taschendoerfler
Member
- Location
- Seattle, WA, USA
For a client who requires subpanels at various outbuildings I installed a 200A feeder from the main panel that ended in a junction box. From the junction box, he wanted to supply 3 feeders to 100A panels and 1 feeder to a 200A subpanel. At the junction I tap with 1/0-1/0-1/0 into the 200A feeder line (250-250-3/0). Since the junction box is outside, and the feeders will be terminated outside or within a building as close as possible to the point of entrance, I think the Feeder Tap rule 'outside' applies.
240.21 (B) (5) Where the conductors are located outside of a building or structure, except at the point of load termination, and comply with all the following conditions:
(1) [...]
(2) [...] it terminates at a single circuit breaker (YES, the main breaker of the subpanel).
(3) The overcurrent device for the tap conductors is an integral part of a disconnecting means or shall be located immediately adjacent thereto.
(4) [...]
The inspectors interpretation of subpoint (3) was that the disconnecting means needs to be immediately adjacent to the tap (i.e., directly next to my junction box). My interpretation of this point is very different. IMHO it just means that the main-breaker at the subpanel also needs to be a disconnecting means, i.e., an 'integral part of' (which of course it is).
If the inspector is correct, I don't see at all why there is 240.21 (B) (5), because what he wants from me would already be covered by 240.21 (B) (1), i.e., taps not over 3m long.
I'd love some feedback on my interpretation of this NEC article.
Thanks in advance!
240.21 (B) (5) Where the conductors are located outside of a building or structure, except at the point of load termination, and comply with all the following conditions:
(1) [...]
(2) [...] it terminates at a single circuit breaker (YES, the main breaker of the subpanel).
(3) The overcurrent device for the tap conductors is an integral part of a disconnecting means or shall be located immediately adjacent thereto.
(4) [...]
The inspectors interpretation of subpoint (3) was that the disconnecting means needs to be immediately adjacent to the tap (i.e., directly next to my junction box). My interpretation of this point is very different. IMHO it just means that the main-breaker at the subpanel also needs to be a disconnecting means, i.e., an 'integral part of' (which of course it is).
If the inspector is correct, I don't see at all why there is 240.21 (B) (5), because what he wants from me would already be covered by 240.21 (B) (1), i.e., taps not over 3m long.
I'd love some feedback on my interpretation of this NEC article.
Thanks in advance!
