200-Amp Service Entrance & Panel Installation in Vancouver, WA

A full 200-amp service entrance and panel installation for a new construction home in the Felida neighborhood of Vancouver, WA. Newman Electric handled the service side of the electrical package: the recessed meter main, the Eaton panel with a factory-installed whole-house surge protector, and the complete grounding electrode system.

Why a 240-foot URD run

Felida lots are often set back from the utility service point, which means long, deep trench runs from the transformer to the meter base. Running 4/0 URD at 240 feet keeps voltage drop well within NEC 310 ampacity and 3% voltage-drop guidance even under full 200-amp load.

For a new build, investing in the right conductor size up front matters. Undersizing the service feed at construction means a customer living with voltage-drop issues on heavy loads (heat pump startup sags, EV charger brownouts) for decades. Over-specifying once is always cheaper than retrofitting later.

Why the 40/80-space MLO panel

The Eaton 40/80-space MLO (main lug only) panel gives the builder plenty of circuit capacity for everything a modern Clark County home needs at buildout plus years of future add-ons:

• Heat pump or mini-split circuits
• Level 2 EV charger (40 or 48 amp)
• Hot tub wiring
• AFCI protection on living-space circuits per NEC 210.12
• GFCI on kitchen and bathroom circuits per NEC 210.8
• Dedicated appliance circuits

Running out of panel space on a brand-new home is a design failure. This panel has room for every line item an owner will think of five years from now.

Why the integrated surge protector

The Eaton SPD at the top of the panel is the NEC 230.67-required whole-house surge protective device, adopted by Washington State in April 2024 as part of the 2023 NEC update. Every new residential service installation in WA now requires whole-house surge protection at the service equipment. Installing it as part of the panel (rather than as an add-on) is the cleanest install and passes inspection first try.

What’s next on this job

With the meter main sealed and the “Leave This Shield In Place Until Meter Is Installed” cover in place, the job is ready for Clark PUD to set the utility meter. Once that’s done, the house can be energized and the finish electrical can begin: outlets, switches, fixtures, and appliances.

Building new in Clark or Cowlitz County? Newman Electric works with contractors and builders on new construction projects from service entrance through finish trim. Call 360-828-7143 or ask for a free estimate to discuss your build.