Was this ever allowed I believe not

AC\DC

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EC
So I remember a feeder for a remote building used to be allowed to be just three wires with a bonned neutral was that ever allowed if you were going to a subpanel inside a building ?
I don’t think it was

Also, I have a service conductor running through a building about 80 feet nonfused three wire it’s a commercial building was nearest point of entry just a vague term that was added later and it used to not have a limit?

Buildings 1970s
 
The first was definitely allowed. It is still mentioned in 250.32 in present Codes.

I don't know if the 2nd was ever allowed by Code but it was certainly commonplace.
Even today, 230.70 does not give a specific distance although it does mention "nearest the point of entrance".
 
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Wait, I’m confused. There’s nothing in the code that says you can have a subpanel inside the building with a bonded neutral at least in current code.

How old that rule is is what I’m wondering
 
250.32(B)(1) "...Any installed grounded conductor shall not be connected to the equipment grounding conductor or to the grounding electrode(s)."

The exception says "For installations made in compliance with previous editions of this Code..."
 
Wait, I’m confused. There’s nothing in the code that says you can have a subpanel inside the building with a bonded neutral at least in current code.

How old that rule is is what I’m wondering
Only feeders supplying separate buildings was allowed to use just the grounded conductor and connect it in similar manner as you did with services, bond it and connect it to a GES. I believe that allowance went away with either 2005 or 2008 NEC. Exceptions ever since were there to allow existing installs to remain and not to allow you do do this for a new install in any manner. May be variances on if or how some AHJ's allow this if upgrading equipment but not the feeder conductors themselves.
 
The rule is older than as Augie so it borders on never was allowed.
I'm thinking if it were ever allowed to use a grounded feeder conductor for equipment grounding as well it likely would have been back before it became mandatory to run EGC's with pretty much all branch circuits. Back when your 15-20 amp 120 volt receptacles didn't have an EGC pin. Most any 240 volt receptacle did have an EGC though something like a 6-15 or 6-20 either did not exist or was rare to see. What you used to find was a 20 amp crow foot style receptacle (besides the three wire range/dryer receptacles) that was also rated 120/240. I know of apartment buildings built in mid 1960's that had those 20 amp 120/240 receptacles as the original window AC receptacles.
 
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