I’m in Los Angeles and I have to run new service to my house because I’m building a duplex in the back of my property. Currently I have two units that appear to be running off 30 amps, but I find that hard to believe. This will all change of course.
So, the main house in front is running on 125 amps, but the code requires me to upgrade everything from the front to the back due to the new buildings. We’re planning on dropping in 600 amps into a 6 gang box. 200 for the main house and 100 for each of the units in the back with a spare 100 for an additional unit in the future or a shop. But the distances are varies between 80 and 200 feet from the meter box.
Unit one, 80 feet;
Unit two and three, 160 feet;
Unit 4, 200 feet.
From the main house we have to run underground conduit. Maybe through the joists in our basement and into the driveway with Rigid steel conduit.
What kind/gauge wire should I use in copper or aluminum? How large a conduit?
Also, any recommendations for a 6 gang meter box would be great!
I’m trying do do this on a shoestring, but I don’t want to sacrifice on the power and infrastructure in general.
What is the most efficient way to do this? The reason I ask is because my current electrician hasn’t given me a straight answer for 2 weeks since we got the permit. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Best Answer
600a is crazy large even if all electric if your current load with 3 is less than 200. if you have gas I would not use anything larger than a 30/40, 300 amp continuous with peaks to 400. This service is much cheaper and would fulfill the code requirements. If all electric I don’t know if I would go over 400 because the cost of the service. I would have each house have there own service drop, this eliminates legal issues you will run into if renting unless you provide power as part of the rent. If you plan on selling later there could also be issues there. 6 gang meters would not be diy and would be off topic. Your service only needs to be as large as the calculated load, multi family dwellings like this you don’t just add 100 for each dwelling you do load calculations per article 220. I would be using aluminum feeder wire, I am surprised you did not require a plan review, I have been out of Ca. For close to 40 years but thought we had to have reviews back then but that was northern ca (Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco county’s). I may be getting mixed up on locations. But you should have the load calculations completed prior to doing anything unless your wallet is large and you don’t care.