Breaker 1,3,5 used for MCB?

[CelectricB]

Is it per code to use the first breakers of a non-MCB panel as an MCB? Example below

 

[Dennis Alwon]

You are talking about back feeding a breaker. Most panels have a designated spot at the top for a back feed breaker. remember these breakers must have a hold down kit so that determines where it will be in the panel.

 

[LarryFine]

You are talking about back feeding a breaker. Most panels have a designated spot at the top for a back feed breaker. remember these breakers must have a hold down kit so that determines where it will be in the panel.

How long has the retention requirement been around?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

How long has the retention requirement been around?

I don't know

408-36(D) is where it is in the 2011 till now. Not sure when it first appeared

 

[infinity]

The back-fed main CB can go anywhere in the panel.

 

[CelectricB]

You are talking about back feeding a breaker. Most panels have a designated spot at the top for a back feed breaker. remember these breakers must have a hold down kit so that determines where it will be in the panel.

Thanks for the quick response, Dennis!

 

[Dennis Alwon]

The back-fed main CB can go anywhere in the panel.

Not on all panels from what I remember. I think GE has a spot near the top for their hold down kit.

They may have changed that because of the solar breakers which are required to be at the bottom.

 

[hillbilly1]

The back-fed main CB can go anywhere in the panel.

Which is easy to do with a panel board, because the breakers bolt in, but some load centers only have a hole tapped for the hold down kit in certain spots, but yes, it can be anywhere other than that.

 

[infinity]

Not on all panels from what I remember. I think GE has a spot near the top for their hold down kit.

They may have changed that because of the solar breakers which are required to be at the bottom.

Sorry I meant code wise there is no limitation for a panel like the one in the OP.

 

[norcal]

With Cutler-Hammer CH panels the hold down/breaker retainer only works in the upper poles, first required in the early to mid 1990's. Makes it a pain if a main needs to be added to a prior era panel.

 

[readydave8]

first required in the early to mid 1990's.

I assumed much earlier, but not seeing in '75 NEC (384 is panelboards that year)

In 1990 is 384-16(f)

No years in between handy right now

 

[ptonsparky]

A CH hold down kit can be mounted in older panels. Make your own hole for the screw.
Field engineering.

 

[Eddie702]

I had a Eaton BR panel that I mounted a gen interlock on it.

No problem there.

The main was 125 amp with a hold down on it

I ordered a 30 amp to connect the backfeed from a 7kw gen with another hold down kit.

Problem is the smaller breakers do not have the hole in them so you can't put the hold down on it

 

[Mr. Serious]

Problem is the smaller breakers do not have the hole in them so you can't put the hold down on it

I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to let you know, you can special-order the smaller rated BR breakers with a hole in them for the hold down screw. I think BR260 and above come with it anyway, but for the smaller sizes such as a 30 or 40 amp, you just add a B on the end of the part number. For your 30 amp example, you would need a BR230B instead of a BR230.

The problem is, most suppliers don't carry them, and many suppliers don't distinguish between the BR230B and the BR230 in their inventory, so even though you may order the correct one, it still could show up without the hole, unless you call first, and make absolutely sure that what is pictured on their site is what they are sending you.

It's better if you're working with a panel that is old enough that the old Bryant type BR breakers can legally go in it, because back then they all had holes.

 

[tom baker]

How long has the retention requirement been around?

I have been in the trade since 78, so then for sure. If you really needed to know go to NFPA.org and search previous editions of the NEC

 

[GarwoodV6]

If the breaker bring installed is backfed from a generator with its own OCP on the output isn't it just a switch? If so, a 60 amp C-H BR CB with the hold down mounting hole could be fed by smaller wiring sized to the OCP on the generator.
The OCP is provided at the source (generator) and the backfed CB is simply there as a switch to interface with the mechanical interlock, and the Main CB fed from the utility company.

I have had problems getting the smaller 20A & 30A BR breakers with the hold down screw hole provision, but 50A & 60A with the hold down hole are readily available