Complex Service Entrance/Generator Transfer App
Information: 1) Electrical engineering degree :) , but not an electrician :( , 2) need help understanding NEC requirements for this application, 3) will have commercial electrician help but want understanding of requirements beforehand, 4) there are no permits, no inspectors, no code requirements in my rural county at this time, I am responsible for not burning my new house down! 5) New construction sized for 200A service, 6) 200A main breaker panel located 15 feet interior of proposed underground service entrance location, 7) Olympian Caterpillar 35kW LP generator to be located on site in existing building. 8) Transfer switch is automatic ASCO 165, 200A rated, but not rated as service entrance equipment.
Now for the rest of the story:
Primary power service runs approx. 1 mile through the woods, I am the only service on the line, i.e. lightning a problem, power outages a problem. Power company has placed ground based transformer within 10 feet of a permanent structural building that will house the standby generator, this building and the transformer are approximately 150 feet from the new house construction. The power company has calculated the need for 250 mil (best) or 4/0 (OK) for the secondary run underground. Problem is with their routine install, with meter base on the exterior of house I would still have to run 150 feet of similar cable for the standby generator and locate the transfer switch at the house. This seems redundant.
I would like to mount the meter base & separate disconnect or better yet a CSED, meter base/service disconnect on the outside of the generator building, along with the transfer switch and then have a single underground run to the house that is 150 feet away.
Questions:
1) Does this make sense, per NEC?
2) If downstream of the service entrance, does the NEC require 3 or 4 conductors to be ran the entire 150 feet to the house?
3) What are the grounding/bonding requirements at each end?
4) Since the meter base and disconnect are 150 feet away, although accessible on the outside of the generator building, is an additional disconnect required at the entry point into the house? Remember the main breaker panel is approx. 15 feet interior.
Thanks for any help, this complexity is a little beyond my residential electrician wiring the house and the power company's advice stops at the meter base.
Regards,
Huck