Service Panel Size Question

Power company is going to move a pole and replace the pole that my power is ditributed from. Right now it feeds 100A to the house, a small 120v circuit to the barn, and a small 120v to a receptacle in the yard, and I would eventually put power to the chicken coop; another small 120v. Would use 20 amp breakers for each outbuilding run. They're going to give me a 200 amp meter base, and directly below that, I would install an outdoor breaker panel with a main disconnect, and a breaker for the house, and one for each outbuilding.

How big does my outdoor panel need to be? Can I use a 200A panel if I put a 200a breaker in it plus 3-20a ones?

Would then run a new undergound service to the house with 4/0-4/0-4/0 URD cable and install a new 200a load center in the house. House is 75 feet from pole. I know I need a ground rod at each building.

I am going to consult and possibly hire and electrician for this work, and it will happen under the supervision of the power company crew that does the new pole. Just wanted to get the basics figured out first. Thank you very much for your input, and I know this is covered on here often, so thank you for letting me beat a dead horse.

Here is your solution in one neat package.

Four or eight breakers to supply out buildings from the utility pole without installing an additional breaker panel.
Plus a place to connect a standby generator without back feeding with a "farmer fix" .
30Amp 120/240V to each out building would be a minimum. Install one of those little 30amp 4 or 6 circuit pony panels in each outbuilding.
May seem like lots of power now but sooner or later you will be glad to have it.
Always best in each out building to have lights and lights only on their own breaker(s). The other receptacle/load circuits on other breaker(s)separate from the lights.
Or if you don't want to install a panel at each out building. At least run 2x20amp 120/240V from the yard panel to two separate 20 amp T-slot gfi receptacles at each out building. One pair of gfi's to plug lights into. The other GFI to plug tools into.
Running three wires is minimum. Run four wires and have twice the power at each out building than when using three wires.


http://www.reliancecontrols.com/ProductDetail.aspx?TWB2012DR

I agree with all that, but you didn't say anything about the 200 amps to the house. How do I do that? Just run it straight off the meter with no disconnect?

Straight off the bottom of the "feed through" panel the link led too.
This transfer panel has had breaker slots added for applications such as yours.

That looks perfect. I tried the link again it I like it. Hope its not cost-prohibitive. The generator hook-up is slick.

If you going to do some wiring, seems silly to spend the time and money to only put in a 20 amp 120v service to a building, even a small one. 240v only costs you one more wire, and going 30 amp only costs one size up in wire, even 60 amp won't cost much more wire size.

I'd sure think that over.

Your deal, your money, don't mean to tell you what to do of course. But - think on it, how much are you saving out of the job for what you could be getting?

--->Paul

Thing is, there is 12-2 with ground already run to the outbuildings. Thanks for the comment, though. If I was running new service to a building I would definitely "go big or go home" as they say.

Go beyond putting in a main disconnect. Install a transfer switch for a generator, even if you don"t have one now. Cheaper install now, and in a blizzard you can always buy/borrow one, and just plug in.

Said that 9 hours, three minutes ago.