Service entrance rated

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hhsting

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I have fused safety disconnect that says service entrance rated disconnect. Does this mean that neutral to ground can be removed and can be used downstream of main service disconnect or it means that neutral to ground bond is permanent and only be used as main service disconnect?
 
Where the equipment is marked "suitable for use as service equipment", the bond between the neutral bar and the enclosure is not factory installed, but the bonding method is supplied by the manufacturer.

Where the equipment is marked "suitable for use ONLY as service equipment" the bond between the neutral bar and the enclosure is permanently installed by the manufacturer.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
Where the equipment is marked "suitable for use as service equipment", the bond between the neutral bar and the enclosure is not factory installed, but the bonding method is supplied by the manufacturer.

Where the equipment is marked "suitable for use ONLY as service equipment" the bond between the neutral bar and the enclosure is permanently installed by the manufacturer.
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Plans do not say suitable for use as service equipment. It only says “service entrance rated”. So what does that mean service entrance rated?
 
hhsting said:
Plans do not say suitable for use as service equipment. It only says “service entrance rated”. So what does that mean service entrance rated?
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You will have to ask the person that drew the plans. Don gave you the NEC words that are used. IMO either type will work if this is actually the service disconnect.
 
hhsting said:
I have fused safety disconnect that says service entrance rated disconnect. Does this mean that neutral to ground can be removed and can be used downstream of main service disconnect or it means that neutral to ground bond is permanent and only be used as main service disconnect?
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When a disconnect is "suitable for use as service equipment", it means it gives you the opportunity to bond neutral and ground at the device. Something you need to do in your service disconnect. As Don mentioned, if it doesn't also include the word "only", you have the option of omitting this bond and isolating the neutral, in order to use it as something other than service equipment. Either by excluding a part (like a green bonding screw) that comes standard with it, or by adding an accessory to it (such as an isolated neutral kit, to add to meter sockets).

It also has to do with the ratings to withstand fault current, as a device suitable for use as service equipment is rated for typical fault currents that will occur immediately nearby the service point, at services consistent with its size.

Fusible disconnects commonly are suitable for use as service equipment, while it is less common for their unfused counterparts.
 
hhsting said:
Plans do not say suitable for use as service equipment. It only says “service entrance rated”. So what does that mean service entrance rated?
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There is no such rating in the NEC or the listing standards. You have to ask the designer.
 
infinity said:
So it's not the service disconnect but they want a disconnect that is suitable for use as service equipment?
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It’s on the load side of the main service disconnect. The plans say Service Entrance Rated safety disconnect switch.


So plans show incoming service utility conductors into 2000A breaker whose load side feeds trough. From trough I have taps that go to utility meter which then go to the fused disconnect which says Service Entrance Rated disconnect. The fused disconnect feeds one of the tenant spaces in building.
 
hhsting said:
It’s on the load side of the main service disconnect. The plans say Service Entrance Rated safety disconnect switch.
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Everyone here is guessing what this actually means (bold), it probably means a disconnect suitable for use as service equipment but no one here can answer what the designer meant by Service Entrance Rated disconnect.
 
infinity said:
Everyone here is guessing what this actually means (bold), it probably means a disconnect suitable for use as service equipment but no one here can answer what the designer meant by Service Entrance Rated disconnect.
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I have to agree with this.

NEC would not require it to be SUSE, but wouldn't prohibit either, you typically would need to remove any neutral to frame bonding jumper if installed.

NEC does require SUSE at separate buildings supplied by a feeder for main disconnect - though you still normally need to remove neutral to frame bonding in those situations.

OP didn't give too much for details on exactly what it is for. Designer can specify such even if NEC doesn't require it also.

That said most "Safety switches" likely are SUSE. Maybe a few 30 amp versions can be the exception though.
 
kwired said:
I have to agree with this.

NEC would not require it to be SUSE, but wouldn't prohibit either, you typically would need to remove any neutral to frame bonding jumper if installed.

NEC does require SUSE at separate buildings supplied by a feeder for main disconnect - though you still normally need to remove neutral to frame bonding in those situations.

OP didn't give too much for details on exactly what it is for. Designer can specify such even if NEC doesn't require it also.

That said most "Safety switches" likely are SUSE. Maybe a few 30 amp versions can be the exception though.
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Please see post #10 response second paragraph additional info.

I don’t provide much because I don’t know much besides post#10 response. I am not the designer. However I will ask designer and hopeful get back to you all soon as I can.

Another point besides removing neutral to Frame bond, one also has to remove neutral to ground bond? Correct or incorrect so two items must be removed?
 
hhsting said:
Please see post #10 response second paragraph additional info.

I don’t provide much because I don’t know much besides post#10 response. I am not the designer. However I will ask designer and hopeful get back to you all soon as I can.

Another point besides removing neutral to Frame bond, one also has to remove neutral to ground bond? Correct or incorrect so two items must be removed?
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I am presuming this is all in/on one building from what you said in post 10. If so the only thing that needs to be SUSE is the service equipment itself. Downstream components can be SUSE, but can not have the neutral to can/EGC bonding jumper installed, unless perhaps the neutral bus is used for EGC's only, but that typically would only happen if those downstream component(s) do not supply any line to neutral loads.

neutral to frame bond and neutral to ground bond (as in the EGC) are typically the same bonding screw, strap, jumper wire etc.
 
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