Small knockout on meter socket

[Ben25]

What's the general consensus on the tiny 1/4" knockouts on the bottom of meter sockets? (and loadcenters for that matter)
I was told by another electrician that they were used for the GEC with no strain relief, but told by my boss that they are weep holes, and to use a strain relief in a 1/2"" K. O.
I'm inclined to listen to him because he's my boss, but still can't find a straight answer anywhere. (And he wants me to use a Romex connector which is not rated for wet locations and probably not for 1- bare 6awg wire either)

Thanks!
Ben

[solarix]

good question. Without researching it, my opinion is that weep holes are a good thing but will still work fine as the GEC port. 6awg bare wire is rated for exposed durability and doesn't need to be protected. I'd be more worried about putting the GEC in a 1//2 strain relief and leaving quite a bit of opening for bugs to infest the box. I've never had an inspector question putting a 6awg GEC through a hole (knock-out or drilled). The hole just needs to be below the active equipment in the box. Good luck with your boss.

[Ben25]

So the manufacturer said that it can be done either way, and is entirely up to the AHJ. Spoke with my boss some more about it, and he said that the old inspector wanted it to either be bonded or isolated with a strain relief, but that it could not be run through the 1/4" KO because of the possibility of the of sparks from the housing should it become energized if the ground wire came loose.
I'll speak with the new inspector and see what his take on it is.