circuit breaker height

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augie47

augie47

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State Electrical Inspector (Retired)
404.8 provides stipulations for "switches and circuit breakers used as switches". Situation: Commercial kitchen with an appliance cord & plug connected. The receptacles is fed from a circuit breaker mounted hiher than 6'7" from the floor. Is this a violaton???
The cord/plug arrangement provides disconnect for the appliance and the breaker is there as a "overcurrent" device, not necessarily as a "switch".
 
I agree with your take on this situation: no violation. I also believe that Exception 2 gives you explicit permission, even if the appliance were not plug and cord connected.
 
augie47 said:
404.8 provides stipulations for "switches and circuit breakers used as switches". Situation: Commercial kitchen with an appliance cord & plug connected. The receptacles is fed from a circuit breaker mounted hiher than 6'7" from the floor. Is this a violaton???
The cord/plug arrangement provides disconnect for the appliance and the breaker is there as a "overcurrent" device, not necessarily as a "switch".
Click to expand...
Just one breaker is higher than 6'7"? Or is it a panel with multiple breakers above 6'7"? I tend to think you are in violation. IMO all breakers are used to switch a circuit on or off. How frequent, well thats a different story.
 
charlie b said:
I also believe that Exception 2 gives you explicit permission, even if the appliance were not plug and cord connected.
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He didn't say the breaker was adjacent to the appliance. So I don't know how you can say this. :confused:
 
chevyx92 said:
He didn't say the breaker was adjacent to the appliance. So I don't know how you can say this. :confused:
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True. He did say something that led me to conclude that the switch was located above the component. But we do not know that for certain, based only what was stated in the original post.

That's one Brownie Point for you, and one Mea Culpa for me.
 
I don't believe there's a problem.If the circuit breaker is not used to turn off the appliance every night, it's not being used as a switch.
Exception # 2 applies to motors and equipment mounted up high.The switch is allowed to be mounted next to it.
Rick
 
my supervisor has ruled that the installtion is acceptable as "the breakers are not used as switches". I disagree, not that it matters.
Using that logic, 90% of the circuit breakers could me mounted at any height.
 
augie47 said:
my supervisor has ruled that the installtion is acceptable as "the breakers are not used as switches". I disagree, not that it matters.
Using that logic, 90% of the circuit breakers could me mounted at any height.
Click to expand...

Switch or not, what about 240.24(A)?

Roger
 
augie47 said:
thank you.
but
where were you when I was arguing my point :)
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Story of my life, day late and a dollar short. ;) :)

Roger
 
augie47

augie47

is this the only means of OCP? i see an exception for supplemental OCP to the 2M requirement. Just curiosity, for my little pea brain. Mosr coffee, must have more coffee........:smile:
 
Coffee? ESP ?

Coffee? ESP ?

they are the branch circuit protective device, and now, thanks to Roger, I will stick to my guns. Ironic you need coffee as the panel in question was added at a McDonalds for their new flavored coffee machines.
My understanding is many of the MickeyD's are adding this, so some of you may find the same thing. This was not the 1st improper installation for the new machines in TN.
 
roger said:
Switch or not, what about 240.24(A)?
Click to expand...



I agree with you Augie, but I don't think Section 240.24(A) had the 6' 7" requirement added to it until the 2005 NEC. (for those who don't know TN is on the 2002 NEC)
 
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