jederman
Aug 26, 2007, 01:32 PM
Greetings. I'm building a garage that's located between where the utility co will likely bring power to the lot and where the house will be built. If I set the meter base on the back of the garage facing the road (easily accessible to the utility co) it would be a straight line (about 50' ) from the meter through the garage to the house - to be built later in the spring. Can I put a main disconnect panel in the garage w/ a panel that services the garage and continue the service to a 200A box (with a disconnect) in the house. Additionally, the house footprint is 60' long so my circuits will have voltage drop by the time I get to the back end. Will another sub panel midway through the house solve that problem? Thanks.
tkrussell
Aug 27, 2007, 07:33 AM
If I were to do this, I would install a 200 amp meter with a built in main breaker disconnect outdoor at the service entrance location. This will be needed for the permenent service anyway.
I would then install a 200 amp Main Lug Only panel in the garage. This panel can be small, as the only circuits will be for a cople of feeders to subpanels in the home, and the few circuitsthat are needed for the garage, and any other close circuits.
Once the home is built, I would run two 125 amp feeders using #1/0 aluminum 4 wire SER cable to two new subpanels in the home.
Place each subpanel in the home centrally located. Perhaps one in the basement and one on the second floor. This will shorten the length of each branch circuit. Or each panel can be in the basement, one at each end of the home.
Just need to be careful about spreading the load between each panel. One could handle the large appliancs, AC, etc, this one may only need 24 circuits. The remaining branch circuits can go into the other panel, which may need to be a 30 circuit.
This is my idea, I am sure there are other methods of solving this. Wait and see if any others offer some other thoughts.