225.30 minimum of 6 disconnects

[Jpflex]

I was wandering if the company I work for is in compliance with this 225.30 code which says:

A building or structure that is served by a branch circuit or feeder on the load side of a service disconnect means shall be supplied by only one feeder or branch circuit unless permitted by 250.30 A through E

B) common supply feeder where the feeder conductors originate in the same panel board, switchgear or OTHER DISTRIBUTION equipment and each feeder terminates in a single disconnect means, not more than SIX FEEDERS shall be permitted

Therefore, if our company has a utility substation feeding power pole lines 4800 volts to a company owner pad mounted transformer Delta Delta 3 phase ungrounded system stepping down to 480 volts AC as the separately derived system.

This separately derived system secondary conductors terminate to a single vault or room mounted disconnect

From this one disconnect a single feeder terminates to a panel with 3 buss bars for terminating taps going to 3 separate buildings and a trailer for motor control which are all about 100 to 200 feet away (tapped runs without OCPD on line side of taps)

The three buildings and trailer each have a sub panel where they receive their feeder and disconnect means

My question is does this set up meet the requirements for up to 6 feeders (and disconnects) from a single distribution bus panel explained before or aren’t the disconnects required to be bundled together near the tap distribution panel and labeled with a directory for its purpose instead of just terminating each tap feeder to each building in a sub panel? and does this tap distribution panel qualify as “feeders originating in the same distribution equipment?”

 

[wwhitney]

From this one disconnect a single feeder terminates to a panel with 3 buss bars for terminating taps going to 3 separate buildings and a trailer for motor control which are all about 100 to 200 feet away (tapped runs without OCPD on line side of taps)

The part about "3 separate buildings" makes it sound like the arrangement complies with the first sentence of 225.30, in which case you don't need to consider any of the allowances in 225.30(A) through (E).

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Jpflex]

The part about "3 separate buildings" makes it sound like the arrangement complies with the first sentence of 225.30, in which case you don't need to consider any of the allowances in 225.30(A) through (E).

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Jpflex]

So as long as (up to six buildings or structures) are supplied by only 1 feeder or branch circuit which are all originating in 1 upstream distribution panel then we’re meeting code?

 

[wwhitney]

So as long as (up to six buildings or structures) are supplied by only 1 feeder or branch circuit which are all originating in 1 upstream distribution panel then we’re meeting code?

225.30 is just about a single building or other structure, and how many supplies go to it. If there is just one supply coming in to the building or other structure, it complies with the first sentence of 225.30. If you want to have more than one supply coming in , you need to comply with one of the subsections (A) through (E).

So you could have a property with 21 different buildings, with a service coming to one building, and 20 different feeders or branch circuits, one to each of the 20 other buildings. There's no limit of 6.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Jpflex]

225.30 is just about a single building or other structure, and how many supplies go to it. If there is just one supply coming in to the building or other structure, it complies with the first sentence of 225.30. If you want to have more than one supply coming in , you need to comply with one of the subsections (A) through (E).

So you could have a property with 21 different buildings, with a service coming to one building, and 20 different feeders or branch circuits, one to each of the 20 other buildings. There's no limit of 6.

Cheers, Wayne

If you read 225.30 it does say a maximum of 6 feeders from 1 service which can also imply 6 disconnects limit

 

[wwhitney]

If you read 225.30 it does say a maximum of 6 feeders from 1 service

No, it doesn't.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Jpflex]

No, it doesn't.

Cheers, Wayne

There are thousands of codes but Here’s the code reference I believe


Section 230.71(B) now states the following: “Two to six service disconnects shall be permitted for each service permitted by 230.2 or for each set of service-entrance conductors permitted by 230.40, Exception No. 1

 

[wwhitney]

Section 230.71(B) now states the following: “Two to six service disconnects shall be permitted for each service permitted by 230.2 or for each set of service-entrance conductors permitted by 230.40, Exception No. 1

OK, but that's 230.71(B), not 225.30. And it only applies to the number of service disconnects, not the number of individual feeders supplied to multiple outbuildings.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Jpflex]

OK, but that's 230.71(B), not 225.30. And it only applies to the number of service disconnects, not the number of individual feeders supplied to multiple outbuildings.

Cheers, Wayne

Ok so this is why things were getting confusing. So I guess I now know there is no limit to how many feeders are supplied by a separately derived system

 

[Jpflex]

OK, but that's 230.71(B), not 225.30. And it only applies to the number of service disconnects, not the number of individual feeders supplied to multiple outbuildings.

Cheers, Wayne

So if a service has multiple breakers in its service cabinet does each breaker to a feeder count as 1 service disconnect? Or does it specifically mean 6 individual cabinet disconnects with a handle?

 

[augie47]

Keep definitions in mind. You are dealing with circuits from a customer SDD so nothing on 230 applies as this is not a service. Also you have an OCP device on your transformer secondary so you only have one device connected to the transformer. Beyond that it's all feeders so only feeder rules spply

 

[suemarkp]

You need to differentiate breaker from service disconnect, or incoming from outgoing. If the service cabinet has a single main, it can have as many "outgoing" branch/feeder breakers as you want. If it is a main lug panel with no upstream disconnect, you can only have 6 breakers (which now must be in separate sections or enclosures) to create a 6 switch "main".

Service disconnects are relative to a building being served. Having a central "power building" with 20 feeders going to separate buildings is fine even if each of those is considered the remote building's service disconnect. Each separate building is limited to no more than 6 throws of the hand to turn it off, but that doesn't limit a room from having a hundred service disconnects as long as there are no more than 6 to each separate building being disconnected (and including turning off the feed coming in to that central power building).