New Meter Base with Circuits: Does this make my old main panel a subpanel according to code?
user-2000275
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I am having a new meter base installed as part of a project to put our power supply underground. Electrician came and looked at the job today and told me that the new meter base I supplied
(Square D 200-Amp 8-Spaces 16-Circuit Main Breaker Meter Combo Load Center)
would become the new main panel and my existing panel would become a subpanel since the meter base has a breaker and circuits. Is this true according to the NEC? I am in Washington state Pierce county. Pretty sure they go by the 2018 book still. I looked but had a hard time finding a definitive answer in the 2020 book.
I want to know because he said it will necessitate additional wiring (new ground wire to old panel and seperating grounds and neutrals on the old panel) to make the old panel up to code as a subpanel whereas another electrician took a look at the job and did not mention any need for a change in the old panel.
Please help me know who the better electrician is and what will be safest/ best functioning.
Replies
Yes
Why did you choose the combination?
Why did you engage two electricians?
It is hard to determine which electrician is the "better" both may understand the need for this work, but one may have included it in the price estimate without discussion.
Combination will allow me to run circuit to barn, for outdoor lighting etc. Is more cost effective than running new circuits from existing panel that is all but full.
Brought on second electritian as the first is scheduled too far out and I did not want to wait. Looks like the second one is on the ball and it will work out. Thanks for confirming the code that really helps.
Yes,
The meter base is the only place ground and neutral can be shared.
Off the top of my head:
Needs 2 hots (3/0 for 200a), neutral (3/0) and ground(4awg) run to each sub panel.
Can keep the previous main breaker, or convert to main lug (breaker inside load center becomes protective breaker)
Expensive part is when you have to run wire to the garage, used to be able to skip the ground wire, just have hots and a neutral. Now you have to run 4. 180' of 3/0, 3/0, 3/0, 4 awg copper isn't cheap (gotta have that 200a to the garage!)
I have a few questions, can you help me? Do you know what a main breaker hold-down kit is? Do you know how to install a main breaker hold down kit in your panel?