400 amp breaker feeding 2 200 amp panels

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Vmadden

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I just saw a public service at a building with (2) 200 amp 3 phase load centers. The 2 panels are fed from a 400 amp breaker in a meter stack. Instead of installing a 400 amp panel with parallel 3-0 THHN, they ran one set each to each panel. Is this code? This is a public service at a commercial building.
 
Vmadden said:
I just saw a public service at a building with (2) 200 amp 3 phase load centers. The 2 panels are fed from a 400 amp breaker in a meter stack. Instead of installing a 400 amp panel with parallel 3-0 THHN, they ran one set each to each panel. Is this code? This is a public service at a commercial building.
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Probably meets the tap rules.

What is a "public service"?
 
I agree it might be compliant if it follows the tap rules. There would need to be a 200 amp OCPD protecting the tap conductors.
 
petersonra said:
if they don't have main breakers then they don't meet the tap rules, and the panel bus is not properly protected.
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I suppose they could still avoid the tap rules if a jumper was installed between the two sets of conductors at the line side of the panels. you would still have the problem of the panel buses not being properly protected if there was no main breaker.

Just out of curiosity what is your role in this situation?
 
petersonra said:
I suppose they could still avoid the tap rules if a jumper was installed between the two sets of conductors at the line side of the panels. you would still have the problem of the panel buses not being properly protected if there was no main breaker.

Just out of curiosity what is your role in this situation?
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My role in the situation is that i was called to finish a job after another electrician. this was only one of the issues. The other main issue is that he install a 3 phase feed for an elevator in a 2" conduit along with (8) other 20 amp circuits. Meaning (8) hot wires and (8) neutrals all in the same conduit
 
Vmadden said:
My role in the situation is that i was called to finish a job after another electrician. this was only one of the issues. The other main issue is that he install a 3 phase feed for an elevator in a 2" conduit along with (8) other 20 amp circuits. Meaning (8) hot wires and (8) neutrals all in the same conduit
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Unlikely to be compliant.

It seems like there is an "easy" fix for the first problem. Add main breakers or separate ocpd for each panel board. That makes it a legal tap.

The second problem will need some thought but probably involves moving conductors to another conduit or maybe more than one conduit.
 
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