conductor separation

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wheIV

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I am involved with an installation that implements an 800 amp fused disconnect switch that serves as my service disconnect. The switch is located on the outside of the building. The utility conductors enter into the switch from the bottom as it is an underground service lateral. The load side conductors also leave the bottom of the switch and run underground and into an 800 amo mlo distribution panel. The problem I have encountered is with my inspector. He is telling me that the utility and load conductors cannot occupy the same enclosure. Because of the way the conductors enter, land and exit the enclosure they crisscross at the bottom of the switch. There is no mechanical separation between them. I have never seen a fusible switch that is service entrance rated include barriers for separation. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I have seen many of these types of installations.
 
I don't know exactly where your inspector is coming from. It is typical in large services like yours with main breakers to have the lateral come in from the bottom and instead of exiting the load side with wires, having buss bars in the same enclosure as the feeder conductors going into multiple sections as part of the service equipment. For that matter, how about a regular old 200A meter socket with the lateral and service entrance conductors in the same enclosure often crossing paths?
 
230.7 Other Conductors in Raceway or Cable.
Conductors other than service conductors shall not be installed in the same service raceway or service cable.
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I think the inspector is misquoting this........Point it out that this does not apply to enclosures....
 
LarryFine said:
Only two:

1. An enclosure is not a raceway or wireway, it's a cabinet.

2. How can the line and load conductors NOT be in the same enclsure?
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I agree. How can they not share a cabinet designed for the two sets of conductors. UL listing alone aproves the install.
 
First, get the inspector to find a code article that he is prepared to enforce. Two, make sure you know who his super is.
 
Thanks everyone for your input. I did my research last night and did not find anything in the code with the exception of 230-7 referencing conductor separation. I met again with my inspector this morning and requested that he show me what code reference he was enforcing...he could not and subsequently backed down on his comment.
 
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