Disconnect

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lrollo

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My little brother is an electrician in the Texas panhandle. He is telling me the utility company there is requiring on any new services for Commercial or Industrial properties with a load of 15KVA or greater must have a disconnect sized to load BEFORE the meter. Has anyone ever heard of something like this? I dont know it is illegal or against code but it seems ridiculous to have it before the meter when there is a fuse on the transformer on the pole. Any comments are welcome. Thanks, Leamon
 
Re: Disconnect

Leamon, the switch would not have anything to do with the OCPD. (fuse)

This would not be a code issue even though the installation could be.

Roger
 
Re: Disconnect

The utility calls this "cold sequence" and it allows them to serve the meter and/or CT cabinet,if any.
 
Re: Disconnect

We require cold sequence only in our networked area where the available fault current can easily exceed 100,000 amperes. In all other areas, we require hot sequence to discourage tampering. I imagine the electric utility has had a bad experience with a meter and now requires cold sequence for the safety of the service linemen.

As long as the disconnect is under the exclusive control of the electric utility, it is not considered service equipment and falls under 90.2(B)(5). If the previous statement is not true, OC protection is to be provided and that becomes the service equipment unless local rules prevail.

BTW, the OC protection provided by the electric utility is not to protect the transformer, the secondary, the service drop or lateral, or the service entrance conductors. The OC protection is sized to protect the primary line that feeds the transformer. We do not want to lose a transformer but we care more about the primary line and do not want any service interruptions. Do not depend on the electric utility to protect anything at the service . . . ever. :cool:
 
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