Can Wires pass through Linked Subpanels

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cgrafx

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Hi,

Hoping somebody can help with this question.

This is for a commercial building TI in california.

I have two subpanels phsyically connected side by side along with a lighting control relay panel also ajoining the panels on one side.

panel.jpg


The subpanels are connected together through the 2 inch side knockouts at both the top and bottom of the panels, creating a wire pathway.

Can I run feed wires, as shown, from the load control in the LC box or breakers in SP1 to conduit connected to SP2?

Or will I have to add a pull-box and feed all wires through that instead?
 
Actually, its blue, red and white phase tape, and why would it be out of place?

Its not like you can get #2 wire in colors.
 
cgrafx said:
Actually, its blue, red and white phase tape, and why would it be out of place?

Its not like you can get #2 wire in colors.
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Ummm... phasing is generally accepted to be
  • A - Black
  • B - Red
  • C - Blue
  • N - White
Your wiring "appears" to have B and C phases reversed.
 
Smart $ said:
Your wiring "appears" to have B and C phases reversed.
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Throw him in the Iron Maiden! Or, just ignore it because it doesn't matter.

I'd be more concerned with the bend radius on the feeder conductors in the right hand subpanel if I wanted to be picky about something that mattered.
 
mdshunk said:
Throw him in the Iron Maiden! Or, just ignore it because it doesn't matter.

I'd be more concerned with the bend radius on the feeder conductors in the right hand subpanel if I wanted to be picky about something that mattered.
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Yeh, I saw that... but I wasn't being picky, I was only answering the question :wink:
 
and whats wrong with the radius ? The squared off corners? Just curious because there is certainly lots of room above the lugs to properly loop the conductors in my humble opinion.
 
phasing colors & bend radius

phasing colors & bend radius

The colors in the main panel (center) was done by a Licenced Electrician (as was there before I got involved)

I just followed the phasing when I added the second panel on the right.

(the most important aspect is that the phasing is consistant, and that nuetral and ground are properly connected).

Can you please elaborate more on the bend radius?
The wire is not kinked or overly stressed, so what would the issue be?
(I'm not challanging the issue, just interested in the specifics)

Thanks in advance for everybody's assistance.
 
stew said:
and whats wrong with the radius ? The squared off corners? Just curious because there is certainly lots of room above the lugs to properly loop the conductors in my humble opinion.
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Yes the squared-off corners. See 300.34. The bends should have a radius of not less than 8 times the diameter of the wire including insulation.
 
I would have to stste that unless otherwise required by code, the phasing would have to acceptable. The white is in the right place... The NEC makes only a few color choices, and unless this is a delta panel with a high-leg even that rainbow of colors on the branch wiring would be OK.

But if in my neck of the woods it would be this: (SF Code - service, feeder and branch, and all branch below #8 would have to be in colors, not tape.)

120/208 volt 4-wire 3-phase wye circuits -
?A? phase black, ?B? phase red, ?C? phase blue

120/240 volt 3-phase delta circuits -
?A? phase black, ?B? (high leg) phase purple, ?C? phase red

Looking at the picture at first I thought it was around here - mistaking the blue for purple, as often purple is mistaken for blue here. A dangerous mistake IMO.

cgrafx, although I would have used a gutter above or below the two panels, it's fine to go through...

And all those squirly bends and loops on the feeder are unnessesary...
 
e57 said:
Smart...

300.34 is in a section titled "II. Requirements for Over 600 Volts, Nominal"
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Ooops! My bad. Skipped right over that division header when I was skimming.

Is there a minimum bend radius requirement for conductors and cable? The only other requirements I could find where regarding the bending space.
 
Don`t let these guys razz you too much.It looks good.I`m sure there is an inspector out there that could be picky about bending radius.My question is why is the panel on the right slap full of breakers that aren`t being used.Seems like a waste of $$$$
 
The only limitation really is insulation damage - 110.7

i.e. you could bend it enough to crack or split the insulation, but if the the insulation is OK - then it's OK.
 
e57 said:
And all those squirly bends and loops on the feeder are unnessesary...
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That was my only real critism, and only as an FYI... It's a school of habit for some though...

Interesting point on that: I think the two panels were terminated by at least two poeple. Just because of the ever so slight defferences in the termination approach to the feeders on the left and the ones on the right. It's two different schools on it...
 
allenwayne said:
Don`t let these guys razz you too much.It looks good.I`m sure there is an inspector out there that could be picky about bending radius.My question is why is the panel on the right slap full of breakers that aren`t being used.Seems like a waste of $$$$
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I'm not done wiring the building yet. When finished, all the breakers will be wired.

I do appreciate all the comments actually. Its good to get the additional input.

If I had to do it again, I would have set things up a bit differently, but I had to work with the initial 200 amp feed and panel that was supplied.
 
Smart $ said:
Is there a minimum bend radius requirement for conductors and cable?
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Conductors under 600 no, but as you found you do need to leave bending space.

Cables do have a bending radius limit, I can't think of where right now.
 
I thought that one may not use a panel box as a chase. An example would be a two family home having one conduit entering the house from two stack meters. When entering the 1st panel it passes thru to the 2nd panel, many times sharing a neytral. Does anyone have any thought or input.

Thanks,

david
 
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