Chapter 4

Introduction to Residential Service Entrance

Dr. Imane Maatouk, Eng. Amani El Saied 1

Outline
1. Introduction
2. Objectives
3. Alternating current systems and branch circuits
4. Electric Service
5. Residential service requirements
6. Grounding service requirements

Dr. Imane Maatouk, Eng. Amani El Saied 2

Introduction
• Power lines, underground cables, poles and ground-level equipment require rules for use
by Customers, builders, electrical contractors, architects, engineers, etc., for the purpose
of installation of safe and adequate wiring and electrical equipment
• Customers shall ensure that new buildings, structures, additions, modifications and any
other construction projects keep the minimum clearances required from existing
Company supply lines.
• To maintain and operate equipment, and to avoid damage to your property, your
cooperation in where you place flower beds, gardens, bushes and fences is needed.
• Allow access to poles and underground cables so repair crews can find and repair
electrical equipment without damaging your property.
• Company equipment consists of the conductors and apparatus required to deliver energy
to the Customer's wiring system, which includes service lines, poles, pole-mounted
equipment, conductors, switches, transformers, etc. located in or on Customer owned
premises including, substations, vaults, pads, conduits, and manholes.
• Customer equipment includes service-entrance conductors, service lateral conductors
(in most cases), service equipment and all premises wiring and equipment.

Dr. Imane Maatouk, Eng. Amani El Saied 3

Objectives
• Understand an overhead and underground residential service
entrance.
• Know how to establish temporary and permanent power with an
electric utility company.
• Define common residential service entrance terms.
• Understand National Electrical Code® requirements for residential
service entrances.

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Objectives
• Understand grounding and bonding requirements for residential
service entrances.
• List several NEC® requirements that pertain to residential service
entrances.
• Demonstrate an understanding of common electric utility company
requirements.

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Alternating current systems and branch circuits
Transformer secondary connections
• Systems of more than 600V are normally three phase wye or delta
ungrounded or wye solid or resistance grounded.
• Systems of 120-600V may be either single phase or three phase.
• Three phase three wires systems are usually solidly grounded or ungrounded
but may also be impedance grounded, they are not intended to supply loads
connected phase to ground.
• Three phase four wires solidly grounded wye systems are used in most
modern commercial building.
• Single phase services and loads may be supplied from single phase system,
or from 3 wires system ,and either phase to phase loads or phase to neutral
loads from three phase 4 wires system.

Dr. Imane Maatouk, Eng. Amani El Saied 6

 AC systems to be grounded:

• System (power supply), grounding is the intentional connection of

one terminal of a power supply to the earth for the purpose of
stabilizing the phase to earth voltage during normal operation.
Article 250
• Must ground alternating current systems of 50 to 1000 volts supplying
premises wiring systems so the maximum voltage to ground on
ungrounded conductors does not exceed 150 volts.
• We are in violation, Lebanon’s case should not exceed 250V

Dr. Imane Maatouk, Eng. Amani El Saied 7

Single phase system
250.20(B)(1): Alternating system of 50 to
1000 volts shall be grounded:
(1) Where the system can be grounded
so that the maximum voltage to ground
on the ungrounded conductors does not
exceed 150 volts
250.26: The conductor to be grounded
shall be one conductor in single phase 2
wires system, the neutral conductor in
the single phase 3 wire systems.
Three phase system

250.20(B)(2) and (3): Alternating system of 50 to 1000

volts shall be grounded:
(2) Where the system is 3 phase 4 wires wye connected in
which the neutral conductor is used as a circuit
conductor.
(3) Where the system is 3 phase 4 wires delta connected
in which the midpoint in one phase winding is used as a
circuit conductor.
250.26: The conductor to be grounded shall be the
neutral conductor in multiphase systems having one wire
common to all phases.
 Branch circuits and disconnecting means
A branch circuit:
Consists of the conductors between the final overcurrent protection device (OCPD) and the
receptacle outlets, lighting outlets, or other outlets.

