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ceeelgee

Grounding for outdoor load center

ceeelgee
13 years ago

We are in the process of moving our mobile home 200' or so to a permanent foundation, which will require a new meter/disconnect structure. We currently have a rather outdated 200A/100A disconnect system that sits on either side of the current meter feeding the home and a detached shop/barn. Once a new 320A meter socket was picked out, I decided at someone's suggestion to go with a 200A outdoor load center (Siemens W0816B1200CT) with through-feed lugs to service the mobile home. Within the load center I'll use a 100A 2-pole breaker to service the shop and a single-pole GFCI breaker to service an outdoor outlet nearby.

The 200A disconnect currently in use is grounded with a ground wire connected directly to the box and into the ground. The 4th wire (ground) going to the service panel inside the MH is also just connected to the side of the 200A disconnect box. Now, in the new Siemens load center, I could make accommodations to ground it similarly, or I can conveniently use the dual neutral/ground lugs on the neutral/ground bar inside. According to an article I found on Self Help & More, "(t)he grounding electrode conductor may be run from the grounding electrode system to the neutral/grounding combination bar or bars located in the main service rated panel or disconnect." Am I good with this neutral/grounding combination or should they be separate as with the current disconnect?

Comments (9)

  • Ron Natalie
    13 years ago

    What you want to do with the ground at the Siemens load center (if I understand things properly) is fine. At the main disconnect the ground and neutral are bonded together and once that is done you can use the lugs, busbars interchangeably.

    I'm more concerned with the feeder being connected to the lugs. You need overcurrent protection on that. Note that you will now run four wires (your two hot legs, the neutral and the ground) to the new structure (mobile home). You will also need a grounding system at the new structure.

  • ceeelgee
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    "I'm more concerned with the feeder being connected to the lugs. You need overcurrent protection on that. Note that you will now run four wires (your two hot legs, the neutral and the ground) to the new structure (mobile home). You will also need a grounding system at the new structure."

    By "feeder" do you mean the load side coming from the meter to the load center/disconnect or the load side of the load center/disconnect going to the mobile home? There is a 200A breaker in the load center to act as a disconnect and of course another 200A main breaker inside the MH's breaker box. And yes, I assumed another ground would be needed there, but the men who move the MH are connecting that end. I've been out pricing 4/0-4/0-2/0-#2 AL at Lowe's for about $3.70/ft.

    Another question, if I may. There is no distinction between either of the "hot" legs traveling from the meter through the disconnect to the main breaker in the home or are they kept left and right, so to speak, all the way throughout? Keeping them identified from the meter to the disconnect is obviously not a problem but from the disconnect to the home at least 100' away would require identifying them before being buried.

  • Ron Natalie
    13 years ago

    Yes, that's what I meant by feeder. From the mention of "feed through lugs" I thought you were feeding the motor home panel from the main without a breaker.

    There's no phase identity. As long as you don't connect them together you'll be OK :-)

  • ceeelgee
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    Thanks. No, everything coming "through" that load center, including the through feed lugs at the bottom, first passes through the 200A main breaker at the top. I should be good to go.

  • Ron Natalie
    13 years ago

    Now again you're confusing me. The "breaker at the top" isn't the issue.
    Is the feeder to the MH protected by it's own breaker or not?

  • spencer_electrician
    13 years ago

    The feeder is protected by the main 200 amp breaker within the panel. The service entrance goes to the 200 amp breaker first then out through the feed through lugs. The feed to the shed does need an additional breaker since it is less than 200 amps, therefore a 100 amp breaker is installed in one of the few extra breaker spaces.

  • ceeelgee
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    That's exactly what I'm planning to feed the shop/barn.

  • ceeelgee
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    So far, so good everybody. The PoCo energized us yesterday and said everything looked good. Haven't connected a load to the load center yet.

  • pharkus
    13 years ago

    I have OCD. Keep left left and right right. It's not hard. Before hooking the cable up, connect one hot to ground, then go to the other end and identify it with a continuity tester.

    Of course it's too late now. :P

    You'll never find any of my work where they're not consistent, nor will you find a two-pole breaker that starts on an even row.