Taps

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pedro1200

Senior Member
Location
Ny
Occupation
Electrician
I was looking through the nec and realized something.Why did the NEC add the word TAP in 230.46 when speaking about conductor connections?
 
pedro1200 said:
Your comment makes no sense, sorry
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The NEC must tell you that you cannot do something or how you must do it. They insert a number of these "you can do this" rules which should not be there. Think of it this way,: if 230.46 were deleted, and you spliced a service conductor, what could an inspector cite as a violation?

As to your specific question of why they use both "splice" and "tap", i guess they want to cover situations like splitting into multiple sets, or a split bolt or H tap where it could be considered to not be a "splice". Perhaps it could be clearer if they provided a definition of splice and tap (they provide an article 240 specific definition for "tap" but is unclear what it means in a article 230 application.)
 
That language was added in the 1999 code and has remained pretty much the same, except for the addition of the types of splices that are required to be used for service conductors.
 
electrofelon said:
IMO 230.46 should just be deleted. The NEC doesnt need to give you permission to make splices or taps.
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But that section, in its current form, also tells us what type of connections can be used for service conductors. The is more restrictive that the types of connections that can be used for other splices and taps.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
But that section, in its current form, also tells us what type of connections can be used for service conductors. The is more restrictive that the types of connections that can be used for other splices and taps.
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They can tell you which connection can used without calling it taps
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
But that section, in its current form, also tells us what type of connections can be used for service conductors. The is more restrictive that the types of connections that can be used for other splices and taps.
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But the first sentence of 230.46 imposes no restrictions, it is impossible to violate it. There's a huge difference between "shall be permitted" and "shall only be permitted". That sentence (which is the entirety of 2017 NEC 230.46) could be deleted without effect on the NEC.

Cheers, Wayne
 
wwhitney said:
But the first sentence of 230.46 imposes no restrictions, it is impossible to violate it. There's a huge difference between "shall be permitted" and "shall only be permitted". That sentence (which is the entirety of 2017 NEC 230.46) could be deleted without effect on the NEC.

Cheers, Wayne
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The 2017 had no restriction on the types of devices used. That was added in the 2020 and the 2020 is the edition being used in this thread per post #3. The following was added in the 2020 after that first sentence.
Power distribution blocks, pressure connectors, and devices for splices and taps shall be listed. Power distribution blocks installed on service conductors shall be marked “suitable for use on the line side of the service equipment” or equivalent.


Effective January 1, 2023, pressure connectors and devices for splices and taps installed on service conductors shall be marked “suitable for use on the line side of the service equipment” or equivalent.
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