Outside taps, NEC 2008 p87 240.21 (B) (5)

[AK D]

Does this mean we can run a tap beyond 10', even all the way around the outside of a house, if need be? We would just need to be sure the conductors terminate in a single breaker, in contrast to within 10', where we can terminate in a main lug panel.

Am I correct in my interpretation?

 

[infinity]

Yes, the tap conductor length is not limited if you comply with all of the conditions in 240.21(B)(5).

240.21(B)(5) Outside Taps of Unlimited Length. Where the conductors are located outdoors of a building or structure, except at the point of load termination, and comply with all of the following conditions:
(1) The conductors are protected from physical damage in an approved manner.
(2) The conductors terminate at a single circuit breaker or a single set of fuses that limit the load to the ampacity of the conductors. This single overcurrent device shall be permitted to supply any number of additional overcurrent devices on its load side.
(3) The overcurrent device for the conductors is an integral part of a disconnecting means or shall be located immediately adjacent thereto.
(4) The disconnecting means for the conductors is installed at a readily accessible location complying with one of the following:
a. Outside of a building or structure
b. Inside, nearest the point of entrance of the conductors
c. Where installed in accordance with 230.6, nearest the point of entrance of the conductors

 

[ceb58]

Does this mean we can run a tap beyond 10', even all the way around the outside of a house, if need be? We would just need to be sure the conductors terminate in a single breaker, in contrast to within 10', where we can terminate in a main lug panel.

Am I correct in my interpretation?

Your question was answered before in this post

http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=132494

However, since it was your first post you may not have seen the answers quickly and it got pushed down the list. Welcome to the forum

 

[AK D]

Outside taps

Outside taps

For a hot tub that takes 20 and 30 amp double pole gfci breakers, I had always tapped at the outside service and put a 50 amp disconnect within 10 feet, then continued the circuit on around the house to the main lug subpanel. But what I'm understanding is that I can tap and run my circuit as far as I want to before terminating in a disconnecting means, as long as it's a breaker or fuse. So I can terminate in the 50 amp breaker, and at the same time backfeed the panel through the breaker by making it a main breaker via a breaker retainer bracket. And as long as it's a gfci breaker, my 20 and 30 amp breakers don't have to be gfci, because they are already protected by the 50 amp gfci.

Does anyone see any issues with this?

 

[Smart $]

If you are tapping service conductors, you cannot run as far as you want because your tap conductors will still be service conductors. Its disconnecting means will be a service disconnecting means and has to be grouped with other "regular" service disconnecting means.

 

[AK D]

Sounds good. I'm tapping off the 100 amp feeder downstream of the 100 amp service disconnect. Thank you for your help!

 

[AK D]

Inspection report...

Inspection report...

This senario just got inspected, and there were two issues, but neither had to do with tap length:
1. Backfed breaker needs a breaker retainer bracket. I had one on there but he couldn't see it. It was a ECMBR1 for a Siemens panel, and it is hidden now that it's clipped in.
2. Backfeeding a GFCI breaker is not allowed because it is marked line and load. So here I go to buy very expensive 20 and 30 amp GFCI breakers and to replace the main breaker with a standard non-gfci type. Any suggestions how to get my breaker out of there now that the retainer clip is installed in there?