Tap conductors

[liquidtite]

Can some help me understand tap conductors,
maybe give me a deff and example of it being applied
thanks for your time and knowledge

 

[augie47]

Step 1: Look at 240.2 and see the definition of a "Tap Conductor". Sums it up fairly well.
One common example is where a properly sized feeder is connect to an overcurrent device. The feeder is brought to a j box or wireway and "Taps" are connected to feed various other overcurrent devices.
Taps are required to follow the rules in 240.21(B)

 

[kwired]

Can some help me understand tap conductors,
maybe give me a deff and example of it being applied
thanks for your time and knowledge

There are two main applications where we commonly call something a tap conductor.

There are "feeder taps" and there are "branch circuit conductor taps"

Feeder taps are covered in art 240.21(B)and there is several different situations in the sections that follow.
A common example is to take a larger feeder conductor (with proper overcurrent protection) and make smaller "taps" to supply equipment that doesn't need to be supplied with the larger conductors of the feeder. Generally this "tap" has length and size limitations and usually must end at an overcurrent device that protects the conductor from possible overloading. It is only considered a "tap conductor" if the overcurrent device on the supply side is of a higher rating then the ampacity of the conductor. If the conductor is of the same or larger ampacity as the overcurrent protection then it is not a "feeder tap" it is either a feeder or a branch circuit.

Branch circuit taps are mentioned in a few places, but the general place to start is 240.21(A) which sends you initially to 210.19 and 210.20 and follow any mentioned section references that apply to your situation. Common examples are are a reduced sized conductor from an outlet box to a luminaire or maybe a kitchen cooking appliance.


Feeder taps seem to be the thing that bring up the most questions here, I suggest you read through 240.21 and then come back with any questions you may have.

 

[iwire]

Read through all of 240.21 and its subsections. Note the differences allowed in length of taps and allowed locations of taps.

Here are some images that I found on the internet.

Here in this first one you can imagine a 300 amp feeder running through a factory with each of these taps supplying equipment along the way.

Another

When we deal with transformers the secondary conductors are considered taps so unless they are outside they have to hit an overcurrent device immediately.

But because transformer secondaries are already taps you cannot tap them again to feed other loads.

 

[liquidtite]

So is one of the advantage you can gain from using tap feeders,
that you can feed multiply equipment without having to use a distribution panel .
you can just tap off set of feeders.

How do taps get made up with special reducing bugs or krimps?

could you attach feed through lugs on a panel that has a Ocp of 200i and feed a main lug panel
With conductors rated less than 200ii

thanks for the pics

 

[augie47]

So is one of the advantage you can gain from using tap feeders,
that you can feed multiply equipment without having to use a distribution panel .
you can just tap off set of feeders.

How do taps get made up with special reducing bugs or krimps?

A variety of products are available...such as split bolts, polaris taps (brand name)
and many others

could you attach feed through lugs on a panel that has a Ocp of 200i and feed a main lug panel
With conductors rated less than 200ii

You can not do that with "tap conductors" read 240.21 and you will see in most cases taps terminate in a single overcurrent device

 

[iwire]

So is one of the advantage you can gain from using tap feeders,
that you can feed multiply equipment without having to use a distribution panel .
you can just tap off set of feeders.

Yes, that can a be a large cost savings with the trade off being if that one feeder has a problem all loads are effected.