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	Subject - Question about main wiring stanen8871 The electrical meter and main box are on opposite ends of my house (rancher). When the house was built the 200 amp main line from the meter ran along the back of the house ( under the sofit attached to the siding )to the opposite end where the main breaker box is. The previous owner put an addtion on the back of the house and left the main 200 amp line go through the addition and boxed it in. I purchased this house with this already there. Which was inspected before settlement. Is this legal? If not how can I correct this cheaply and easily. In NJ s.tanenbaum@comcast.net lctrc789 I would start with this and say call your electric comapny and see what they suggest. Did some one say something about this, contractor, inspector, or insurance agent? This is not uncommon and I have seen it many times, depends on what your local county/city or utility company says, I say if it is all in pipe and you have acces to pull new wires (should you ever need to) you should be OK, but again that is here and I don't know what the localities are where you live they have the final say. kbsparky Enclosing unfused service entrance cable can result in a hazardous situation. This is the main reason why a service disconnecting means shall be located "... either outside of a building ... or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors" You need to have a way to switch OFF those wires, should they be compromised by a stray nail, or beastie chewing on them. I might suggest installing a disconnecting means next to the meter, and running a sub-feed back to the existing panel. You'll have to separate the grounds from the neutrals in the existing panel when you change it to a sub-panel as well. You'll also have to install an equipment grounding conductor between the new service box and existing (sub-)panel. IF they are installed in conduit, then adding a ground wire should be easy. If they used SEU cable, then it will have to be replaced with SER cable, or other approved wiring methods. I've seen cases like this where it was easier to trench around the outside of the house with PVC conduit, than to try to fish SER cable through. Pierre Belarge I agree with Kbsparky. If you are looking for a cheap solution, forget it, as there are no cheap solutions. If you are looking for a cost effective and safe solution, have a service rated disconnect located outside by the meter, and SER (4 conductors) installed to the panel inside the house. Make sure the electrician separates the equipment ground conductor and the neutral conductor at the panel inside the house. The SER can be installed inside the house. Cost effective and safe - good luck. If you had a HI, he should have picked this up. Pierre