JW,
I think I read that he is not doing it himself. He just wants some info on options. He is just trying to educate himself. Nothing wrong with that.
Joey,
Yes, they do make panels that you can use as a disconnect that also have extra spots in them for breakers. I am assuming that is what you have under your meter right now. Otherwise, the two different feeds (one to the house, and one to the pole barn) are somehow spliced.
What JW was saying still stands though. You will have to have a 4th wire to do what you want to do.
Matt
I don’t mind helping anyone that can be helped but he already has several problems that needs attention. Let’s take a minute and see what information we have so far.
I have a meter away from the house and from the meter I have 3/0 aluminum running into the house. Also from the meter, I have a separate 3/0 running out to a pole building.
On the way to the pole building, I had to lug the 3/0 together as I didn't have enough for a continuous run. This is lugged together up 5 feet above ground in a 6" PVC pipe as a temporary fix.
Okay so far we have one meter that is located remotely from the two buildings it serves. Both of these buildings are supplied with 3/0 aluminum but the conductors going to the Pole Barn are spliced in a 6†pipe that stands 5 feet vertical.
Now comes the question concerning some type of enclosure for these joints where he can also install more branch circuits.
My question: Is there some panel or something I can buy that will act as a disconnect (to the pole building) thus allowing an input and output of the 3/0 cable? And I would like to add some lights right there.
Chris then asked how the two runs of conductors was installed or if they were spliced in the meter. His response was:
There's no splice at the meter. The utility service comes in at the top and the service to the house comes out the bottom. The service to the pole building comes in on the side of the meter. I can't remember what brand the meter socket and base are, but there is a knockout on the side.
At this point any experienced electrician would start thinking that this meter is double lugged and if so there is a red flag.
What we do know at this point and he was the one that told us this part is:
The meter pulled out and wires went in, that's the extent of my knowledge!
So at this point there is no need of asking if these conductors are double lugged or not. Now if he doesn’t know how this meter is connected how is he going to know if the panel he desires is installed correctly.
I then asked about the PVC splice and he was very clear that there was three joints on six conductors.
What we did was lug the 6 wires together above ground in the open.
220/221 told him that he needed a disconnect and he then replied;
Most disconnects I looked at are just that and have no spaces for breakers. I looked at a pass through load center. Would someone be able to tell me if that would work?
This is enough to tell me that he does not fully understand what a disconnect is. A simple cord and plug is a disconnect. The light switch in your house are disconnects. If he doesn’t know what makes a disconnect how do you expect us to help him. I suppose we could spend hours here teaching an electrical 101 class if someone felt up to spending the time to do so.
We also need to remember that he wants to;
I need to [would really like to] run a line off of it for lighting.
At this point I can see that he has no idea of what he wants to achieve and no one is sure just what has happened at the meter. At this point I think it is the best advise to tell to hire someone as we still don’t know much about the installation and to this point he has admitted that knows nothing
The meter pulled out and wires went in, that's the extent of my knowledge!
Both 220/221 and I told him that he needed some help with this install as there was some problems that needed to be addressed and that after he install something at the splice point he will need four conductors from there to the pole barn. What did he say about this?
I think I have the 4 wires you describe. The 3/0 had three wires 2 hots and a neutral and the meter is grounded as well as the service in the pole building
This tells me that he thinks that earth is his fourth conductor and this is a big no, no!
Then comes more information that rocks the whole thread:
There is a disconnect under the meter and that feeds the house to a 200 amp service inside.
Well at least we now know where the service disconnect is for the dwelling but I think I remember him saying that the conductors in the meter was only rated for 175 amps or they are
I have a meter away from the house and from the meter I have 3/0 aluminum running into the house.
Boy does he have problems galore.
Wait a minute he said the conductors were feeding a 200 amp panel on the inside so maybe is alright but then in his very next post he nails down the lid on the coffin.
There is a 200 Amp circuit breaker in the box under the meter. I know the meter is grounded from the electric co-op. I think I need to check with the builder to see if that disconnect is grounded. I wonder how the house is now!
Those 3/0 aluminum conductors are no where large enough for the size of the overcurrent in the disconnect located at the meter.
He once again make it clear that he has no idea of the grounding and bonding of the panel he desires to install with the comment of, “I think I need to check with the builder to see if that disconnect is grounded.â€
The clincher of this entire thread lies in his own statement he made right here.
The splice I am trying to make more permanent, safer, and to get a branch off of is between the meter and the pb.
Money is not a concern, safety and expandability are.Thank you
then by all means close out the computer and get on the telephone to some electrical contracting company with a proven track record to make this installation safer and also install the desired circuits for the dogs.
In the classroom I spend no less than three hours discussing the installation so service equipment. Three hours on the proper manner for grounding and bonding. Three hours or more is doing service, feeder and branch circuit calculations.
This amount of information can not be taught through a discussion forum such as this one. For every question he ask there will be 10 more that needs to be answered for him.
This installation he wants to make will entail over 30 percent of the NEC in order to make it a safe and compliant installation.
Although he would like for someone to just deal out answers to his questions which a lot will do whether they are correct or not the best answer he could get from anyone is
Call a professional now! It is very clear that he wouldn’t understand any thing that was told him and to give step by step instructions on how to fix this would take days and maybe even weeks on this discussion forum.