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ckeezer · Mar 12, 2009, 07:18 AM

I am moving my current breaker box to the outside of my house. It will sit approimatly 1 foot from my meter base, I will need about 10 feet of cable to make the run (I think). I just need to know what kind of cable I need to use. And if I need to have it in a conduit.

I have look in the NEC, but an electrician I am not, and it is all just confusing to me.

It is a 200amp service going into a CH-BR series box.

Thanks for any help.
Chuck

stanfortyman · Mar 12, 2009, 08:53 AM

The size of the conductors would need to be 2/0cu or 4/0al.

Cable or conduit would depend on the individual installation and local codes. It is impossible to say from here.

Can you post a picture of the area?

ckeezer · Mar 12, 2009, 02:24 PM

I will take a picture tonight and post it. I am more worried about the size/type of cable that I need to buy.

So when I go to Home Depot and ask for 4/0al cable they will give me the right thing, or is there something else that they might need to know?

Thanks a lot for the answer!

donf · Mar 12, 2009, 05:50 PM

Ckeaser,

If you are planning to move your main panel box, you need to get permission from your local Power Company.

I you are not an experienced electrician, then you need to get one o do the work.

stanfortyman · Mar 12, 2009, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by ckeezer

So when I go to Home Depot and ask for 4/0al cable they will give me the right thing, or is there something else that they might need to know?

NO! Do not just go in and ask for 4/0 cable. The is more than one type of cable and more than one type of conductors in conduit. And I would NOT trust the advice they give you!
Know what you want before you even go in there.

Missouri Bound · Mar 12, 2009, 08:44 PM

If you can, go to an electrical supply house. They will know what you are talking about. Stick to hand tools and lawn mowers at Home Depot... that they have some knowledge about.

ckeezer · Mar 13, 2009, 03:57 AM

What is the difficulty in changing out the panel? As long as I get the right size cable, it seems to be pretty straight forward... also, I already have a permit to do the work..

Mount new box, call Power Company to shut off power, disconnect what is there(labeling every connection), run new main trunk lines into new box (through conduit), reconnect all other incomming lines and ground bus, call power company to turn power back on.

Am I missing something? The hardest thing for me is figureing out what size cable that I need. Please let me know if I am way off base here. I have done some electrical before, just nothing like this.

abcsalem · Mar 13, 2009, 07:34 AM

How many circuits are there in the breaker panel that needs to be reconnected?
If there are 30-40 circuits to be connected, it would take a while for a DIY to connect
All the circuits, considering that you need to take your time to do a great job.

If electrical inspection process in your area would allow this type of recommendation
I am thinking of, then I would recommend having the connection from the meter to the
Breaker panel to get done first, and in addition a very important circuits, such as heating,
Range, etc. to be done first. This way you can have the power company turn on the power,
And you can connect the rest of the circuits as needed, perhaps on another day. Of course
I am assuming that your breaker panel has a main shutoff switch so that you can
Shutoff the power and work in the breaker panel. NEVER work inside the breaker panel
With the power still on, and try to place some sort of TEMPORARY (remove when done)
Non-conductive cover over the two HOT terminal to avoid touching it. The main shutoff
Switch does not shutoff power to the two HOT terminal. I made a homemade cardboard
Cube and I always place it over the two HOT terminals to made me aware to stay
Away from those terminals.

As far as the cable from the meter to panel goes, electrician that did ours used
4/0 AL for 200A. I believe 4/0 AL or 2/0 CU is the correct cable for 200A residential.
You need three of these, one for each HOT, and one for the natural. Then you
Need a ground cable. Ground cable doesn't have to be as big. I personally like
Cupper wires better. With the drop in prices of copper these days, it's close
To half price of a year or two ago. For example, about two years ago, I bought
12/2 cupper 250 feet for about $75 at home centers. Yesterday when I went
To the store, I saw the same cable for $36. It's amazing. An important note
About working with big wires, the bigger the wire, the harder to work with it.
For something like 2/0 CU, it's a challenge to bend it around corners, and
Making sure you don't damage the wire and it's insulation.

