Bonding in panel instead of disconnect

[myjudge2]

The equipment for one of our recurring commercial projects is manufactured to have the grounded and grounding conductors bonded in the panel with a bonding jumper extending to the disconnect enclosure. I've never had a problem with this until today. I am being told I HAVE to bond them in the disconnect. The solution I was given by the official was to separate them in the panel and run 2/0 THHW to the disconnect and bond them there (The largest bonding jumper we have is 1/0 for CWG and Bldg steel). Unfortunately, these Square D products are not set up that way and I would have to buy new 'guts' at the least and all new switch gear if the proper 'guts' aren't available. Has anyone heard of a municipality enforcing something like this?

 

[Buck Parrish]

Could you please describe your service equipment a little better.

If it is still part of the service equipment, then it should be allowed.

However the disco has to be bonded, too. and the ground isolated at you next termination.

 

[myjudge2]

Panel Bonding

Panel Bonding

The 400A 3 Phase 208/120V 4W Square D NQOD Panel has 3-4 bars at the top for grounded and grounding conductors (both system and equipment). They are mechanically connected and separating them somehow would most likely void the UL listing. The larger lugs included on the bar from the factory are set up to accept the grounded system conductor, the CWG/Building Steel bonding jumper, the Ufer grounding conductor, and a bonding jumper for the disconnect. The grounding conductor from the rod electrode, being #4, is attached straight to the bar beside the larger lugs. The bonding jumper for the disconnect is 1/0, the same size as the Ufer/CWG/Bldg Steel. It feeds through a separate nipple into the disconnect and is bonded to the enclosure only. The grounded conductor for the system is not bonded to the disconnect enclosure in any way. What the official asked for (and what I've done) is to remove all the grounding and bonding conductors from the bars which now only bond the grounded conductors together. I had to buy a 24 space ground bar with a lug and two triple lugs. After installing these in the panel, I had to bond them all together, install the system and equipment conductors and then run a 2/0 (?) "not quite sure what to call this" conductor to the disconnect where I had to purchase another triple lug to bond the 2/0 with the grounded conductors of the system. Technically, the grounded and grounding conductors are bonded in the disconnect and separated in the panel. However, in my mind, you still have the same problem as before. If the service were ever energized by lighting, the resulting current would have to flow through the panel to get to the earth. What's the use of rewiring everything if the only problem I see with the system is really not corrected? And if the city doesn't allow bonding in the panel, is this something that should have been corrected during a plans review? I've already made the changes so I'm not trying to get out of anything but I'd like to understand the objection as well as the inspection process. Thanks.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

The code requires that the bonding be on the line side of or within the enclosure that contains the service disconnect. It sounds like the inspector is correct. As far as removing the jumper in your panel, that will not be a listing issue unless the panel is listed as "suitable only for service equipment". All panels listed as "suitable for use as service equipment" have provisions to remove the bond.