feeder or branch circuit

Status
Not open for further replies.

JGClark

Member
Situation: A street light circuit (120/240) fed from a vault and fused in a handhole. Three #6's (2 hots and a shared neutral) feed multiple 120v, branched off and individually fused streetlights.
Are the conductors between the main fuses (service disconnect) in the handhole and the streetlights they feed, considered feeders?
 
I think not. I would call them branch circuits. I would call the fuses in the street light fixtures "supplementary overcurrent protection," as is addressed in 240.10.
 
each street light is fed from a handhhole with #8's that are branched off the main circuit conductors and each has an in-line fuse at the base of the pole and then another 30' of wire before landing on the luminaire terminals.
 
I agree with Charlie and Chris. :)

Wouldn't the answer to this question be more dependant on what size OCPD is feeding this circuit. The conductor size has changed from # 6's run to 8'S tap. Point is if the OCPD is larger than the tap conductor , this would now be a feeder and branch tap.

Rick
 
Last edited:
main conductors fused at 50a and each pole is fused at 15a.


The # 6 awg conductors from the 50 amp breaker to the tap are feeder conductors, the # 8 awg conductors are feeder tap conductors up to the 15 amp fuse, from the 15 amp fuse up to luminaire are branch conductors.

Rick
 
The # 6 awg conductors from the 50 amp breaker to the tap are feeder conductors, the # 8 awg conductors are feeder tap conductors up to the 15 amp fuse, from the 15 amp fuse up to luminaire are branch conductors.

Rick

I am not so sure of that, that may only be true if the fuse holders and fuses are listed as suitable for branch circuit protection. I doubt the fuse holders would be.
 
This is an issue that is impossible to define. IMO, the fuse that is part of the fixture listing would not come into play and the entire run to the light would be a branch circuit.
 
Where would the listing be located?

I looked up high quality Bussmann inline fuse holders.
First thing I noticed is they are only UL recognized and not listed.

Once I traced their listing number I found that UL says they are for supplementary protection.
 
My unbacked response right off hand would be that the wiring from the Fused disconnect to the handholes would be a feeder and the secondary side of the fuse to the light pole would be a branch circuit.

JMHO.
 
The # 6 awg conductors from the 50 amp breaker to the tap are feeder conductors, the # 8 awg conductors are feeder tap conductors up to the 15 amp fuse, from the 15 amp fuse up to luminaire are branch conductors.

Rick

No. A feeder must terminate in a overcurrent protective device per the Art 100 definition, and that has to be a listed disconnecting means, and the key rule is 225.36, the disconnecting means must be suitable for service equipment. This is a branch circuit with supplementary OCPD at each pole.
 
The OP indicated it did originate from an overcurrent protective device ( a Fused Disconnect),,,,,isnt that a listed disconnecting means rated for service equipment?
 
The OP indicated it did originate from an overcurrent protective device ( a Fused Disconnect),,,,,isnt that a listed disconnecting means rated for service equipment?
Tom is saying the conductors would have to terminate at a rated disconnect on the far end.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top