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electrical question

P

paul

Well-known Member
On a way different forum, I'm in a bit of a muddle. I don't think this is allowed by code, but the person is saying it was done by an electrician. So....

Their house is wired from the meter pole to the breaker box like most would be, 100 amp.

There is also a run of wire from the meter pole to the airconditioner, which I'm not sure if it is a stand alone or an internal part of the house.

Then there is another set of wires from the meter pole to a seperate breaker & outlet in one room of the house for a computer.

To me this is at least 2 seperate feeds, if not 3, to the same building??? I thought that was a real no-no? Or is it no big deal?

Doesn't matter to me I guess, but some good electricians around here, & got me real curious.

--->Paul
 
Sounds like 3 separate feeds, and I don"t know what code is, but it should be safe if all are protected by a breaker between the meter and the end use. But if the run to the AC has no obvious breaker....would be trouble waiting to happen. Also wondering about grounding issues with the separate feeds. Makes me wonder why a larger service is not installed, with a feeder to the 100 amp box, and two circuits to the other two uses. Our "97 house has the 200 amp service, and feeds the 100 amp "93 house addition (both electrician installed)- ok, that is bassackwards, but you had to be there. Built the addition in"93, intended to remodel the century old part in"97 and found how rotten it was, so saved the "93 and built the rest new in"97, ending up with the 200 amp main with a 100 amp sub-panel for part of the house.
 
Its late & I'm not thinking well , can you draw a pics of that setup for me ? Your terms of meter pole is confusing . If your friend lives in a rural area , & not knowing the power company standards is causing confusion . But according to the old codes when I was an electrician by trade , there is some question need be answered .There can only be one drop from the companies power lines to a dwelling . But if the meter & main disconnect is mounted on the pole (as mobil homes are required) , then what leaves the main panel on that pole is not controlled by the power company .Every feeder from the panel has to be controlled by a breaker . But a pics would help me more . God bless
 
Just guessing but there must be a main breaker at the pole where the meter is. I would prefer everything associated with the home come out of the panel in the house. It may be the panel in the house is full. Also just because it is installed by someone who claims to be an electrician don't make it right.
 
In some areas like MO you are required to have a pole set about 15' away from house . Meter and disconnect are on that pole. Then you run a line to CB box in house. I quess that is in case of fire you can shut off electric to house. My brother-n-law has this set up on farm. You can run as many circuts from disconnect as it has CB.
 
At the very least, each run to the house must be on a separate disconnect at the meter with an appropriately sized breaker.
 
i cant see the problem as long as each circuit is breaker protected...my meter loop has a main breaker that feeds house and smaller panel on pole...seperate runs to barn and shed from smaller panel.
 
Last summer we added a third stall shop to our garage. I wanted 100 amp service to the new shop so I upgraded the meter socket on the house and ran underground to the shop. I was told by the inspector that the old feed to the old garage (20A) had to be removed because a building should only be fed from one source, I don't know if this is a law but it sounds like a good idea!
 
Yea, from the meter, a disconnect, then you can feed to all the different buildings no problem.

I thought there was a rule against having more than one run from the meter pole to the same building? No twin main feeds to the same building, which this would sound like to me.

Perhaps it is allowed tho, only a 'good idea' not to as suggested. Maybe the one disconnect switch for everything on the meter pole covers it.

Not important to me, only an internet conversation, got my curiousity up.

--->Paul
 
It's common in places to put a disconnect at a pole in the alley or at a center point in a yard with a disconnect and meter. Is there a light on the pole as well? Are the 3 runs tied in at the disconnect box and then run up the pole in conduit or are the 3 runs tied in with lugs up at the top of the pole where the loops are? I'd bet they are tied in at the top with lugs. That is where all the farm outbuildings can all be fed from. That is probably an old house with lath and plaster walls that would be hard to rewire right.
 
if theres an addition to the house and the existing panel is full it seems only reasonable to run another line...i've seen it plenty of time where people will add central air/heat and run a 60 amp circuit from the pole to house to run the extra load.
nothing makes sense when you get government pencil pushers involved.
 
As electrical contractor in Mich. for 40 years, never was allowed to run second feed to house. Customers insisted and never got it from me. Out of the business since 99. Things could have changed, but I doubt it. Once service is attached to house, could have second tap for interrupti ble air conditioning or fire pumps in commercial building. Dave
 
p.s. Fire depts would not like a second set of service conductors and the insurance company would not like it either. Guess who writes the codes, the insurance company. Dave
 
p.s. Fire depts would not like a second set of service conductors and the insurance company would not like it either. Guess who writes the codes, the insurance company. Dave
 
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