A Multiwire Branch Circuit

It is a branch circuit that consists of two or more ungrounded conductors (two or more
"hot" wires) that have a voltage between them, and a grounded conductor (the neutral
wire).
In other words two hot wires are sharing a neutral wire.
Such multiwire circuits supply appliances that have both line to line and line to neutral
connected load such as electrical ranges and clothes dryers and also supply loads that are
line to neutral connected only, or to supply a device with a 250V receptacle and 120V
receptacle.
These circuits are very beneficial in that they use less material, result in a lower circuit
voltage drop, and ultimately result in cost savings.

Disconnecting means.
A device, or group of devices, or other means by which the conductors of a circuit can be
disconnected from their source of supply, (exp. Circuit breaker,..)
Dr. Imane Maatouk, Eng. Amani El Saied 10
 Circuits that require multipole common trip circuit breakers.

240.15(B): Circuit breakers shall open all

ungrounded conductors of the circuit
both manually and automatically.
Where multi-pole common trip circuit
breakers are required, handle ties are not
permitted because the circuits are
supplied from ungrounded systems.
 Circuits that require single-pole circuit breakers, with
identified handle ties.

240.15(B)(1): Multiwire Branch Circuits.

Individual single-pole circuit breakers, with
identified handle ties, shall be permitted as
the protection for each ungrounded
conductor of multiwire branch circuits that
serve only single-phase line-to neutral loads

Dr. Imane Maatouk, Eng. Amani El Saied 12

 240.15(B)(2): Grounded Single-Phase
Alternating-Current Circuits. In grounded
systems, individual single-pole circuit
breakers rated 120/240 volts ac, with
identified handle ties, shall be permitted
as the protection for each ungrounded
conductor for line-to-line connected
loads for single-phase circuits.

240.15(B)(3): 3-Phase and 2-Phase

Systems. For line-to-line loads in 4-wire, 3-
phase systems or 5-wire, 2-phase systems,
individual single-pole circuit breakers rated
120/240 volts ac with identified handle
ties shall be permitted as the protection
for each ungrounded conductor, if the
systems have a grounded neutral point
and the voltage to ground does not exceed
120 volts.
Electric service

General
An electric service is required for all buildings containing an electrical system
and receiving electrical energy from a utility company.
The NEC® defines a service as the conductors and equipment for delivering
electric energy from the serving electric utility to the wiring system of the
premises served.
The point where the utility’s supply ends and the customer’s premises wiring
begins is called the service point.

Service installations typically fall into two broad classes or types:

The first is where the electric utility provides, installs, and maintains the high-
voltage transmission lines across private property, including the transformer to
supply utilization voltage

The other type is where the premises owner purchases power

from the electric utility at primary or distribution voltage and
installs, owns, and maintains the distribution on the premises.
For this system, the metering is often at the primary voltage
level, and the service disconnecting means is a high-voltage
switch.

Dr. Imane Maatouk, Eng. Amani El Saied 14

Service Entrance Types
• There are two types of service entrances to
deliver electrical energy to a residential wiring
system.
• An overhead service
• An underground service

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Overhead Service
• Used most often, less expensive and takes less time to
install than underground service.
• Includes service conductors between the terminals of
the service equipment main disconnect and a point
outside the home where they are connected to
overhead wiring.
• Overhead wiring connected to the electric utility’s
electrical system.

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Underground system
• Service conductors between terminals
of the service main disconnect and
point of connection to utility wiring
buried in the ground to protect the
conductors from physical damage.
– Also prevents accidental contact with the
conductors by people.
• More costly and
time-consuming
procedure for repair than overhead
service.

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Service laterals may be brought up into a pad-
mounted transformer.

Dr. Imane Maatouk, Eng. Amani El Saied 18

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Service Entrance Terms and Definitions

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Utility Pole
• Circular column usually made of treated
wood and set in the ground for the purpose
of supporting utility equipment and wiring.
• Typically support transformers and electrical
system wiring for communication utilities
and fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable for
cable television providers.

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Riser

• Length of raceway that extends up a utility

pole and encloses the service entrance
conductors in an underground service
entrance.
• “Stand-off” supports multiple risers for such
things as telephone lines and cable television
lines.

