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    ptnoble's Avatar
    ptnoble Posts: 42, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Apr 16, 2007, 09:42 AM
    Single drop for two meters (quick)
    I am in the process of moving my service entrance and in the process I am putting my guest house on its own meter. So there will be two meters, one for the main house, one for the GH.
    The GH will get 100A (because I'm told this is a minimum per meter face), and the main house will get either 125A or 150A. My question is what size dual meter pack do I need?

    Do I need to get a two-200A meter pack? (400A total)? Can I do a two-100A meter pack and not split the amps equally (75A to the GH and 125A to the main house)? Are there any other sizes that are readily available to consider?

    Thanks!
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #2

    Apr 16, 2007, 10:16 AM
    Nix on the 2 - 100 amps meters idea, you can't share surplus power in one meter to use at another.

    Use a two gang meter, each rated 125 amp, so the 125 amp is covered.

    Or you can use two separate meters and drops, one 100 amp for the guest house, and a 125 amp meter socket for the 125 amp feeder to the main house.

    Here is a link to Milbank, a popular meter manufacturer.

    Need to check with your utility to determien their allowed meter sockets.
    ptnoble's Avatar
    ptnoble Posts: 42, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #3

    Apr 16, 2007, 10:21 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by tkrussell
    Nix on the 2 - 100 amps meters idea, you can't share surplus power in one meter to use at another.

    Use a two gang meter, each rated 125 amp, so the 125 amp is covered.

    Or you can use two separate meters and drops, one 100 amp for the guest house, and a 125 amp meter socket for the 125 amp feeder to the main house.

    Here is a link to Milbank, a popular meter manufacturer.

    Need to check with your utility to determien their allowed meter sockets.

    Thanks, I just called and found a two gang meter w 125A on each side. You help make a stressful process easier... knowledge is power!
    (but how much knowledge power and on what size meter?)
    ptnoble's Avatar
    ptnoble Posts: 42, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Apr 16, 2007, 11:54 AM
    One more question related to this... From the 125A meter and disconnect for the main house, I will run 1/0 aluminum wire to the panel for the main house. Now this panel is a 150A 30 space panel and we will put a 125A main CB at the top of it, effectively making it a 125A panel. Does this all sound good? Basically everything will be rated for 125A except the "guts" of the panel for the house which say 150A on the box (but no one will really know once we install the 125A main and throw away the box). Does this present any problem?
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #5

    Apr 16, 2007, 12:02 PM
    No problem using a 150 amp panel and protecting it with a 125 amp CB, as you are already aware, you now have a 125 amp panel.
    ptnoble's Avatar
    ptnoble Posts: 42, Reputation: 1
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    #6

    Apr 16, 2007, 04:16 PM
    Another question related to the same setup:
    A single drop for a two gang meter, each rated 125 amp. Is this a 200amp drop coming into the dual pack (on 2/0 copper)? That seems to be what I have been told, but then if I do the math it doesn't seem to work (200A split would not be 125 each).

    What drop on what gauge wire for a two gang meter, each rated 125 amp??

    Thanks!
    tkrussell's Avatar
    tkrussell Posts: 9,659, Reputation: 725
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    #7

    Apr 17, 2007, 02:39 AM
    The meters may be rated 125 amp, but this is only to meet or exceed the service size for each apartment. You don't add the two.

    The incoming service size is based upon certain calculations to arrive at 200 amp. The incoming conductors will be sized to handle the calculated load.

    Has these calcs been done, or is someone guessing that 200 amp, along with the 100 amp for the GH and 125 for the main house?

    If 200 amp is needed, then #2/0 copper is the minimum size allowed.
    pelle's Avatar
    pelle Posts: 96, Reputation: 0
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    #8

    Apr 17, 2007, 06:47 AM
    Some utilities have moved away from 100 and 150 amp meters and install 200 amp meters for 200 amp and lower services. Unless in your area customers own their meter the utility will size the meter to the service usually in a way so the meter isn't the weakest link, the main breaker is. Meaning if there is a problem the breaker will trip before the meter or service entrance fails.
    84jack96's Avatar
    84jack96 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #9

    Oct 28, 2012, 10:00 AM
    I have a 320 mobile home drop for a single family res. It splits in two after the meter and 200 amps goes to a detached garage and 200 goes to the house. I am renting the house out and keeping the garage. I need to separate the power with two separate services. Short of taking out the whole service and putting in a two meter gang service I was wondering if anybody has any experence with the 5000 series dual meter adapters?
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