Exterior panel tapped at meter socket

[Joshua L. Frederick]

There is an electrical panel that is apparantly tapped off the meter base (conduit off side of meter base, panel is below), due to the feed wires not being in the main panel. Can you do this or was it double tapped at the lugs in the meter base and needs correction? The panel was for the exterior pool equipment, no main & six breakers. Hope you can zoom in to the meter base, only pic I had.

Thanks.

Josh

[Jim Port]

Can't see enough in your pic. However, it can be possible for meter sockets to have a 2 feeds out to two services. The services would need to be grouped in the same area. Does your situation fit this?

[Joshua L. Frederick]

Yes Jim, this was the situation. Thanks for the reply!

[Robert Meier]

So there are two panels? Are they next to each other, (they're required to be grouped together). Since the one panel has six breakers the second panel would put you over the maximum allowable number of six service disconnects. It's likely that the meter enclosure in the photo is not rated for more than one conductor per lug so I'm unsure how they could be feeding two separate panels.

230.71 Maximum Number of Disconnects.
(A) General. The service disconnecting means for each service permitted by 230.2, or for each set of service-entrance conductors permitted by 230.40, Exception No. 1, 3, 4, or 5, shall consist of not more than six switches or sets of circuit breakers, or a combination of not more than six switches and sets of circuit breakers, mounted in a single enclosure, in a group of separate enclosures, or in or on a switchboard. There shall be not more than six sets of disconnects per service grouped in any one location.
For the purpose of this section, disconnecting means installed as part of listed equipment and used solely for the following shall not be considered a service disconnecting means:
(1) Power monitoring equipment
(2) Surge-protective device(s)
(3) Control circuit of the ground-fault protection system
(4) Power-operable service disconnecting means

Also from the photo it appear that the utility drop is not of the proper clearance over the pool. According to 2008 NEC Table 680.8 overhead conductors would require a minimum elevation of 22.5 feet above the highest water level of the pool.

680.8 Overhead Conductor Clearances.
Overhead conductors shall meet the clearance requirements in this section. Where a minimum clearance from the water level is given, the measurement shall be taken from the maximum water level of the specified body of water.
(A) Power. With respect to service drop conductors and open overhead wiring, swimming pool and similar installations shall comply with the minimum clearances given in Table 680.8 and illustrated in Figure 680.8.
FPN: Open overhead wiring as used in this article typically refers to conductor(s) not in an enclosed raceway.

Table 680.8 Overhead Conductor Clearances

Insulated Cables, 0–750 Volts to Ground, Supported on and Cabled Together with a Solidly Grounded Bare Messenger or Solidly Grounded Neutral Conductor:


Clearance Parameters:

A. Clearance in any direction to the water level, [6.9m or 22.5 feet]
edge of water surface, base of diving platform, or
permanently anchored raft