Quote:
Originally Posted by WowNoWay
I believe that this was what the electrician initially proposed and the way I would ideally like to go. However he said that on further inspection it would not be possible because this set up would require a grounding wire on the supply wire that runs between the meter and the fuse box. I believe this is where the whole 3 wire verses 4 wire dilemma came up. As I understand it, the fourth wire is typically a grounding wire that the older, embedded supply wire does not currently have.
Assuming I am properly interpreting the problem, can anyone confirm that this lack of grounding wire would also be something to require a complete replacement of that supply wire?
Thanks for everyone's feedback--very helpful. I still have a hard time believing that this problem is unique for me. Aren't there older homes out there that have existed for decades with a distance greater than 3 feet between meter and fuse box, possibly without a meter base without a built in breaker, without any problems?
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My house was built in 1973 with the breaker/fuse box on a wall in the basement.
In 1983 a 30' x 30' garage was added onto the house. The meter was moved to the far end of the garage. Wiring runs under the garage floor to the original breaker box in the basement.
So, the meter is about 31' and a few inches from the fuse box.
I have never had any problems and never knew it was supposed to be a safety issue until reading this thread. Am I going to worry about it now? Nope.
There is no breaker in the meter base that I know of, was there even such a thing in 1983? I don't know anything about this stuff.
I just know there is a regular old, single meter on the outside of the garage and a pipe going from the meter, down the wall, under the garage to the fuse box in the basement.