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Roscoe1 · Mar 2, 2008, 10:13 PM

Hello,

My service to my house is 200 amps and terminates on the side of my house with a service disconnect located next to the meter... breaker style. This service feeds a sub panel that is where all my circuits terminate. It currently is fed through PVC conduit with Aluminum conductors. I want to relocate the panel, and using pipe would be very difficult. My question is am I allowed to use jacketed SER aluminum cable 4/0-4/0-2/0 to refeed this panel, as this would allow a little more flexibility than using pipe, and will it still be considered 200 amps considering service is defined as the first point of disconnect... and that is the breaker on the outside of the house.

stanfortyman · Mar 3, 2008, 04:56 AM

Well, knowing your location would help. Certain areas DO require conduit in many situations.
My first call would be to your local building department. They can answer this more accurately than anyone.

Also, you will need SER cable, NOT SEU, since your service disconnect is outside and separate from your service panel. SER is 4/0, 4/0, 4/0, 2/0.

mbackususmc · Mar 3, 2008, 02:40 PM

As long as your main service disconnect is on the side of your house as you describe, your panel inside your house would be considered a sub and would not require a pipe per NFPA, if you have a local code requiring it to be in pipe I would be amazed. The main thing that you would have to know is that the bonding would not be done at your panel but at your service disconnect. You will have a panel that is main lug not breaker and the ground (bare) would go into your grounding bar (with no bonding screw installed. You should also be required to install a #4 bare from your neutral bar to your water pipe or other approved means per NFPA art. 250 Hopefully this is helpful

stanfortyman · Mar 3, 2008, 02:48 PM

Two quick notes:

Originally Posted by mbackususmc

You will have a panel that is main lug not breaker and the ground (bare) would go into your grounding bar (with no bonding screw installed.

This is true, but there is nothing illegal about using a main breaker panel.

Originally Posted by mbackususmc

You should also be required to install a #4 bare from your neutral bar to your water pipe or other approved means per NFPA art. 250

The water bond and grounding electrode conductors MUST at or before the MAIN service panel/disconnect. This is per the NEC.