310.10 And Overhead Conductors

[I-learns]

How is it not a violation of the requirement for conductors being installed in a chapter 3 wiring I method (first sentence of 310.10) that we can have XHHW-2 sunlight resistant conductors in a conduit and then installed outside of a raceway to connect to a service drop or set of overhead feeder conductors? Is there actually something in the code that allows this or is this just one of the many areas where there’s imperfections in the standard and no one has ever brought this up?

 

[hbiss]

What makes you think that XHHW-2 couldn't be used for the service drop connection?

-Hal

 

[infinity]

So you're asking why this service raceway and weatherhead with exposed conductors is permissible? I would look at it from the other direction, what would prohibit this type of installation?

 

[Hv&Lv]

I’m kind of lost here...
seems to me that XHHW-2 can be used anywhere.
inside, outside, shade, sunlight, etc...

 

[infinity]

I think what he's asking is what specifically in the NEC allows the conductors to leave the raceway and be run exposed.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

This is the best I could find

230.54 Overhead Service Locations.
(A) Service Head. Service raceways shall be equipped with a
service head at the point of connection to service-drop or overhead
service conductors. The service head shall be listed for
use in wet locations.

 

[Hv&Lv]

sorry, still don’t see the issue.
The NEC doesn’t tell us we can bury conductors 10’ deep either but we can

 

[Dennis Alwon]

sorry, still don’t see the issue.
The NEC doesn’t tell us we can bury conductors 10’ deep either but we can

But the nec tells us terminations must be in boxes etc. There may be something more specific that allows the conductors to not be in conduit in these instances but I am not sure where it would be.

 

[hbiss]

Probably because from the point the conductors exit the weatherhead they are no longer under the NEC but POCO jurisdiction. They would be considered open line.

-Hal

 

[Hv&Lv]

Probably because from the point the conductors exit the weatherhead they are no longer under the NEC but POCO jurisdiction. They would be considered open line.

-Hal

Agree With you.
when we make them up we own those connections.

 

[Bogdan-PDX]

Probably because from the point the conductors exit the weatherhead they are no longer under the NEC but POCO jurisdiction. They would be considered open line.

-Hal

This is a good point here, another reason is that your electrical service provider has different “code” that they abide by, and they don’t want to do any extra work then necessary to make a connection. As mentioned before in “legal junction box” according to NEC.
XHHW isn’t used in service overheads on our area, we mostly use USE-2/RHH/RHW-2 for service drops.

 

[infinity]

Take a look at 300.16 for raceway to open conductor transitions.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Take a look at 300.16 for raceway to open conductor transitions.

I looked in 300 and missed it. I thought it should have been there...

300.16 Raceway or Cable to Open or Concealed Wiring.
(A) Box, Conduit Body, or Fitting. A box, conduit body, or
terminal fitting having a separately bushed hole for each
conductor shall be used wherever a change is made from
conduit, electrical metallic tubing, electrical nonmetallic
tubing, nonmetallic-sheathed cable, Type AC cable, Type MC
cable, or mineral-insulated, metal-sheathed cable and surface
raceway wiring to open wiring or to concealed knob-and-tube
wiring. A fitting used for this purpose shall contain no taps or
splices and shall not be used at luminaire outlets. A conduit
body used for this purpose shall contain no taps or splices,
unless it complies with 314.16(C)(2).
(B) Bushing. A bushing shall be permitted in lieu of a box or
terminal where the conductors emerge from a raceway and
enter or terminate at equipment, such as open switchboards,
unenclosed control equipment, or similar equipment. The
bushing shall be of the insulating type for other than leadsheathed
conductors.

 

[david luchini]

Probably because from the point the conductors exit the weatherhead they are no longer under the NEC but POCO jurisdiction. They would be considered open line.

I would think the conductors exiting the weatherhead are service entrance conductors, part of the premise wiring system, and therefore still under the NEC jurisdiction.

 

[infinity]

I would think the conductors exiting the weatherhead are service entrance conductors, part of the premise wiring system, and therefore still under the NEC jurisdiction.

I agree based on the definition of the service point.