electrical disconnect

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I don't think one built in 2005 does. IMHO. I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.

(but 'round these parts you can chase unfused inside to a service disconnect.)
 
earthman08 said:
Does a house built in 1985 have to have an external electrical disconnect?
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Houses built now do not require an external disconnect. That is if you are refering to a circuit breaker or switch or something. If you can pull a meter you can disconnect a house. This is what the fire depatment does.
 
This is what the fire depatment does.
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Not ones that have any real safety training. A meter is a not a load break device and pulling it under fire conditions can be very dangerous.
Don
 
The NEC does not require an external disco, however a local ordinance may prevail. Check with your local authority
 
Typically the outside disconnect is installed when the main panel is located other than the point immediately upon entering the building. This situation make the OS disconnect the main, and the panel inside a sub-fed panel. Also, as indicated before, any well trained fire department will not use a meter socket as a disconnecting means. A meter under load has the possiblity of arc flash and explosion. After pulled, the meter socket now is open creating a potential shock hazard.
 
earthman08 said:
Does a house built in 1985 have to have an external electrical disconnect?
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Outside disconect not required by NEC. Main Service Disconect required at nearest point of enrty to building. You can go from meter ouside of house to panel 50' inside if the service conductors are under the slab as in the case of most houses built in Florida. The nearest point of entry in this case is the main breaker at the top of the panel usually 5' above the concrete slab. There is no restriction as to what year the house was built.
 
I like the idea of putting a disconnect outside for the firemen and burglars. I put one on my house just for that reason, even though its not required, just in case anything happened (and also so I could fuse the house as well as have a main breaker)(call me an idiot). the thing is, in most houses I don't know if the poor fireman could find the panels anyway - I think its a good idea, even if it isn't in the code (just forces people to have burglar alarms with battery backup ;) )
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
Not ones that have any real safety training. A meter is a not a load break device and pulling it under fire conditions can be very dangerous.
Don
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ok fine. I guess their fire suits are not rated for flash protection. Now go fight that fire:smile:
 
ok fine. I guess their fire suits are not rated for flash protection. Now go fight that fire
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That is correct, the fire gear is not rated for electric arc flash protection and their face shields do not provide the required flash protection. I have seen them melted even in ordinary fires with temperatures far below that of an electric arc flash.
Don (certified firefighter III)
 
Good inspections:

Good inspections:

Importance of good inspections: I once bought a home and lived in it for 3 years before I discovered service from meter went on sub feed lugs and the main breaker did absolutely nothing.:mad:
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
That is correct, the fire gear is not rated for electric arc flash protection and their face shields do not provide the required flash protection. I have seen them melted even in ordinary fires with temperatures far below that of an electric arc flash.
Don (certified firefighter III)
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Learn something new every day:smile:
 
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