Is the Meter considered a Disconnect? - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

jayare813 · 03-13-2009, 02:51 PM

Is a meter considered 1st means of dissconectif so then bonding could occur there?

electricista · 03-13-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayare813

Is a meter considered 1st means of dissconectif so then bonding could occur there?

I don't see a meter as a means of disconnect but bonding can either occur there or at the main distribution panel. Some poco's will not let you bond in the meter and some jurisdiction won't allow it either because they feel it is not accessible,

leland · 03-13-2009, 05:27 PM

No and yes.

Meter is no disco, but bonding can occur there. My area does not like it there (the bond).Regardless,most POCOs here require it.

Edit: most pocos, in addition to the local GEC

bobelectric · 03-13-2009, 05:41 PM

I wish we could connect ground rods at meter neutral,makes more lightning protection sense.2011 N.E.C proposal,Rather than AFCI.
Electricista, I finally got the connection to you being Alice.Never wondered why that was your website name.I think an Italian electrician is called an Electrogister.

raider1 · 03-13-2009, 06:04 PM

A meter is not a disconnecting means.

The NEC permits the grounding electrode conductor to be connected to the grounded conductor at the meter. (See 250.24(A)(1))

The main bonding jumper must be installed at the service disconnecting means though. (See 250.24(B))

Chris

waco · 03-13-2009, 10:17 PM

This is an interesting thing. Here, the public utility doesn't want the socket grounded, which I have always though strange since it isn't impossible for the socket case to become energized, I guess.

Although I've never seen one become energized.

preacher · 03-13-2009, 10:40 PM

Our local inspector will not allow any grounding at the meterbase. Says it is not accessible.

william1978 · 03-13-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by preacher

Our local inspector will not allow any grounding at the meterbase. Says it is not accessible.

It might not be readily accessible but it sure is accessible. Is he one of those multi trade inspectors?

kbsparky · 03-14-2009, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waco

This is an interesting thing. Here, the public utility doesn't want the socket grounded....

Same thing here, power company won't allow GEC connection inside of stand-alone meter box.

Quote:

...which I have always though strange since it isn't impossible for the socket case to become energized, I guess.

Although I've never seen one become energized.

Have you ever encountered a bad neutral scenario? You can bet your bippy that an energized service with a bad incoming neutral will be quite hot on the exterior of the enclosure of the meter socket and service disconnect. Be careful when handling those, especially when standing outside on damp ground.

jfwfmt · 03-14-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waco

This is an interesting thing. Here, the public utility doesn't want the socket grounded, which I have always though strange since it isn't impossible for the socket case to become energized, I guess.

Although I've never seen one become energized.

All the meter sockets I've ever seen for non-transformer metering have the neutral bonded to the case. Since the neutral is connected by multiple grounds on the line side and by the bond from the neutral to the GEC on the load side, it is "grounded".

Here the POCO will not allow the GEC to be connected in the meter socket for a non-transformer metering case.

Here the POCO requires an isolated ground rod and GEC to be connected in the metering socket for a transformer metering case.

GO FIGURE

/s/ Jim WIlliams

patriot1 · 03-14-2009, 11:18 AM

In eastern Texas and Western Lousiana, AEP or SWEPCO utility requires the GEC in the meter neutral. Some meters have a connection for a single GEC on the neutral. I will also install 2 GEC in the main disconnect because you know you have to have at least 2 GECs. The meter will also have a pvc conduit from the meter to the ground rod to protect the wire. If you use emt, a ground bushing is required at one end to ground the pipe.

Some companies are wierd that way.

patriot1 · 03-14-2009, 11:33 AM

raider1
The NEC permits the grounding electrode conductor to be connected to the grounded conductor at the meter. (See 250.24(A)(1))

The main bonding jumper must be installed at the service disconnecting means though. (See 250.24(B))

electricista some jurisdiction won't allow it either because they feel it is not accessible,

Both are correct and if you think about it, what if there is a lock on the meter? Not readily accessable!, besides it is illegal to open a meter base unless it is authorized by the POCO or emergency uses. Heavy fines are now in place with the regional POCOs.

paulcanada · 03-14-2009, 12:11 PM

On our 4-wire 200A service we have to isolate our neutral in the meter and then from that isolated point the tickler wire connects to the 7th jaw. The meter box itself is bonded at the supplied bonding screw though. The meter tech tells us basically what other people here our saying. They never want to meter itself going to ground in the meter base etc.

I was just wondering if other guys/POCOs use isolated neutrals?

I know any old meter base I have looked in doesn't have an isolated neutral.