Distribution point

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paul32

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A disconnecting means at the distribution point is only required for farms that have the conditions listed in 547.1, right? Why is this disconnecting means needed for these buildings? Also, am I correct that a distribution point can be used when article 547 does not apply, even though it is defined there? I didn't see anything elsewhere that prohibits having a pole with a meter with service drops to several buildings, for something that isn't a farm per article 547. I believe this pole could have a disconnect, but not required, and if one were present would not need to be grounded. Is this correct?

So if there is a pole the utility wires connect to, and customer wires then go down the pole to the meter and back up and to the buildings. The overhead wires are service drops. Is there a name for the wires to and from the meter?

When there is a light on this pole, I wouldn't think there would be a branch circuit coming from one of the buildings back to the pole, so how does this light meet code requirements (where is the branch circuit overcurrent protection, service equipment, service disconnect, etc)?
 
Re: Distribution point

I can't answer your first questions, but I think I might be able to provide some insight into your last question.

Here in the midwest it is common to have the power company provide nightlights (a polelight that comes on at night). Even on private property like farms and parking lots. The power company installs and maintains the light and provides electricity for some set monthly fee. Thus, the power comes straight from the utility lines. Since it is the POCO's light, they aren't bound by the NEC rules. But I would assume they provide some sort of overcurrent protection, and some sort of disconnect that is accessable to their linemen.
 
Re: Distribution point

Article 100 Service-Entrance Conductors, Overhead System.

Describes service entrance conductors as starting at the disconnect and going back to the service drop.
 
Re: Distribution point

paul32
The distribution point is unique to farms. It is required to have a disconnecting means, but NEC permits that disconnect to not have overcurrent protection. When that's the case, you have supply conductors to each building where the OCPD is located, 547.9(B)(1). When the OCPD is at the distribution point, you have feeders per (B)(2).

In other services, you can't have overcurrent protection remote from the disconencting means per 230.91. Farms are the only place that I can think of where the distribution point applies.
Jim T
 
Re: Distribution point

But I would assume they provide some sort of overcurrent protection, and some sort of disconnect that is accessable to their linemen.
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I worked on a range well meter main yesterday and the light was wired to the poco side of the meter. I'm going to guess they had to trip the transformer or work hot. There was no disco that I saw.
 
Re: Distribution point

Originally posted by jtester:

In other services, you can't have overcurrent protection remote from the disconencting means per 230.91. Farms are the only place that I can think of where the distribution point applies.
Jim T
Click to expand...
I was thinking about just a disconnect, not overcurrent protection. Plus 230.91 to me says where the service overcurrent should be, not that there cannot be other overcurrent protection. But that made me think about 230.82, which to me says a disconnect other than a meter disconnect and overcurrent devices can't be on the supply side of the service.

So now I think the distribution point requires the disconnect for farms and cannot have it otherwise. But I don't see anything that prohibits having a distribution point and a service on each building, for something that isn't a farm. And agree a farm is as defined in 547.1 and not the common usage of the term?

Originally posted by steve66:

Here in the midwest it is common to have the power company provide nightlights (a polelight that comes on at night).
Click to expand...
I had heard of that, and that could be the common method I suppose. I asked because a coworker has a light wired on the load side of the meter and I'm wondering how that meets code (or maybe doesn't). He said his electrician asked jokingly which side of the meter he should put the light when he installed it.
 
Re: Distribution point

paul32
quote
But I don't see anything that prohibits having a distribution point and and a service on each building, or something that isn't a farm.
By definition, 547.2, a distribution point is applicable to agricultural buildings, associated farm dwellings, and associated buildings under single management
The definition tells you what it applies to.
Jim T
 
Re: Distribution point

Ok. The non farm doesn't have a "distribution point". But is there something that says it can't have a pole with the service point and meter, and multiple service drops from there to different buildings each with service equipment?
 
Re: Distribution point

230.40 says Each service drop or lateral shall supply only one set of service entrance conductors... There are some exceptions, you could refer there to see if your application fits one of them,
The one that allows you to feed 2-6 disconnects requires them to be grouped at one location.
Jim T
 
Re: Distribution point

Each building would have a service drop, and just one set of service entrance conductors. I didn't see a similar rule saying there can be only one service drop. Anything else you can think of?

Thanks Jim. Anyone else have any thoughts?
 
Re: Distribution point

I have a thought about your use of the term service drop. I haven't read everthing completely but are you using the term service drop to descride service entrace conductors that are after the service drop? Purely a semantics question, I'm only responding to where you asked what to call the conducters.
 
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