feeder tap

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apj

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Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen:

My question today is: a 100A main service disconnect is on a pole at a commercial business and feeds 3/0 overhead triplex (for voltage drop)to a shop building. From this triplex, another #2 overhead triplex feeder has been tapped off and goes to a pole with riser and feeds a main lug 100A panel for receptacles for truck block heaters, which I assume is a continuous load. My question is, does this fall under article 225, 230, or 240.21(B)5? And is a main breaker needed at this panel? I believe bonding and a ground rod driven at this panel is required do to no EGC being routed with the triplex, correct? Thanks in advance.
 
Re: feeder tap

I am assuming the service disconnect has overcurrent protection. If this is the case, the #2 is not considered a tap. (It is still protected at its ampacity, since #2 is rated for 115A). So 240.21 does not apply. I don't see any problem with splicing the #2 to the 3/0.

To answer your other questions, I need to know if the #2 feeds a separate building, or the same building as the 3/0?

Steve
 
Re: feeder tap

There is an overcurrent device at the main service disconnect. The #2 feeds an outdoor panel mounted on a pole for truck block heaters. Are you saying that I do not need separate overcurrent protection at the block heater panel since the #2 feeder is protected by the 100A main service disconnect breaker? If this would have been a smaller tap (#4 or smaller), then I assume I would need overcurrent protection at the heater panel due to the ampacity of the overcurrent service disconnect device exceeds the ampacity of the feeder tap conductors and 240.4B would not apply?
 
Re: feeder tap

Yes, that is what I think. The #2 doesn't need OCP at the panel, but a #4 would. But like jwelectric said, 225 applies also. And I believe this does require a main disconnect at the truck heater panel (225.31 and 225.32). So we are back to a main breaker panel.

And since there is no EGC with the triplex, you do have to provide bonding and a ground rod at the panel. (I think there was recently a debate over weather 2 ground rods would be required at the heater panel). This is only compliant if there are no continuous metallic paths between the building and the pole, and no GFP on the service equipment.

Steve
 
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