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</head><body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><span>Esteemed Wrenches,<br>
<br>
So from my previous post and research - I think I'm down to the simple
question of what is the best way to do a supply side connection in
PG&E territory for a 200 AMP PV feed into a 200 Amp Service.<br>
<br>
PG&E won't allow PV circuit wiring to enter their sealed sections.<br>
<br>
So how about a simple J-Box like this after a standard 200 Amp Meter
Socket box? </span><br>
<span><a
href="https://www.ideadigitalcontent.com/files/11028/784572230569_SS.pdf">https://www.ideadigitalcontent.com/files/11028/784572230569_SS.pdf</a><br>
<br>
Then it simply branches to a fusible 200 AMP disconnect for the PV side
and the other to a standard 200 Amp panel box for the house loads.<br>
<br>
I'm feeding 5 SB7.7s so 160 Amps of rated PV x 1.25 = 200 Amps. right
at the limit but fully in code and PG&E compliance from what I can
tell.<br>
<br>
Anything I'm not thinking of? Easier way to do that "T" connection?
Existing equipment for 2 200 Amp Breakers off of a single 200 Amp
service?<br>
<br>
Thanks!<br>
<br>
Jeff<br>
<br>
Jeff Clearwater wrote on 10/21/19 11:51 AM:</span><br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:11d13789-2d52-3c2e-145a-07c2810fb2cb@villagepowerdesign.com"
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255,
255);">
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<span>Hey August, Jay, and
Burt and all,<br>
<br>
Thanks for the great input! and I'm sorry if I wasn't clearer.<br>
<br>
They are not asking for 400 Amps - I suggested it as that was the rating
of the solar ready panel I specified.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
I'm running 5 SB7.7s at 32 Amps each - so 160 AMPS of solar input.<br>
<br>
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?<br>
<br>
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?<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<br>
Jeff<br>
<br>
August Goers wrote on 10/17/19 4:35 PM:</span><br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:CAHp7QOevy4p5iU9dh4xvND1rR6FW6Oq6qGunoDdYYM8Sjhwt4g@mail.gmail.com"><meta
http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<div dir="ltr">Hi Jeff - <div><br></div><div>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:</div><div><br></div><div><a
href="https://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/mybusiness/customerservice/startstop/newconstruction/greenbook/servicerequirements/greenbook_manual_full.pdf"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/mybusiness/customerservice/startstop/newconstruction/greenbook/servicerequirements/greenbook_manual_full.pdf</a> </div><div><br></div><div>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. </div><div><br></div><div>A
meter/main like the Eaton MBEB200BTS might also work for you:
<a
href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Eaton-200-Amp-BR-Type-Main-Breaker-Meter-Breaker-without-Distribution-EUSERC-MBEB200BTS/100555147"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.homedepot.com/p/Eaton-200-Amp-BR-Type-Main-Breaker-Meter-Breaker-without-Distribution-EUSERC-MBEB200BTS/100555147</a> </div><div><br></div><div>August </div><div>Luminalt<br><br></div></div>
<br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="color:windowtext">Hi Jeff,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext">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\u2019s), 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.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:windowtext">Good luck,</span></p>
<span style="color:windowtext">Glenn</span></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:CAHp7QOevy4p5iU9dh4xvND1rR6FW6Oq6qGunoDdYYM8Sjhwt4g@mail.gmail.com"><div
class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Oct
17, 2019 at 12:19 PM Jeff Clearwater <<a
href="mailto:jeffc@villagepowerdesign.com" moz-do-not-send="true">jeffc@villagepowerdesign.com</a>>
wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px
0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div
bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><span></span>Esteemed
Wrenches,<br>
<br>
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) . <br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
Anyone else faced with this have solutions? What is the cheapest
equipment I can provide to satisfy all requirements?<br>
<br>
We don't need to upgrade the existing 200 amp service entrance equipment
for load purposes - only to meet the bus requirements of backfeed.<br>
<br>
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?<br>
<br>
Any help well appreciated!<br>
<br>
Jeff <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div>-- <br><span>~~~~~~~~~~~<br>
</span>
<div>
<span>Jeff Clearwater</span><span><span><br>
</span>Village Power Design<br>
</span><span><span><span><a
href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-clearwater-0622a312/"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">linkedin</a>
</span></span></span><br>
<span><span><a href="http://www.villagepowerdesign.com"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">www.villagepowerdesign.com</a></span><br>
cell - <span
style="display:inline;font-size:inherit;padding:0px;color:rgb(80,80,80)">413-559-9763<br>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></span></div>
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