On Thu, 24 Aug 2017 13:25:00 +0100, Joe wrote:

No, every fuse protects the wiring following it, until the next fuse
is reached. I'm saying that the fuse 'on the pole' only protects the
wiring as far as the consumer unit. It's the job of local fuses to
protect the wiring that they feed. No wiring leaving the consumer unit
would be large enough to be adequately protected by the main supply
fuse, smaller fuses are necessary.

The utility fuse is only intended to protect the transformer and it is
on the primary side, typically sized at 150% or more of the
transformer rating. Service conductors going to the home should be
regarded as not really having any overload protection.

On Thu, 24 Aug 2017 12:05:28 -0400, wrote:

On Thu, 24 Aug 2017 13:25:00 +0100, Joe wrote:

No, every fuse protects the wiring following it, until the next fuse
is reached. I'm saying that the fuse 'on the pole' only protects the
wiring as far as the consumer unit. It's the job of local fuses to
protect the wiring that they feed. No wiring leaving the consumer unit
would be large enough to be adequately protected by the main supply
fuse, smaller fuses are necessary.

The utility fuse is only intended to protect the transformer and it is
on the primary side, typically sized at 150% or more of the
transformer rating. Service conductors going to the home should be
regarded as not really having any overload protection.
And that's why I'm stuck with 150 amps - the underground feeders
would be oveloaded at 200 amps, and replacement would cost ME $8000.

On Sat, 26 Aug 2017 20:40:35 -0400, wrote:

On Thu, 24 Aug 2017 12:05:28 -0400, wrote:

On Thu, 24 Aug 2017 13:25:00 +0100, Joe wrote:

No, every fuse protects the wiring following it, until the next fuse
is reached. I'm saying that the fuse 'on the pole' only protects the
wiring as far as the consumer unit. It's the job of local fuses to
protect the wiring that they feed. No wiring leaving the consumer unit
would be large enough to be adequately protected by the main supply
fuse, smaller fuses are necessary.

The utility fuse is only intended to protect the transformer and it is
on the primary side, typically sized at 150% or more of the
transformer rating. Service conductors going to the home should be
regarded as not really having any overload protection.
And that's why I'm stuck with 150 amps - the underground feeders
would be oveloaded at 200 amps, and replacement would cost ME $8000.

Is the service lateral direct buried cable or in conduit? If it is 2"
conduit you should be able to pull the old wire out and pull in 2/0
copper or maybe even 4/0 aluminum but that is a tough (but legal)
pull.

On Sun, 27 Aug 2017 04:01:54 -0400, wrote:

On Sat, 26 Aug 2017 20:40:35 -0400, wrote:

On Thu, 24 Aug 2017 12:05:28 -0400, wrote:

On Thu, 24 Aug 2017 13:25:00 +0100, Joe wrote:

No, every fuse protects the wiring following it, until the next fuse
is reached. I'm saying that the fuse 'on the pole' only protects the
wiring as far as the consumer unit. It's the job of local fuses to
protect the wiring that they feed. No wiring leaving the consumer unit
would be large enough to be adequately protected by the main supply
fuse, smaller fuses are necessary.

The utility fuse is only intended to protect the transformer and it is
on the primary side, typically sized at 150% or more of the
transformer rating. Service conductors going to the home should be
regarded as not really having any overload protection.
And that's why I'm stuck with 150 amps - the underground feeders
would be oveloaded at 200 amps, and replacement would cost ME $8000.

Is the service lateral direct buried cable or in conduit? If it is 2"
conduit you should be able to pull the old wire out and pull in 2/0
copper or maybe even 4/0 aluminum but that is a tough (but legal)
pull.
several hundred feet of cable from the transformrt vault to the house
- not sure if direct burial or in a transite conduit. If in transite,
shared with neighbor and definitely NOT pullable. They ralked about
trenchless installation - replacing the existing cable without
removing the old cable when it was decommissioned due to the expense
of removing it. The root systems of several large trees, both on my
property and city property, are involved, as well as gas, water, and
sewage lines. Phone and cable are not involved as they enter from the
rear property line.