Eaton Ultra connection in a tight panel

S

Sparro

Member
Location
Colorado
Occupation
Master Electrician
What do you guys do to connect an Eaton Ultra, or something similar, in a panel that has a lot of conduits coming into the bottom of it already? Particularly the all in ones where you can't use the left side of the panel? We've failed inspections for gluing carflex into female adapters (I know it's not rated by Carlon), for using rigid couplings in the plastic nipple of the surge protector, and for the lock ring on the surge interfering with the operation of the panel. Sometimes the panel is too tight in or around the space it's mounted to effectively get them installed. I know if you extend the leads on a surge it kills it's effectiveness pretty quickly too so I'm trying to avoid that. Ideally I would have a 1/2 female adapter with a flexible weather rated conduit 8-12 inches long ending in a 1/2 male connector. Do any of you extremely resourceful humans have any advice for me?
 
I have used the rigid coupling, chase nipple method and not had a problem with inspection.
 
This is a good example of a terrible installation. Instead of the offset nipple in this picture I often use two non-metallic flex connectors and a small piece of non-metallic flex to hook the surge protector to the panel. I want to keep the leads from the surge protector as short as possible so I'm looking for a better, cleaner looking connection. Here is another picture of the eaton with the plastic nipple coming out of the top.
 

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Sparro said:
This is a good example of a terrible installation. Instead of the offset nipple in this picture I often use two non-metallic flex connectors and a small piece of non-metallic flex to hook the surge protector to the panel. I want to keep the leads from the surge protector as short as possible so I'm looking for a better, cleaner looking connection. Here is another picture of the eaton with the plastic nipple coming out of the top.
Click to expand...
I'm going to guess that these are listed only when connected via the integral nipple with a locknut. Also do the instructions mention that they need to be mounted?
 
Sparro said:
I want to keep the leads from the surge protector as short as possible....
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Keeping the leads short is not as important as keeping them straight. 90° bends are definitely bad, ideally theses should be mounted directly across from the connection/lugs.
 
jim dungar said:
Keeping the leads short is not as important as keeping them straight. 90° bends are definitely bad, ideally theses should be mounted directly across from the connection/lugs.
Click to expand...
Can you share that product instruction?

SPD designed for flush equipment behind walls are listed for mounting inside the box, at any angle they may fit.
 
ramsy said:
Can you share that product instruction?

SPD designed for flush equipment behind walls are listed for mounting inside the box, at any angle they may fit.
Click to expand...
It depends on the level of surge correction you are trying to get. The product information will tell you. Point of use devices, like receptacles, don't usually care but
in general lightning type surges are not good at turning corners.
 
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