunk

Here's one I bumped into a while ago.

I live in a rural area, and do a few farm and farmette central pole services. In years past, we were permitted to put the line and load side meter conductors in the same pipe for meters on central distribution poles. Now, we get red tagged for that, and need two pipes. Not only is that "messy" on a pole, I'm not seeing the NEC mandate. Help me out.

Added: Consequently, these are not CT services.

ATS

I would say one would be 230.7- Other Conductors In Raceway or Cable. Conductors other than service conductors shall not be installed in the same raceway or service cable.

I believe you would be installing feeder conductors in the same raceway as service conductors which would be in violation.

mdshunk

Yeah, but it's still a service conductor until it hits the first overcurrent device. No?

ATS

That's true, I thought of that right after I wrote it and edited the post but it didn't work. I'll keep looking.

JoeTedesco

Does the local utility have a rule book? How about the AHJ, can they supply the reference?

I have seen where the utility company will not permit "metered and un metered" service entrance conductors in the same raceway or cable.

This rule seems to permit them though?

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mdshunk

Yes, they do. That didn'd dawn on me until you mentioned it. I'm checking right now.

I hate to ask. Often, there's no "good" way to ask for a citation. I didn't really realize that my inspectors were also inspecting for compliance with PoCo rules, but perhaps they are. I work in the nexus of 5 different PoCo's, so it's hard to keep up with what they all want. I thought PoCo rules were beteen the EC and the lineman or PoCo engineer.

mdshunk

Well, Joe, you licked that one. It is a PoCo requirement. Seems they want a disco on the pole too, which I seldom see unless there's a generator hookup there. That would cause me to feed the house or barns with quadraplex. Eeeek. 'spensive.

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JoeTedesco

I would like to hear of any situations that involve an inspection and some question that may be difficult to ask, I will help anyone in that way. I too was, and still am an Electrical Inspector and appreciated the clarification here. The utility company rules are always important too.

My wife took on them in Boston and the Transformer next to my window for our 9 story building hummed to make her crazy.

They moved it to the front.

Joe

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