Can there be TWO separately derived systems in one building?

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11bgrunt

Pragmatist
Location
TEXAS
Occupation
Electric Utility Reliability Coordinator
Existing facility has three phase 240/120V Delta secondary. Two pole mount 15kVAs and one 25kVA transformer.

Customer has increased the size of the building and added significant equipment load in the new area.

The POCO was asked to add a 480Y service to power the new loads.

The POCO said no, can’t have those two services in the same building. Then another POCO employee said yes, if a firebreak wall is added between the two services. This is an open bay work area.

I may have suggested that the POCO view is not supported by the NEC.

Can someone lead me to a rule that supports either view, to help us work with the POCO / AHJ in this unincorporated area.
 

augie47

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Tennessee
Occupation
State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
Sounds as if you are asking about 2 services from POCO (as opposed to SDS). You can have two services on one building under certain circumstances one of which is each having a different characteristic such as in your case. NEC 230.2(D)

POCO's willingness to provide such and the cost depends on a number of factors determined by your POCO
 

11bgrunt

Pragmatist
Location
TEXAS
Occupation
Electric Utility Reliability Coordinator
Sounds as if you are asking about 2 services from POCO (as opposed to SDS). You can have two services on one building under certain circumstances one of which is each having a different characteristic such as in your case. NEC 230.2(D)

POCO's willingness to provide such and the cost depends on a number of factors determined by your POCO
TWO different services from two different transformer banks.
I have always used SDS to mean;
By definition, a separately derived system is a “premises wiring system whose power is derived from a battery, a solar photovoltaic system, or from a generator, transformer, or converter windings, and that has no direct electrical connection, including a solidly connected grounded circuit conductor, to supply conductors originating in another system.”
 

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
It would probably be more cost effective for your customer to have the POCO change the service to 480 and just add a customer supplied transformer for the existing loads.
 

Strathead

Senior Member
Location
Ocala, Florida, USA
Occupation
Electrician/Estimator/Project Manager/Superintendent
TWO different services from two different transformer banks.
I have always used SDS to mean;
By definition, a separately derived system is a “premises wiring system whose power is derived from a battery, a solar photovoltaic system, or from a generator, transformer, or converter windings, and that has no direct electrical connection, including a solidly connected grounded circuit conductor, to supply conductors originating in another system.”
And the first word is "premises" Utility feeds are services. And as was answered, yes you can.
 

augie47

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Tennessee
Occupation
State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
TWO different services from two different transformer banks.
I have always used SDS to mean;
By definition, a separately derived system is a “premises wiring system whose power is derived from a battery, a solar photovoltaic system, or from a generator, transformer, or converter windings, and that has no direct electrical connection, including a solidly connected grounded circuit conductor, to supply conductors originating in another system.”
Service. The conductors and equipment for delivering electric energy from the serving utility to the wiring system of the premises served
Service Point. The point of connection between the facilities of the serving utility and the premises wiring

As shown, any wiring, transformers, etc. that are installed by POCO ahead of the customer wiring is SERVICE.
SDS are customer owned and wired.
 

hillbilly1

Senior Member
Location
North Georgia mountains
Occupation
Owner/electrical contractor
I’m doing something similar, upgrading to a 1600 amp 480 volt service from a 400 amp 120/240 volt delta. Could have left the old service, but customer is wanting to move the utility pole back 50’ to make room for more storage sheds. I’m re-feeding the old service with a 75 kva transformer for the 200 amp three phase panel, and using a 50 kva single phase transformer to feed the single phase panels.
 

11bgrunt

Pragmatist
Location
TEXAS
Occupation
Electric Utility Reliability Coordinator
Service. The conductors and equipment for delivering electric energy from the serving utility to the wiring system of the premises served
Service Point. The point of connection between the facilities of the serving utility and the premises wiring

As shown, any wiring, transformers, etc. that are installed by POCO ahead of the customer wiring is SERVICE.
SDS are customer owned and wired.
Thank you all for the replies and the SDS clarification. The customer will be reviewing the long term cost but having only one 480V service from the utility and using a dry type transformer to serve their 120/240 loads has been discussed.
 

hbiss

EC, Westchester, New York NEC: 2014
Location
Hawthorne, New York NEC: 2014
Occupation
EC
I have always used SDS to mean;
By definition, a separately derived system is a “premises wiring system whose power is derived from a battery, a solar photovoltaic system, or from a generator, transformer, or converter windings, and that has no direct electrical connection, including a solidly connected grounded circuit conductor, to supply conductors originating in another system.”
That's certainly not what you are talking about here.

-Hal
 
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