Feeder to new building

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MBLES

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I want to run a parallel feeder to new building. The customer insist i use some existing panels to save money to try to save money. If i run the parallel 400a with 2 paralleled 3/0 could I briing the feeder into a gutter then split the 400a into 2-200a panels as long its terminate on OCP or does it need to be a single termination point. Can you also give reference from NEC if it exist.or does this violate 225.30
 
Do you intend to have the two sets bonded together at the load end? If so you would have one feeder (with parallel conductors ) serving the structure and two feeder taps. Yo would have to follow the applicable tap rule for the taps. You could potential have two taps run all the way from the first building but it could be sticky for a few reasons.
 
Is this feeder protected by a single 400A breaker? What you describe is not (1) feeder, but (2) both via single upstream protection...if it is sized above their 200A capacity, they are not protected.

If you had (1) feeder and landed on a single busbar or spliced the entire feeder for both panels, this would be okay.
 
jumper said:
Yes, you can parallel and split. Discos gotta be grouped together.
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I was reading the other two replies and went back and reread OP.

It seems he may not actually be thinking of parallel, but calling two 200A feeders as one 400A feeder.

Cannot work that way, unless you connected both ends as is done in parallel properly.

At the load end it would be a bit strange, terminate 2 conductors and then split off with 2 conductors and repeat, but then you would have a parallel feeder and split it , and only one feeder to the building.
 
One might be able to make it work without joining the sets on the load end. In that case each set would be a feeder tap, utilizing the unlimited outdoor tap rule. I believe there is no restriction on supplying a structure with two taps.
 
electrofelon said:
One might be able to make it work without joining the sets on the load end. In that case each set would be a feeder tap, utilizing the unlimited outdoor tap rule. I believe there is no restriction on supplying a structure with two taps.
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I ain’t figgered out just how that might work code wise, but ‘‘tis just a bit sketchy at first glance.

l will just go with maybe for now.....a bit dodgey of an idea...I like it....:cool:
 
electrofelon said:
One might be able to make it work without joining the sets on the load end. In that case each set would be a feeder tap, utilizing the unlimited outdoor tap rule. I believe there is no restriction on supplying a structure with two taps.
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Both now proposed 200A feeders are the same size conductors - not a tap. Legal if upstream protection is 200A, even indoor. Not legal for serving a building with a feeder, now proposed feederS due to noted 225.30.
 
publicgood said:
Both now proposed 200A feeders are the same size conductors - not a tap. Legal if upstream protection is 200A, even indoor. Not legal for serving a building with a feeder, now proposed feederS due to noted 225.30.
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I believe the OP said there was a 400 amp breaker on the supply end. Put 200 amp conductors on it and it's a tap.
 
My opinion is that bringing two sets of conductors out of one building and terminating them on two separate panelboards in another building creates two feeders which is an issue. However if one were to run the two sets of conductors into the second building and connect them in parallel at the other end and then just tap off of them to go to the two panel boards that is not two feeders.
 
electrofelon said:
I believe the OP said there was a 400 amp breaker on the supply end. Put 200 amp conductors on it and it's a tap.
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That is not how I read it - only that he has a feeder good for 400A. Need clarification. I agree - it is assumed he likely has 400A protecting upstream.
 
petersonra said:
My opinion is that bringing two sets of conductors out of one building and terminating them on two separate panelboards in another building creates two feeders which is an issue. However if one were to run the two sets of conductors into the second building and connect them in parallel at the other end and then just tap off of them to go to the two panel boards that is not two feeders.
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Clarification.

I actually meant if they were to be connected together at both ends.
 
electrofelon said:
One might be able to make it work without joining the sets on the load end. In that case each set would be a feeder tap, utilizing the unlimited outdoor tap rule. I believe there is no restriction on supplying a structure with two taps.
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"Feeder tap" - is still a feeder, the "tap" part just allows for different provisions when it comes to overcurrent protection.

You still can only supply the separate building with a single feeder as a general rule.
 
kwired said:
"Feeder tap" - is still a feeder, the "tap" part just allows for different provisions when it comes to overcurrent protection.

You still can only supply the separate building with a single feeder as a general rule.
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This was touched on recently in another thread. Some believed there was no restriction. I haven't really thought about it much and gone over the language, so I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other.
 
electrofelon said:
I believe the OP said there was a 400 amp breaker on the supply end. Put 200 amp conductors on it and it's a tap.
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Yes There is a 400 amp breaker in main building that would feed a second building. I propose a 400a paralleled circuit to a gutter then tap off 400a feeder to 2-200a breaker panels. Or per NEc do it need to terminate to 1-400a OCP then seperate. I would think the parallel feeder is a single circuit.
 
MBLES said:
Yes There is a 400 amp breaker in main building that would feed a second building. I propose a 400a paralleled circuit to a gutter then tap off 400a feeder to 2-200a breaker panels. Or per NEc do it need to terminate to 1-400a OCP then seperate. I would think the parallel feeder is a single circuit.
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Ok so sounds like you have ONE feeder (made up of parallel conductors). You can certainly take two feeder taps off of that at the structure to two 200 amp MB panels. That is likely the cheapest option. Just remember no next size up rule for feeder taps and full sized/400 amp EGC to each panel. You could also hit a 400 amp panel, but you would be into panelboard construction and a modest price jump.
 
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