2 Branch Circuits in 1 Panel

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Jody Boehs

Jody Boehs

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Location
Fairview, Oklahoma, USA
Occupation
Controls and Electrical Manager
I am wanting to know if this is legal or if i should pursue a different route.

My original plan is to bring 2 separate branch circuits off my 480V 3ph Busway into a distribution panel, obviously, keeping them completely separate from each other.

I have 2 machines that need to connect to 1 of the circuits and 5 machines to connect to the other circuit.

Is it OK (legal) to put this all in 1 panel to save time and space? Or do I need to install 2 panels?
 
I don't quite follow you. What is happening inside the panel? To start with, to what will each of the two incoming branch circuits be connected? Will the first incoming branch circuit land on some type of bus work, with two separate circuit breakers serving the two machines? Will the second incoming branch circuit land on some type of bus work, with five separate circuit breakers serving the five machines? Or will the two incoming circuits land on some type of terminal blocks, with the 7 machines connected to the respective terminal blocks?
 
Sounds like the "bus work" may just be loose wires chaining together mounted breakers with input lugs. Or branching via a Polaris connector?
Definitely need clarification from OP.
 
Jody Boehs said:
I am wanting to know if this is legal or if i should pursue a different route.

My original plan is to bring 2 separate branch circuits off my 480V 3ph Busway into a distribution panel, obviously, keeping them completely separate from each other.

I have 2 machines that need to connect to 1 of the circuits and 5 machines to connect to the other circuit.

Is it OK (legal) to put this all in 1 panel to save time and space? Or do I need to install 2 panels?
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How can you have 2 feeders in one panel? Unless there is a split buss panel I am not sure how one can do what I understand you to be saying.
 
Yes I definitely did not share enough information here. My bad! I apologize for the confusion!

First off, I’ll try to encompass all the questions into one post.

charlie b said:
I don't quite follow you. What is happening inside the panel? To start with, to what will each of the two incoming branch circuits be connected? Will the first incoming branch circuit land on some type of bus work, with two separate circuit breakers serving the two machines? Will the second incoming branch circuit land on some type of bus work, with five separate circuit breakers serving the five machines? Or will the two incoming circuits land on some type of terminal blocks, with the 7 machines connected to the respective terminal blocks?
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You are right on the first part of this comment, Charlie! I am using a NEMA 4/12/13 Hubbell-Weigmann enclosure and will be building a completely custom distribution panel. I will have a 200 amp circuit coming into this panel through a breaker and then to a distribution block from which I will be feeding the appropriate breaker for said machines. The second circuit will be a 100 amp circuit that will follow the same type of path. The two circuit will never interconnect.


GoldDigger said:
I see him using the word panel in place of the word enclosure, just as some people confuse outlet with receptacle.
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And yes I am not the greatest at terminology as you can see.

So, with all that said, is this legal?
 
Jody Boehs said:
Yes I definitely did not share enough information here. My bad! I apologize for the confusion!

First off, I’ll try to encompass all the questions into one post.



You are right on the first part of this comment, Charlie! I am using a NEMA 4/12/13 Hubbell-Weigmann enclosure and will be building a completely custom distribution panel. I will have a 200 amp circuit coming into this panel through a breaker and then to a distribution block from which I will be feeding the appropriate breaker for said machines. The second circuit will be a 100 amp circuit that will follow the same type of path. The two circuit will never interconnect.




And yes I am not the greatest at terminology as you can see.

So, with all that said, is this legal?
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If anything I would be concerned about the fact that you would have to open two different external disconnects to remove power from the enclosure. Whether or not this rises to the level of a code violation, I am not sure. I would at least be sure to place an appropriate placard indicating that the enclosure is fed from two sources.
This sort of mixing of sources is common in utilization equipment, but less so within the building wiring system. I leave the next level of comment to someone with more specific knowledge.
 
GoldDigger said:
If anything I would be concerned about the fact that you would have to open two different external disconnects to remove power from the enclosure. Whether or not this rises to the level of a code violation, I am not sure. I would at least be sure to place an appropriate placard indicating that the enclosure is fed from two sources.
This sort of mixing of sources is common in utilization equipment, but less so within the building wiring system. I leave the next level of comment to someone with more specific knowledge.
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Thank You, GoldDigger.

Any more comments from anyone else on this? It sounds like I am good to go so far as long as I put a placard/label notating that it is fed from 2 sources (this is a great idea and i will plan on doing this)!
 
There are probably several things you need to think about. Wait for the guys that build industrial control panels to step in before you buy everything. Article 409 for your reading pleasure, if it qualifies as such.

You may be able to get by with using 240.21(B). Feeder Taps
 
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