[RE-wrenches] SolarReady Service Panel vs adding Supply Side connection?

[Jeff Clearwater]

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 
> <jeffc at villagepowerdesign.com <mailto:jeffc at 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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