Thread: Denver area Res Main Disconnect Location

Is the Main disconnect required to be on the outside of the house. Can a sub panel be located in the basement if the main remains outside

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Originally Posted by barry madden

Is the Main disconnect required to be on the outside of the house. Can a sub panel be located in the basement if the main remains outside

It depends. Check with the local AHJ (authority having jurisdiction - Building Official's Office) AND the local Electrical Authority - in some cases/areas the Electrical supplier is a municipal entity (for example Longmont). Be specific as to the property location - as some areas even within a town, city, village (example certain subdivisions) have city owned combination yard post-light/combination "Main Point of Service & Mains Disc, and some don't; more remote areas may have a point-of-service upon a utility-owned or cutomer-owned pole; some properties may have lateral service (underground) some service drops(from above), some may have poly-phase or dedicated transformer/CT - some agri for example).Local authority may have limitations regarding a restriction as to the absolute distance the feeder conductors may be for the main power feeder or in the case of a service the absolute maximum length of service entrance conductors. The conditions of the "basement" and its proximity to the point of service or meter/meter main may further influence. Bottom line - the local amemdments to the model codes by the authority having jurisdiction may speak to the issue, as may the conditions on the property, as may any conditioons and covenants to the property and/or subdivision; and most especially any requirements from the utility supplier/delivering utility (POCO - power company) and the individual circumstances/conditions at the specific property.Your stated profile location "Iowa" yet questions about "Denver Area", not familiar with a Denver in Iowa, I assumed Greater Denver area - Colorado.HTH

Originally Posted by barry madden

Is the Main disconnect required to be on the outside of the house. Can a sub panel be located in the basement if the main remains outside

Currently the Main service disconnect / panel is adjacent to the meter on the outside of the house. This is the same on all of the surrounding homes I want to add a sub panel in within the dwelling, in the finished basement.

Originally Posted by barry madden

Currently the Main service disconnect / panel is adjacent to the meter on the outside of the house. This is the same on all of the surrounding homes I want to add a sub panel in within the dwelling, in the finished basement.

The work you propose may not be done without a valid permit and inspection. The work requires the use of a legitimate electrical contractor, you may not do this work yourself - as per your stated location "Iowa" therefore you are not the owner OCCUPANT. I have already referred you to both the authority having jurisdiction/building official's office and the POCO (if you're looking to relocate, replace, or reconfigure your meter-main.

There are scores of details and specific requirements that must be followed to install a feeder and (sub) panel, and very precise rules regarding conditions, working space, proximity to other factors-agents-environment, access, etc. in the area of panel/switch boards, enclosed (even "sub" panels, esp. those in areas indoors (illumination/lighting source), etc.

The nature & manner (subject, vagueness, follow-up topic specifics) of your questions indicate you are apparently not qualified to determine (identify, calculate, recognize, etc.) & meet all of those requirements on "your own" at the present time. There are scores (if not hundreds) of things that must be considered, (ex. not in a "bathroom", etc.) and am not willing to take on the responsibility of determining what you may or may not "know", of your personal education, nor take on the liability of "designing" for such vague and unqualified responses. This is not such a forum, nor forum area for discussion of same.

Your questions are quite obviously now DIY in nature (see underlined highlight of quote above), and therefore should not be posted in the technical areas. I suggest that you post your questions to the "Questions from DIYers, Home Owners, Home Buyers Forum area, and not the Home Inspector's forum areas.

It quite likely is, in general theory, "possible" and "acceptable" to do so, it depends on the specifics and circumstances. Your permitting authority (who would perform plan/project review of your permit application as well as inspect same) IS YOUR BEST, and authorititative resource.

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by barry madden

Currently the Main service disconnect / panel is adjacent to the meter on the outside of the house. This is the same on all of the surrounding homes I want to add a sub panel in within the dwelling, in the finished basement.

The work you propose may not be done without a valid permit and inspection. The work requires the use of a legitimate electrical contractor, you may not do this work yourself - as per your stated location "Iowa" therefore you are not the owner OCCUPANT. I have already referred you to both the authority having jurisdiction/building official's office and the POCO (if you're looking to relocate, replace, or reconfigure your meter-main.

There are scores of details and specific requirements that must be followed to install a feeder and (sub) panel, and very precise rules regarding conditions, working space, proximity to other factors-agents-environment, access, etc. in the area of panel/switch boards, enclosed (even "sub" panels, esp. those in areas indoors (illumination/lighting source), etc.

The nature & manner (subject, vagueness, follow-up topic specifics) of your questions indicate you are apparently not qualified to determine (identify, calculate, recognize, etc.) & meet all of those requirements on "your own" at the present time. There are scores (if not hundreds) of things that must be considered, (ex. not in a "bathroom", etc.) and am not willing to take on the responsibility of determining what you may or may not "know", of your personal education, nor take on the liability of "designing" for such vague and unqualified responses. This is not such a forum, nor forum area for discussion of same.

Your questions are quite obviously now DIY in nature (see underlined highlight of quote above), and therefore should not be posted in the technical areas. I suggest that you post your questions to the "Questions from DIYers, Home Owners, Home Buyers Forum area, and not the Home Inspector's forum areas.

It quite likely is, in general theory, "possible" and "acceptable" to do so, it depends on the specifics and circumstances. Your permitting authority (who would perform plan/project review of your permit application as well as inspect same) IS YOUR BEST, and authorititative resource.

barry,
After all of that it does boil down to the last two sentences by H.G.

"
It quite likely is, in general theory, "possible" and "acceptable" to do so, it depends on the specifics and circumstances. Your permitting authority (who would perform plan/project review of your permit application as well as inspect same) IS YOUR BEST, and authorititative resource."


Sorry for his attitude toward you Barry.

HG, AFAIK, it is perfectly legal for a resident of Iowa to own property in Denver. Also, that resident of Iowa may move to Denver any time he wishes to.

Barry, the sub is probably best installed inside, out of the weather. I believe the main disconnect is outside so that firemen can cut power to the house in an emergency. Not the case for the submarine panel.

As the others have said, get this work done under a permit by an electrician. There is too much at stake for a DIY.