Does 376.56 (4) apply here?

[darekelec]

Good afternoon gentleman.
I have a question that occurred on job site.
We have Murray 8 meter stack on a box under it with 4 live exposed terminals.
Is that box officially an auxiliary gutter or is the whole assembly a manufacturers product?
Everything is supplied by Murray.
Is it up to 2008 nec or not?
thank you

376.56 (4)
(4) Live Parts. Power distribution blocks shall not have uninsulated live parts exposed within a wireway, whether or not the wireway cover is installed.

http://w3.usa.siemens.com/powerdist...t-catalog/Documents/sf-11-sect-03-034-038.pdf

 

[kwired]

Good question, I'd guess as long as you use the listed components of the system you have nothing to worry about.

Many other cases such a setup would involve a bus connector between the "stacks" and use of a main lug or main disconnect accessory that also utilizes the same but connectors.

I'd also say unless there is a service disconnect ahead of this "line trough" you can not run load side conductors back through the line trough. So if the supply is from the bottom and is service conuctors the load conductors about have to exit from the top, or vice versa.

 

[Joe Villani]

Based on the definition I think this falls under 366 Auxiliary Gutters.

366.2 Definitions.
Metallic Auxiliary Gutter. A sheet metal enclosure used to
supplement wiring spaces at meter centers, distribution centers,
switchboards, and similar points of wiring systems.
The enclosure has hinged or removable covers for housing
and protecting electrical wires, cable, and busbars. The enclosure
is designed for conductors to be laid or set in place after
the enclosures have been installed as a complete system.

I Don't see the protection requirements in Auxiliary Gutters for Power Distribution Blocks.

I don't care for the Murray's as I feel the tap rule for conductors is often violated. (Tapping a tap)

Joe Villani

 

[kwired]

Based on the definition I think this falls under 366 Auxiliary Gutters.

366.2 Definitions.
Metallic Auxiliary Gutter. A sheet metal enclosure used to
supplement wiring spaces at meter centers, distribution centers,
switchboards, and similar points of wiring systems.
The enclosure has hinged or removable covers for housing
and protecting electrical wires, cable, and busbars. The enclosure
is designed for conductors to be laid or set in place after
the enclosures have been installed as a complete system.

I Don't see the protection requirements in Auxiliary Gutters for Power Distribution Blocks.

I don't care for the Murray's as I feel the tap rule for conductors is often violated. (Tapping a tap)

Joe Villani

If the supply is service conductors - the rules of 240.21 do not apply - they are not feeder taps.

If the supply is a feeder - the main conductor must be protected no more then it's ampacity (next size up rule where applicable), and only the conductors leaving the tap blocks are feeder taps, you could tap that feeder hundreds of times if you wanted, you just can't tap again from any of the taps. Also if the tap is less then 10 feet long it doesn't need to land at a single overcurrent device - which would allow the design in question here. The bus in the meter stack is an extension of the feeder tap as long as it doesn't have less ampacity less then the tap conductor supplying it

 

[darekelec]

Everybody is right.

Everybody is right.

Although manufacturer states Line troughs are indoor horizontal wire ways this peace of equipment meets definition of 'Auxiliary gutters are intended as supplemental space to a piece of equipment.'
That would make it art 366 and not 376 where the ban for live terminals appears.
So I guess I can buy a trough and then use it as wire way or aux gutter.

http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=139868

Thank you Forum.

 

[kwired]

Although manufacturer states Line troughs are indoor horizontal wire ways this peace of equipment meets definition of 'Auxiliary gutters are intended as supplemental space to a piece of equipment.'
That would make it art 366 and not 376 where the ban for live terminals appears.
So I guess I can buy a trough and then use it as wire way or aux gutter.

http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=139868

Thank you Forum.

You are correct that there is a fine line sometimes between what is a wireway and what is an aux gutter.

I'd say the intended use of the item you question is an aux gutter before it is a wireway.