I've got to do some work in a panel, and need to shut it down. No problem, right? Wrong. This panel is an emergency (optional standby) panel powered from a distribution panel that is adjacent to the ATS. My problem is that this panel, as well as three other panels, is fed via feed-through lugs in the distrubution panel. The only way to kill power to the panel is to disable the generator and lock out, then shut normal power off to the ATS and lock out. Is this set-up a violation? I tend to think that it's just poor design, but am unsure.
Daisy-Chained Panels On Load Side of ATS
- Thread starter A-1Sparky
- Start date
- Status
I don't see any violation. Depending on how many circuits it feeds, and what they supply, and other things like amp ratings, it may or may not be bad design.
Its always hard to shut off an emergency panel.
There are actually some breaker coordination issues that putting a main breaker in each panel may cause.
Of course, feeding each panel from a separate breaker in the distribution panel would have been a better design, but there may have been reasons to avoid that too.
brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Leesburg, VA
You say the panel is fed from a MDP adjacent to the ATS, do you mean only the Normal/Utility is fed from this MDP?
Besides the generator should have a circuit breaker, Lock out the Generator CB.
I hope it is not a violation it is done in about 75% of most generator installations. Unless you have a generator distribution panel feeding multiple ATS's.
Besides the generator should have a circuit breaker, Lock out the Generator CB.
I hope it is not a violation it is done in about 75% of most generator installations. Unless you have a generator distribution panel feeding multiple ATS's.
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
No violation, but with 70E not very convient now. I know of lots of computer room panels set up this way, which when you have to add a breaker for a new circuit, it takes an act of congress (actually congress does nothing but spend money, so not a good anaolgy)to get it shut down to install. Engineers will probably start specifing mains in each panel now to make it easier to comply.
This is a brand new, multi-million dollar building so I'm a little disappointed that individual breakers weren't spec'd out in the distribution panel. This was brought up to the engineer during construction, but she refused to alter her design. Yeah, my plan is to lock out the generator breaker as well as disable the starting circuit and also lock out the ATS breaker and the emergency power fused disconnect...no chance of getting lit up 
Thanks for he replies, guys.
Thanks for he replies, guys.- Status