Disconnect Switch and Appleton Receptacle for a Temp. Generator Connection

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FaradayFF

Senior Member
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California
Greetings,
Does anyone have experience with designing/installation of disconnect switch to Appleton plug& receptacle connection. For easy of installation of the wiring, should the plug be located below the disconnect switch? I'm just trying to picture how to make this work.

Thanks,
EE
 
If you are dealing with "temporary" generator installs keep the following in mind:
406l.7(B) Connection of Attachment Plugs. Attachment plugs shall be installed so that their prongs, blades, or pins are not energized unless inserted into an energized receptacle or cord connectors. No receptacle shall be installed so as to require the insertion of an energized attachment plug as its source of supply.
(infinity's question)
and
702.5 Transfer Equipment. Transfer equipment shall be suita‐ ble for the intended use and designed and installed so as to prevent the inadvertent interconnection of normal and alter‐ nate sources of supply in any operation of the transfer equip‐ ment. Transfer equipment and electric power production systems installed to permit operation in parallel with the normal source shall meet the requirements of Article 705.
 
I see them commonly used on lift station cabinets. Occasionally for cell phone sights. They are intended for "temporary" use only with a portable generator. Disconnects have been anything from mechanically interlocked breakers to three position safety switch. All of these are quite old and might not meet today's code.
 
Many companies used to sell disconnect switches with factory attached receptacles. Often these were interlocked together so you could not turn on the switch without the plug being inserted.
 
I prefer the IEC 309 style inlets. They are interchangable between mfgs, and standardized for voltage/phase. Some mfgs make a disconnect with 309 inlet. Brands I like and have used are Hubble and Leviton.
 
In my experience the plug is usually installed on the bottom of the disconnect. I'm not an electrician, but I think this has to do with the practice of installing the line side to the top of the disconnect switch. The receptacle is then wired to the load side of the disconnect switch.

If this is a generator application I think it is important to look at reverse service options and to understand the NEC requirements described by augie47.

For safety reasons, you may want to consider mechanically interlocked disconnect switches. Or if you aren't married to a brand consider other manufacturers. ;);)

If it's a generator application you might want to look for manual or automatic transfer switches with plugs and receptacles.
 
Meltric_South said:
In my experience the plug is usually installed on the bottom of the disconnect. I'm not an electrician, but I think this has to do with the practice of installing the line side to the top of the disconnect switch. The receptacle is then wired to the load side of the disconnect switch.

If this is a generator application I think it is important to look at reverse service options and to understand the NEC requirements described by augie47.

For safety reasons, you may want to consider mechanically interlocked disconnect switches. Or if you aren't married to a brand consider other manufacturers. ;);)

If it's a generator application you might want to look for manual or automatic transfer switches with plugs and receptacles.
Click to expand...
Thanks for you reply. Are there Manual Transfer switch products out there with integral plugs and receptacles?
Thanks,
EE
 
FaradayFF said:
Thanks for you reply. Are there Manual Transfer switch products out there with integral plugs and receptacles?
Thanks,
EE
Click to expand...
Yes there are, but there are a lot of criteria that should probably be discussed before selecting one. I'm not an expert on the technologies in transfer switches so I can't really help there (my focus is on the plug part), but a quick google search for manual transfer switches might provide a start.
 
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