Adding a new isolation switch ahead of main panel USA style

[Erie Fred]

Someone posted about doing the same a few weeks ago, and this job popped up for me as well, so I thought I might as well document it.

Years ago, when I put in the service to the shop, I installed a 400 amp meter box.

As single phase panels are normally only 200 amp, you use 2 of them side by side.
This is done in the new "McMansions".

In this case I want to now add that second panel, but 200' away thru some 4" PVC conduit already buried between the 2 shops.

My master electrician friends advised me that I must put a disconnect with overload within 10' of the meter.

I found this box is made for the job, a "Service Disconnect", and bought one from Home Depot for $185. It will be mounted to the right of the meter, with a 2" steel conduit nipple
between them.
I am also told we will be using special grounding bushings on the end of the nipple threads, both to protect the wires but also have a lug for a #6 ground wire to bond the 2 boxes together.
The new box has a hole in the top, but a cover was included in the shipping box, which I will install to cover up the top hole.

See pix of both 400 amp meter box, and the new service disconnect.

I figured that this might be of some interest on here, it's normal SOP here, but not elsewhere.

 

[Brad93]

God you really are about 50 years behind in america with your electrical systems

 

[Brad93]

I do like the rugged metallic housings of everything though. we used to make lovely stuff like that. MEM, English Electric, Allen West, Brookhurst Igranic, Metropolitan Vickers.

 

[tom2207]

Its one of those jobs that looks like its out of a Russian missile silo from the 50s , it will out last us all ,,, I like big tough things that are not made from plastic , Very neat.

 

[Robotstar5]

Has your master electrician got no pride in their work?, I'd be ashamed to leave that much exposed conductor on a termination

 

[Erie Fred]

God you really are about 50 years behind in america with your electrical systems

I don't understand. Please explain.

What has been posted here for the UK shows me very lightweight plastic housings, breakers that are electronic (that lightning & simple surges will render useless) etc.
What is your max rating for arc fault ? Meaning, what amp rating will your breaker open
and not get welded shut ??

And the input wiring to your breakers ? Daisey chain some wire ?
You notice our breakers snap onto buss bars.

I routinely add & remove breakers with the panel under full power.

FWIW Ground fault & Arc fault breakers are available from all the major manufs these days.

 

[Erie Fred]

Has your master electrician got no pride in their work?, I'd be ashamed to leave that much exposed conductor on a termination

View attachment 404300

My electrician friend said the same thing.
The power company did that connection.
As it's upstream of the meter, we have no means to shut it off and re-doo.

FWIW those are 4/0 and 2/0 conductors, I wrestled pretty good with them doing the downstream part.

 

[brightspark]

at least our mains cables and terminals in the distribution board are shielded when the cover is removed for safety those cabinets are massively oversized

 

[Erie Fred]

at least our mains cables and terminals in the distribution board are shielded when the cover is removed for safety those cabinets are massively oversized

In the main Panel, there is a sheetmetal cover over all the breakers & wiring.
The breaker face & handle sticks thru a hole.
When you need to install/remove a breaker, that panel comes off.
If you've got the cover off, you should know what your doing eh ?

 

[brightspark]

the main copper bus bars and neutral blocks and terminals have plastic covers over them even though the cover is off far safer than open terminals when your working on them and doing live testing and after working on live equipment for over 50 years i think i do know what im doing

 

[daleyd]

Most European stuff in a panel would be IP20, so you can’t stick your fingers in even if you did gain access.

It’s a good system, I can see the argument that if you shouldn’t be in there then it’s your own fault, but it does make me feel safe when I have to work around a panel that’s live. If you’re testing and somehow stumble (unlikely I know…) then you know putting your hand anywhere to steady yourself is very unlikely to be fatal.

 

[pressbrake1]

I do like the rugged metallic housings of everything though. we used to make lovely stuff like that. MEM, English Electric, Allen West, Brookhurst Igranic, Metropolitan Vickers.

Luckily new regs are back to metal enclosures

 

[Erie Fred]

the main copper bus bars and neutral blocks and terminals have plastic covers over them even though the cover is off far safer than open terminals when your working on them and doing live testing and after working on live equipment for over 50 years i think i do know what im doing

No offense intended.
Our guys when working on open panel live work, have to wear NFPTA 70 arc flash gear, IIRC when above 600 volts or so.
Under 600 volts ?
I dunno, but I do work with these guys every day, and they are safe.

This is why I posted, to discuss the differences, some good, others not so good.

 

[bletchmonster]

There's a awful lot off stuff in the UK where I wish we could go back 50 years.

 

[daleyd]

There's an awful lot off stuff in the UK where I wish we could go back 50 years.

Working with it most days, I’d say electrical safety isn’t one!

 

[bletchmonster]

Working with it most days, I’d say electrical safety isn’t one!

Obviously

 

[cheb]

Clothing fashions excepted, what was good about the 1970s?

 

[daleyd]

Clothing fashions excepted, what was good about the 1970s?

Wagon Wheels were MASSIVE!

 

[ajlelectronics]

Clothing fashions excepted, what was good about the 1970s?

So many things. I am so pleased that I was born early enough to appreciate it and contrast it with the total dog's breakfast we have now.

 

[MetalMonkey]

In fairness, I think what you tend to have seen so far is some fairly gash old domestic installs.

Have a quick look over on Hager UK twitter as people post up install pictures and they run an installer of the year competition, which might give you look at some slightly better examples.

https://hager.com/uk/get-involved/competitions/ioty-22

You could also check out jointech cabling on gaztube. He does a lot of the bigger commercial stuff.