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 Service Drop

• Overhead service conductors from utility

pole to the point where the connection is
made to the service entrance conductors at
the house.
• Usually owned by utility company.

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Drip Loop

• Intentional loop put in service entrance conductors that extends from a

weatherhead at the point where they connect to the service drop conductors.
• Conducts rainwater to a lower point than the weatherhead so that no water
will drip down the service entrance conductors and into the meter enclosure.

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Service head
Fitting placed on service drop end of service entrance cable or service
entrance raceway designed to minimize the amount of moisture that can
enter the cable or raceway.

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Service Point

• Point of connection between the wiring of the electric utility and the house
wiring.

Dr. Imane Maatouk, Eng. Amani El Saied 28

Service Mast

• Piece of rigid metal conduit (RMC) or

intermediate metal conduit (IMC), usually 2” or
2½” in diameter, that provides protection for
service conductors and the proper height
requirements for service drops.
• Mast usually extends from meter enclosure,
allowing attached service drop to have the
required distance above grade.

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 Lateral
• Underground service conductors between the electric utility transformer, including any risers at a pole
or other structure, and the first point of connection to the service entrance conductors in a meter
enclosure.

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Service Raceway

• Rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit,

electrical metallic tubing, rigid nonmetallic conduit, or
any other approved raceway that encloses the service
entrance conductors.

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Meter Enclosure

• Weatherproof electrical enclosure that houses the

kilowatt-hour meter, also known as the “meter socket”
or “meter trim”.

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Service Entrance Cable
• Type SEU Cable
• Service conductors designed to be used outdoors on the side of house.
• Type USE Cable
• Service conductors designed to be buried in a trench for an underground service.

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Service Equipment
• Necessary equipment
connected to the load end of
the service conductors
supplying a building.
• Intended to be main control
and cutoff of the supply.
• Equipment can consist of
fusible disconnect switch or
main breaker panel
accommodating branch circuit
overcurrent protection devices
(fuses or circuit breakers).

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Panel Board
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Grounding Electrode
• Part of service entrance that allows for the transfer of current to the earth under certain fault
conditions.
• Usually the metal water pipe that brings water to the home.
• Limits the voltage imposed by lightning, line surges, or unintentional contact with higher
voltage lines and stabilizes the voltage to earth during normal operation.

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 Supplemental Grounding Electrode
• NEC® requires that a
metal water pipe
electrode be
supplemented by
another electrode,
usually an 8’ rod driven
into the ground.

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Residential Service Requirements – Article 230

• Article 230 of the NEC® covers

many of the requirements for the
installation of service entrances.

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Section 230.7
• Wiring other than service
conductors must not be installed
in the same service raceway or
service cable.
• Other residential wiring system
conductors must be separated
from the service.

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Article 230

• Section 230.8
• Must install a raceway seal where a service
raceway enters a residential building from an
underground distribution system.

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Article 230
Service conductors must have a minimum clearance of
3 feet (900mm) from windows that can be opened,
doors, porches, balconies, ladders, stairs, fire escapes,
or similar locations in a residential building.

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Open and fixed windows

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Article 230

• Section 230.10
• Vegetation such as trees shall not be used to support overhead service
conductors.

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Article 230

• Section 230.22
• Individual service entrance conductors must be insulated.
• Grounded (neutral) conductor of a multiconductor service entrance cable can be
bare.

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Article 230
• Section 230.23
• Determines the requirements for the minimum size of the service entrance
conductors.
• Service conductors must have sufficient ampacity to carry the current for the
computed residential electrical load and must have adequate mechanical
strength.

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Article 230
• Section 230.24
• Provides dimensions for the minimum amount of vertical clearance for service
drop conductors.

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 Article 230
• Section 230.28
• When a service mast is used for
support of the service drop conductors,
it must be strong enough to withstand
strain of the service drop.
• Only electrical power service drops are
allowed to be attached to the mast.

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 Article 230
• Section 230.70
• Means must be provided to disconnect all conductors in a building or other structure
from the service entrance conductors.
• Applies to both overhead and underground service entrance type.

