Adding a neutral bar into an existing Switchgear

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kentwc

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morgan ut united states
We are changing out our 12,470 volts to 480 volt delta delta transformer to a 480 volt Y transformer and our existing switchgear does not have a neutral bar. Is it up to code to add a neutral bar to the existing switchgear? I have attached a picture that shows the inside of the existing switchgear.
 

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If your loads do not need a neutral, I believe all you will need to do is ground the neutral at the transformer. There should be no need to add a neutral bar to the switchgear unless you have new loads that require it.
 
should the contractor check the panel specifications first? what exact location in panel the neutral allowed to be installed per UL testing?

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kentwc said:
That would be great if we could do that. Thanks
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He's correct, if you have no need of the Neutral in the switchgear, i.e. no loads that require it, then you don't need to run it. Just ground it at the transformer.

In general you cannot add things like bus bars to switchgear in the field if it is going to be inspected, because the AHJ will want to see that you have a UL label on the gear as 4 wire, and you will not have that. The gear mfr. MIGHT possibly have a field retrofit kit that maintains the UL listing of the gear, but probably not.
 
Jraef said:
He's correct, if you have no need of the Neutral in the switchgear, i.e. no loads that require it, then you don't need to run it. Just ground it at the transformer.

In general you cannot add things like bus bars to switchgear in the field if it is going to be inspected, because the AHJ will want to see that you have a UL label on the gear as 4 wire, and you will not have that. The gear mfr. MIGHT possibly have a field retrofit kit that maintains the UL listing of the gear, but probably not.
Click to expand...

I have added them for MCCs that were used as service equipment and for some reason did not come with a neutral kit even though it was ordered that way.
 
Jraef said:
He's correct, if you have no need of the Neutral in the switchgear, i.e. no loads that require it, then you don't need to run it. Just ground it at the transformer.

In general you cannot add things like bus bars to switchgear in the field if it is going to be inspected, because the AHJ will want to see that you have a UL label on the gear as 4 wire, and you will not have that. The gear mfr. MIGHT possibly have a field retrofit kit that maintains the UL listing of the gear, but probably not.
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Thanks that is what we will do, I appreciate the help.
 
I must be missing something.
From the OP its not clear (to me) if this is a service switchboard or not.
If he's changing his transformer from Delta to Wye and its a service transformer 250.24 would require a neutral be brought to the service.
 
augie47 said:
I must be missing something.
From the OP its not clear (to me) if this is a service switchboard or not.
If he's changing his transformer from Delta to Wye and its a service transformer 250.24 would require a neutral be brought to the service.
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Good point. Re-reading the OP's description, this does sound like a service.

If this switchboard is the service disconnecting means, you would be required to bring in the neutral conductors and land them on a neutral bar. If this is the case, you may be best off installing a new fused service disconnect instead of replacing/modifying the switchboard.
 
Sunny_92 said:
Good point. Re-reading the OP's description, this does sound like a service.

If this switchboard is the service disconnecting means, you would be required to bring in the neutral conductors and land them on a neutral bar. If this is the case, you may be best off installing a new fused service disconnect instead of replacing/modifying the switchboard.
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Ok so let me clear this up a little, I have 12,470 volts coming from the street to a multiple switch station that goes to 3 different transformers. Two of the switches are already going to delta wye transformers and the 3rd switch is going to my delta delta transformer that we are switching out to a delta wye transformer. We have 3 different plants inside our building that each transformer controls. The other two transformers that are delta wye do not have neutrals going to the main switchboard.
 
Sorry on my last post I said that the other two did not have neutrals going to the switchboard but they actually do have neutrals. So I am thinking of either adding a fused disconnect and running my neutrals to it or replacing the old switchboard we currently have and adding a new switchboard that i can add a neutral to it.
 
kentwc said:
We are changing out our 12,470 volts to 480 volt delta delta transformer to a 480 volt Y transformer and our existing switchgear does not have a neutral bar. Is it up to code to add a neutral bar to the existing switchgear? I have attached a picture that shows the inside of the existing switchgear.
Click to expand...

i ran into this with a new installation. gear was 3 wire, poco approved it, then said
i needed a 4 wire, as the neutral was needed for the new meter. no four wire loads.

had to add a neutral bus. gear manufacturer would not sell the factory parts.
would add them for five figures.

needed about 2' of bus bar. made it out of copper, put it in, poco would bless it
if city inspector blessed it?

city inspector blessed it.

so, to make it "up to code" you'd have to use factory furnished stuff, or have
them upgrade it.

or bend up some bus bar like i did.
 
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