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	Subject - re: New Service Panel jackieatcp I am in the process of planning on upgrading to a new 150A service panel. The existing panel is on an interior wall aprox. 15 feet from where the service enters the house. I am planning to place the new panel within 5 feet of the service entrance in the basement where the ceiling is 6 1/2 feet tall. Does the new service have to be on an exterior wall? Is there a minimum distance the panel can be from a window? Thanks David Hyatt First of all, I would upgrade to a 200 amp. There is very little difference in cost between the two. Better to have more than not enough, never know what you may add in future. As Scott had told me the code doesn't give a max distance from the service meter and the first disconnect. If you have a disconnect outside it would not matter anyway. But if not, being an upgrade the authority having juridiction would probably let you remove old panel and replace with a new one. The code says at the nearest point of entry to house. You should be okay though at 15 feet. If still not sure check with local inspectors. Code requires 3 foot clearence from windows. This may not apply if service stack is run in conduit. cal_sparky David, While the NEC does not limit the length of the feeders from the meter to the main disconnect, many local codes do. Most limit the length of the feeders not protected by an OCPD to 5 feet or so. And most inspectors prefer to see the meter pan and the panel back to back, if there's not a main breaker at the meter. With no main at the meter, those feeders are protected only by the impedance of the drop wire, and the 10kA (or ever 22kA) fuse at the pole-top transformer. So if a fault develops between the tranny and the main breaker, that feeder is gonna get REAL hot, real fast. not something you want to happen inside the walls. Might be O.K. if it's in heavywall (RMC), but there ain't nobody nowdays who runs RMC 'tween the meter and the panel! So for my money, it's either back-to-back, or install a meter/main outside, or install a meter base and fused cutoff outside. Cliff abtfac In the process of an addition to my home, I am also upgrading to a 200 amp service. I would like to keep the existing service panel intact as a sub panel. The plan is to provide 2 50 amp breakers on the new panel and run three leads (2 hot, one neutral) to the existing panel. Is this within code? The existing panel is in a closet and the new panel will be in an adjacent bedroom less than 10 feet away. Would I have to make any other modifications to the existing panel to comply? Electricman <abtfac> In new construction it is not permissiable to place panelboards in clothes closets. You actually need to run SER cable (4 conductor) from main panel to sub panel the ground and neutral have to be seperated on the load side of the main disconnect. Your installation will not comply with the NEC I suggest hiring a qualified electrician for the install.