Here in the US the electric meter is not service equipment and therefore has no bearing on the size of the service. The utility company can install an size meter regardless of the service size. It’s even possible that you may see a 200 amp rated meter on 100 amp service.
Thank you for the reply. How exactly does it read on the meter? I know most meters I look at have a “200” on them, does this mean it is a 200 m? Thanks!
The 200 amp meter will only allow 200 amps of electricity through it, so you can have multipe panels with 200 amp disconnects, but if every circuit is pulling there max power on two 200 amp panels the meter will only allow 200 amps through, so most of what is plugged in will run at half speed , power, or not run at all. Under the meter wheel or window there will be the rated max amperage 200 with a wave line over a straight line behind it. But limit your inspections to service equipment only do not open yourself up to litigation. And fighting with Realtors is a waste of breath. Have a safe work day!
What in the electric meter would limit the amount of current it allows to pass through it?
Good day Robert
I read your responses and have learned a lot from them, thank you.
Just to clarify if the utility company put a 100 amp meter on the house and a homeowner had a 200 amp panel installed. Would the 100 amp meter allow enough energy through if every thing in the panel was powered up to there max potential?
I realize this is a crazy scenario but would everything work to its full potential in this situation.
Have a safe workday!
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Good question. So the meter would still allow the current to pass through it but there is a limit as to how much of that current (if it exceeded the meter rating) would cause a failure in the meter. The actual metal components in the meter can only handle so much current and a 200 amp meter would have larger metal parts to allow it to pass through more current than a 100 amp meter.
Often on service upgrades we take the old 100 amp mechanical meter and plug it into the meter socket even though we’ve installed a new 200 amp service. If the new service draws more than 100 amps then the meter is likely going to fail at some point.
Newer smart meters have the ability to be opened remotely so it may be possible that they can be shut down if their current limit is exceeded. If so then what you stated early would be correct that a 200 amp meter can only supply up to 200 amps. I’m no meter guru so I cannot say for sure that this technology is built into a smart meter. AFAIK with the older mechanical spinning meters there is nothing built in to limit the current.
Hey Robert
Thanks for your response. I guess what I was trying to assist with was getting the new inspector some insight into this information. I didn’t realize that in the states you do not consider the meter as part of the entrance equipment. Again thank you for your response.
Darwin Hodges
DH Property Inspections.
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