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Article 230

• Section 230.71(A)
• Covers maximum number of disconnects permitted as the disconnecting means
for the service conductors that supply a building.
• Section 230.79
• Service disconnecting means shall have a rating not less than the load to be
carried as determined in accordance with Article 220.

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Grounding Requirements for Residential Services –
Article 250
• Section 250.24
• Residential wiring system supplied by
a grounded alternating current service
must have a grounding electrode
conductor connected to the grounded
service conductor. (TT system)
• Section 250.24(B)
• Grounded (neutral) conductor of a
residential service must run to the
service disconnecting means and be
bonded (attached) to the
disconnecting means enclosure.
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Article 250
• Section 250.28
• Covers requirements for the Main Bonding
Jumper.
• For a grounded system, an unspliced main
bonding jumper must be used to connect
the equipment grounding conductor(s)
and the service disconnect enclosure to
the grounded conductor of the system
within the enclosure for each service
disconnect.

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 Article 250
• Section 250.50
• Covers requirements for Grounding Electrode System.
• If available, each item in 250.52 (A)(1) through (A)(6) must be bonded together to
form the grounding electrode system.
• Where none of these electrodes are available, one or more electrodes specified
in 250.52 (A)(1) through (A)(7) must be installed and used.

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 Article 250
• Lists electrodes permitted for grounding:
• Metal underground water pipe in direct contact with the
earth for 10 ft. or more (3.0 m or more).
• The metal frame of the building or structure, where
effectively grounded, can be used as a grounding
electrode.
• A concrete-encased electrode can be used and is an
excellent choice.

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Grounding Requirements for Residential Services –
Article 250
• Section 250.52 (cont.)
• A ground ring encircling the house, in direct contact with the earth, consisting of at least 20
feet (6.0 m) of bare copper conductor (at least 2 AWG) must be used.
• Rod and pipe electrodes, commonly called “ground rods,” can be used.
• Plate electrodes can be used, but rarely are used in residential work.

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Grounding Requirements for Residential Services –
Article 250
• Section 250.53
• Covers some installation rules for grounding electrode system:
• Where practicable, embed rod, pipe, and plate electrodes below permanent moisture level.
• Where more than one ground rod, pipe, or plate is used, place each electrode type at least 6
feet (1.83 m) from any other electrode.

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Grounding Requirements for Residential Services –
Article 250
• Section 250.53 (cont.)
• When used as grounding electrode, metal underground water pipe must meet the
following requirements:
• Bonding around equipment such as water meters and filtering equipment is required.
• Supplement metal underground water pipe.
• Where the supplemental electrode is a rod, pipe, or plate electrode, portion of bonding jumper
that is the sole connection to supplemental grounding electrode not required to be larger than 6
AWG copper wire or 4 AWG aluminum wire.

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Grounding Requirements for Residential
Services – Article 250

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Grounding Requirements for Residential Services –
Article 250
• Section 250.64
• Covers the installation of grounding electrode conductor:
• Do not use bare aluminum or copper-clad aluminum grounding electrode conductors in
direct contact with masonry or the earth or where subject to corrosive conditions.

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Grounding Requirements for Residential Services –
Article 250
• Section 250.64 (cont.)
• Securely fasten grounding electrode conductor (GEC) or its enclosure to the
surface on which it is carried.
• Protect 4 AWG or larger GEC if subject to severe physical damage.
• Protect 6 AWG GEC if subject to physical damage.
• Always protect 8 AWG GEC.

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Grounding Requirements for Residential Services –
Article 250
• Section 250.64 (cont.)
• Metal raceways for grounding electrode conductors must be electrically
continuous from the point of attachment to cabinets or equipment to the
grounding electrode.
• Securely fasten them to the ground clamp or fitting.
• Bond each end of a metal raceway that is not continuous.

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Grounding Requirements for Residential Services –
Article 250
• Section 250.66
• Specifies how to determine the size of the
grounding electrode conductor.
• Table 250.66 is used to size the grounding
electrode conductor of a grounded AC
system and is based on the largest size
service entrance conductor.

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Example

Sizing grounding electrode

conductor

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