Replies

1. 
   Frankie | Mar 11, 2005 11:20am | #1

   Why can't you install a surface mounted unit inside the wall with only the cover/ faceplate @ 3/4" depth to be proud of the wall?

   F

1. 
   Sullymon | Mar 13, 2005 08:27am | #2

   Because I am moving the present meter (to a detached garage) and bringing power back to the previous location I need a box on the exterior in the same location (existing house wiring, etc). If I put it on the interior wall it would be above the piano in the living room, and while convenient, my wife would probably frown.

1. 
   Frankie | Mar 13, 2005 08:38am | #3

   Sorry I wasn't clear. I meant inside the wall as in inside the cavity of the wall. Just the last 3/4" would the be exposed outside.Wait! What am I missing. You need an exterior rated box that accommodates 10 CBs? That's what's there now, however it also accommodates a meter?????F

2. 
   Luka | Mar 13, 2005 10:52am | #4

   Leave the present box.Put a new meter box in at the new location.Bypass the meter portion of this box when you come back to it with the power.Any qualified electrician would have it done before I got this typed out.; )

   The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow It is easy to be friends with someone you always agree with.

3. 
   MisterT | Mar 13, 2005 01:53pm | #5

   So what you are looking for is an exterior sub-panel?

   The main power for the house will run thru this, yes?

   I'm no electrician (but I play one on TV) but Code may reqiure Only a main-disconnect ont the outside and all branch circuits to be inside.

   4Lorn1 is one of the resident sparkies here maybe he will chime in w/ his 2 cents

   (but he is not  union so he maynot know what he is talking about. :) )

   just kidding 4!! 

   Mr T

   I can't afford to be affordable anymore

1. 
   Sullymon | Mar 15, 2005 07:35am | #6

   Yep, I want a subpanel that mounts semiflush (without the spot for a meter). Best I can tell it does not exist so I will just go with a traditional surface mount and run conduit up the side of the house rather then in the wall.  I was trying to reduce the eyesore a bit....TJ

1. 
   Luka | Mar 15, 2005 02:10pm | #8

   I'm surprised that you are not just using an external, surface mount, and sinking it into the wall like the existing box...Or, as I said, just leave what is there. Get a coverplate for the meter portion of the box. Run the power from the new meter, to the existing box... Past the meter base... And to the main. Then put the plain cover over the meter portion of the box. They even make a plain old blockoff plate that will cover the hole in the box where the meter was, so you don't have to replace the entire cover plate.All this other stuff is just a ton of trouble and expense that you simply do not have to go to.

   The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow It is easy to be friends with someone you always agree with.

2. 
   teo | Mar 15, 2005 07:59am | #7

   I remember searching around for something like that a long while back and found a German company that makes one but it was not UL listed. At the time, I had a friend who was a whiz at computer graphics and he made me a sticker that looked exactly like a UL lisitng tag to put on the box, but I chickened out. We ended up making a "detail" proud of the house that covered the meter and it looked passable.

3. 
   lesliek3093 | Mar 15, 2005 02:41pm | #9

   Let me see if I got this right:  your service supply comes from the power company first to a meter and first panel at your detached garage, then wiring from this garage goes to a "sub"panel in your house, which acts as the MAIN supply/panel to the house, and now you want to bring a second supply from the garage to a second supply panel in your house near the piano, yes? 

   If my understanding of your situation is correct (above) you cannot do this.  This is not allowed by code.  That first panel in your home is considered the SUPPLY to your home.  A single family residence (and ALL that's ATTACHED TO IT) may be served by ONLY ONE SUPPLY.  This is why you are having such difficulties finding such a box.  Newer code doesn't allow for a 60 Amp supply for residences anymore and hasn't for MANY years, in fact slightly newer minimum of 100 Amp service for residences has now been superceeded in most recent code to provide for a minimum of 200 Amps for single family residences.  If you wish MORE power to the house, you need to upgrade the wiring and Main Supply box to where power first comes to the house, THEN you can run power from that MAIN (first supply to house) off to a sub-panel with the needed additional 10-12 circuits.  Keep in mind that current code requires that your upgraded MAIN box AND that added sub-panel each have to have 2-3 unused positions now for future upgrades (additional circuits for residential wiring).

   If I got any part of your situation wrong at the first, you still can't have any connections zig-zagging from the house to a DETACHED garage, and back again as those conductors back and forth constitute a metalic connection return, another no-no.  Also boxes designed and rated for surface mount require that ambient air contact to maintain their heat rating, fire rating, etc. Sinking such a box within a call would be a misuse of the article and will be beyond its rated use, and don't forget to pack that conductor carrying source to the box with fire-pack before you install the box, a lot of DIY'ers forget that most important step.

1. 
   decornut | Mar 16, 2005 04:15am | #11

   "most recent code to provide for a minimum of 200 Amps for single family residences"

   I assume you mean the NEC.  please specify the Article #

   (because, of course, you are wrong).

4. 
   lesliek3093 | Mar 15, 2005 02:46pm | #10

   It just occured to me that you might be wanting to take power from the electric company that goes first to your meter and primary box at the detached garage and then drops to a subpanel at the house, which becomes the primary main supply for the residence, and instead:

   have primary power from electric company AND the meter on your house, then drop to 2 circuits, one being a sub-panel to the house and the second being supply to the detached garage.  If this is the case, please advise.

1. 
   Sullymon | Mar 16, 2005 08:02am | #12

   To clarify a bit, the reason I am going through all of this is to be able to move an eyesore(meter/box/conduit) from the front of the house to a new location on the detached garage that will not be seen from the front yard.  I then take a much smaller panel (no meter, etc) and mount it around the corner(<1 ft) from the original location.  I turn this into the primary box for the house (which will be fed from the new meter on the detached garage) and tie the existing house wiring into this box.  In the end I have one source from the power company, feeding a subpanel that is mounted on the house.