Hey August, Jay, and Burt and all,
Thanks for the great input! and I'm sorry if I wasn't clearer.
They are not asking for 400 Amps - I suggested it as that was the rating
of the solar ready panel I specified.
They are just saying IF it's 400 Amps then they need room for CTs cause
it's a shop and hence residential equipment is not approved.
So as August and Glenn indicate below - perhaps the easiest is a 200 AMP
meter can with a Supply side line. That does throw it back to my AJH to
approve but that is pretty standardI would hope. It also requires the
variance letter from PG&E.
I'm running 5 SB7.7s at 32 Amps each - so 160 AMPS of solar input.
So If I supply a 200 A meter can with supply side lugs that I can feed
into a 200 A fused disconnect and solar distribution panel and keep the
existing 200 Amp panel box fed by the 200 Amp main breaker - any reason
that won't work?
OR does anyone know of a commercial 400 AMP solar ready meter base with
2 200 Amp feeds - one for solar and one for loads that does allow room
for CTs?
Thanks,
Jeff
August Goers wrote on 10/17/19 4:35 PM:
Hi Jeff -
PG&E defines the service rating amperage based on the enclosure rating
of the first piece of equipment the service hits. See section 1.14 in
the Greenbook:
https://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/mybusiness/customerservice/startstop/newconstruction/greenbook/servicerequirements/greenbook_manual_full.pdf
This might be why they insist that you need a 400 A service just
because you want a 400 A rated bus. The easy way around it is to
supply a 200 A rated meter socket and main disconnect, then feed a 400
A sub panel.
A meter/main like the Eaton MBEB200BTS might also work for you:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Eaton-200-Amp-BR-Type-Main-Breaker-Meter-Breaker-without-Distribution-EUSERC-MBEB200BTS/100555147
August
Luminalt
Hi Jeff,
Seems to me if allowed in your jurisdiction, you might be best served
by installing a new 200A fused service disconnect ahead of the
existing main service panel. Or even a 400A one to allow for
additional work inside (CT’s), then perform a supply side connection
in it. Some manufacturers of switchgear have an option for lugs that
accept multiple conductors, so no piercing of conductors needs to happen.
Good luck,
Glenn
On Thu, Oct 17, 2019 at 12:19 PM Jeff Clearwater
<je...@villagepowerdesign.com <mailto:je...@villagepowerdesign.com>>
wrote:
Esteemed Wrenches,
I am in need of changing out an existing 200 Amp service entrance
in order to accommodate a bus capable of handling a a 200 Amp
Solar backfeed (41 KW system) .
PG&E is upgrading the transformer to handle the backfeed but when
I proposed a Siemens SolarReady 400 Amp service entrance they
couldn't approve it cause since the building is a shop - they
classify it as commercial and require a panel that can handle CTs
when there is a 400 Amp service involved.
Anyone else faced with this have solutions? What is the cheapest
equipment I can provide to satisfy all requirements?
We don't need to upgrade the existing 200 amp service entrance
equipment for load purposes - only to meet the bus requirements of
backfeed.
Would it be cheaper and easier to use the existing (or new) 200
Amp residential panel - not call it a 400 Amp upgrade but simply
add a 200 Amp Supply Side Connection? Suggested equipment to do
that in the most economical manner?
Any help well appreciated!
Jeff
--
~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff Clearwater
Village Power Design
linkedin <https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-clearwater-0622a312/>
www.villagepowerdesign.com <http://www.villagepowerdesign.com>
cell - 413-559-9763
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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