Does a CT cabinet require work space compliance?
- Thread starter darekelec
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Probably outside the scope of the NEC, but I expect the utility has requirements that pretty much match up with those in the NEC.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Our POCO does
Strathead
Senior Member
- Location
- Ocala, Florida, USA
- Occupation
- Electrician/Estimator/Project Manager/Superintendent
Not per 110.26, if that is what you are asking. It is likely, as others have stated that the POCO might require working space, but it doesn't have exposed parts.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Not per the NEC, as the CT cabinet is sealed and CTs belong to the POCO, and don’t require adjustment, servicing, maintenance….
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- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
No, you really cannot find such requirements in the NEC.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
I read this again. The NEC covers nothing on the utility side of the service point. See 90.2 B 5
After thinking about it some more, I agree, anything on the utility side of the service point is not covered.
However, if we take a typical overhead service, the service point is usually taken as the connection at the weatherhead. That makes the weatherhead, riser, and meter all on the customer side of the service point, and therefore covered under the NEC. Our local utility makes it clear in their standards that meter enclosures are installed, owned, and maintained by the customer. IMO that means its covered by the NEC.
Well the POCO may certainly have to access the CT enclosure while its energized, and I don't believe the NEC makes any distinction about "who" is likely to examine or service the equipment while energized. IMO just because of its location (often ahead of any service disconnect) its even more likely to require inspection while energized than most electrical equipment.
Strathead
Senior Member
- Location
- Ocala, Florida, USA
- Occupation
- Electrician/Estimator/Project Manager/Superintendent
What, inside the CT cabinet is exposed electrical components?
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
The meter and the CT cabinet are "under the exclusive control of the utility", and even where physically on the load side of the service point, are outside the scope of the NEC per 90.2
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Depends on whether you have donut- or bar-type CTs, and the secondary terminals are often exposed, even if they theoretically have no voltage on them.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
I disagree unless it is on the utility side of the service point. Just because the utility seals it doesn't change the jurisdiction. Do non-utility workers open CT cabinets (or pull meters, or open other utility sealed cabinets) under both legal and illegal circumstances? Yes they do.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
Also the wording of Article 90 does not exempt equipment from the NEC's scope on the basis of who employs the person who is likely to be examining it.
Strathead
Senior Member
- Location
- Ocala, Florida, USA
- Occupation
- Electrician/Estimator/Project Manager/Superintendent
When have you seen a Utility Bar type CT? A 9 volt battery has voltage on it also, shall we require 3 feet of working clearance on it too? If a person is carrying a 9 volt battery and stands behind you does the clearance need to change to condition 3? This is a facetious question.
jaggedben
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern California
- Occupation
- Solar and Energy Storage Installer
They're just not. Not if someone else installs them and owns them.
Ours are. You buy them and install them. We put our lock on them, and we have exclusive control.
Duke is the same way for the most part.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
They are as soon as the utility puts their seal or lock on them.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
What is your position on the clearance issue, or is this addressed in your utility standards?
We have to provide Ct enclosures in most parts of our area "and" install them.
If you install them I would think you would have to install them per the Utility Company's requirements.
Otherwise, I'd say if you didn't want to install it, you could always say "I bought it but you're going to own it so you install it" and see how far that gets you.
JAP>
If you install them I would think you would have to install them per the Utility Company's requirements.
Otherwise, I'd say if you didn't want to install it, you could always say "I bought it but you're going to own it so you install it" and see how far that gets you.
JAP>
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