800a Overhead Service From Transformer, Is It Possible? A Simple Guide to Running High-Amperage Power Lines Safely

Okay, so, let’s talk about this project I just wrapped up, dealing with an 800A service overhead from a transformer. It was a bit of a doozy, but I learned a ton, and I thought it’d be cool to share the whole process with you guys.

It all started when I got a call about upgrading a massive house’s service. I mean, this place was huge, like 7800 square feet. They were going from a 320A to an 800A service, single phase, 120/240V. Initially, I thought, “800A? Seriously?” It seemed like overkill, but hey, the customer’s always right, right?

800a Overhead Service From Transformer, Is It Possible? A Simple Guide to Running High-Amperage Power Lines Safely

First thing I did was reach out to the utility company. I needed to figure out if their transformer could even handle that kind of load. After a few calls and some back-and-forth, they gave me the green light. Phew, first hurdle cleared.

Planning

Next up was planning the whole setup. This is where it got a bit tricky. We’re talking about running some seriously thick wires overhead. I spent hours poring over electrical codes, trying to figure out the right wire size, conduit, and all that jazz. I even called up a buddy of mine who’s a veteran electrician, just to get a second opinion. It’s always good to have an extra set of eyes on these things, you know?

Here’s what I ended up going with:

  • Conductors: I decided on 4 parallel 4/0 feeds. Seemed like the most sensible option, given the distance and the load.
  • Conduit: Big. Really big. I had to make sure there was enough room for all those wires, plus some extra space for heat dissipation.
  • Metering: This was a whole other headache. Finding a meter that could handle 800A was not easy. But after some digging, I managed to find one that fit the bill.

Installation

Then came the fun part – the actual installation. Let me tell you, working with wires that thick is no joke. It’s a workout, I swear. We had to rent a crane to get the conduit up there, and even then, it was a struggle. We had a small crew, and we were out there for days, sweating buckets. But we got it done, and that’s what matters.

I also had to install a new switchgear. A medium-voltage breaker switchgear, feeding a loop system with some heavy-duty transformers. Man, was that exciting. I was like a kid in a candy store.

800a Overhead Service From Transformer, Is It Possible? A Simple Guide to Running High-Amperage Power Lines Safely

Inspectors

Once everything was in place, it was time for the inspections. This is always the most nerve-wracking part. You never know what the inspector might find. But luckily, we passed with flying colors. I guess all those hours of planning and double-checking paid off.

Wrap up

Finally, we powered it up, and everything worked like a charm. The homeowner was thrilled, and honestly, I was pretty proud of myself too. It was a challenging project, but I learned a lot, and that’s what it’s all about, right? I mean, who gets to work with an 800A service every day? It’s not exactly your typical residential setup. But hey, I love a good challenge. And it’s always satisfying to see a project through from start to finish, especially when it’s something as complex as this.

So, yeah, that’s my story about tackling an 800A service upgrade. Hope you found it interesting, or at least mildly entertaining. If you’ve got any similar stories or experiences, I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

Original article by the Author:Colin,If you intend to republish this content, please attribute the source accordingly:https://www.suntrekenergy.com/6915.html