My experience at the home centers as well as electrical stores I visited, was that
I needed to know what I needed for cable size and types before I went in. I would
Definitely do my homework before I go to any of these stores. Note that many
Stores, would not take back cable they cut for you.

ckeezer · Mar 13, 2009, 08:05 AM

Abc,
Thanks for the input. I have already called the PoCo and they only need a 48 hr notice to cut the power to the house.
Called a contractor buddy of mine and he got me in touch with his electrician. I think I am going to have the elec. Do the main connection from the base to the box, and the grounds, then I will do the rest of the wiring.

My biggest fear right now is that the house was built in the 60's, and I am worried that I may have to replace some lines in the house. That would add a substantial amount to a job that is already over budget!

Anyone know what the rules are in Norfolk Va for this type of thing? I looked at the local codes, but did not find anything. Also did not see anything in the NEC about it.

Thanks,
Chuck

stanfortyman · Mar 13, 2009, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by abcsalem

Then you
need a ground cable. Ground cable doesn't have to be as big.

The is NO ground wire run between the meter base and the main panel/disconnect. You only need the two hot and the neutral.

donf · Mar 14, 2009, 06:49 AM

Greetings, I'm a neighbor to the East of you in Virginia Beach.

If Norfolk is set up like Virginia Beach, they have a Department of Permits and Inspections.

Call them first and ask what version of the NEC they are following. Ask if they have any rule overlays that you need to be aware of. Also ask if you (the home owner, correct) can be allowed to do the work.

Before you go there sketch a diagram of what you currently have and then what you are going to do. Use color ink (ball point pens), colored pencils to show the different circuits.

Be prepared for them to say you need an electrician to do this work. Depending on the size of your palace, it should take licensed electrician about 5 hours to do the work.

donf · Mar 14, 2009, 07:50 AM

I'm curious as to why you want your panel outside near the meter base?

machelle1964 · Jul 31, 2012, 07:55 PM

We need to run wire from the meter to our home under ground is what we want about 200ft to the house to the breaker box. What type of wire would we use in Oklahoma. We are so far out in the country the only codes we have are for the septic, but I still want to do it right.

tkrussell · Aug 1, 2012, 02:39 AM

What size service in amperage? 100 Amp? 200 Amp?

mike 165278 · Aug 1, 2012, 10:54 AM

You need a 4/0 Alu or 2/0 Cu SEU cable. This will give you 2 hots and a neutral, assuming you do not have a main on the meter. If the meter has a main you need the same thing but in an SER cable. I'd assume you need, or at least want some sort of physical protection for the cable (2" PVC). Is your panel that you are moving rated for outdoor use (NEMA 3R)?

tkrussell · Aug 1, 2012, 12:04 PM

Mike, Since machelle1964 stated underground here in bold:

Originally Posted by machelle1964

We need to run wire from the meter to our home under ground is what we want about 200ft to the house to the breaker box. What type of wire would we use in oklahoma. We are so far out in the country the only codes we have are for the septic, but I still want to do it right.

SEU or SER cable is not rated for direct burial cable.

URD cable is the typical cable used for underground residential, althou there are others.

Now, perhaps, we can wait for machelle1964 to answer my question about what size amp service they have, and we can go from there.

And, how did you decide that #4/0 is the correct wire size, when the amp rating of the service is unknown?

Machelle1964, please answer my question before accepting any advice.

mike 165278 · Aug 1, 2012, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by tkrussell

Mike, Since machelle1964 stated underground here in bold:

SEU or SER cable is not rated for direct burial cable.

URD cable is the typical cable used for underground residential, althou there are others.

Now, perhaps, we can wait for machelle1964 to answer my question about what size amp service they have, and we can go from there.

And, how did you decide that #4/0 is the correct wire size, when the amp rating of the service is unknown?

Machelle1964, please answer my question before accepting any advice.

My bad, I was looking at the original post. Yeah that was 2 years ago, my bad.