female plug for a gen. hook up

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jimwalker

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TAMPA FLORIDA
Here is situation,on a control panel for a lift station there is a female 4 prong 50 amp receptacle to hook up a temp.generator should power fail.Both me and the inspector agree its dangerious.Where in the code does this get addressed.This is a widow maker, 2 male plugs on a cord to go between gen and lift station.Would it not also need to unhook the neutral from normal power ? The generator will not be there normally.
We need some code numbers.This control box has a U L sticker.Is he forced to except it because of that sticker ?
If you can ,copy and paste the code so i can print it for him

[ January 24, 2005, 04:21 PM: Message edited by: jimwalker ]
 
Re: female plug for a gen. hook up

What UL listing does the panel have?

This does not seem right to have a suicide cord. Is it possible the receptacle you are looking at is actually the output to the lift station and not the input from the generator?

If the generator does not have the frame bonded to neutral then there would be no need to switch neutrals.
 
Re: female plug for a gen. hook up

406.6 Attachment Plugs

(B) Attachment plugs shall be installed so that teir prongs, blades, or pins are not energized unless inserted into an energized receptacle. No recepticle shall be installed so as to require an energized attachment plug as its source of supply.


The panel should have a recessed male plug. If it doesn't, someone altered it.

Dave
 
Re: female plug for a gen. hook up

It is a receptacle with wp cover and comes off the breaker for the generator.We both would like to fail it.I only have 99 book in front of me o2 is in truck.Will look it up in morning unless some one can paste it here.He said they are stuck with it cause it has a sticker saying U L listed.He asked me to help find violation,we both see a very dangerious issue here.

[ January 24, 2005, 04:38 PM: Message edited by: jimwalker ]
 
Re: female plug for a gen. hook up

We are thinking maybe they added this to the cabinet .Seems they think this arrangement would stop a thief from stealing the gen.
 
Re: female plug for a gen. hook up

I agree with Davedottcom, recessed male plug,the only time it would have power is when female from gen. is connected.
I'm assuming that the "breaker for the generator" is the transfer means.
frank
 
Re: female plug for a gen. hook up

I do not think that the UL label keeps the inspector from being able to make a judgement call on this. As an inspector, my first move would be to call UL with the pertinent information off the equipment and find out if this is in fact a legitimate piece of equipment.
I for one do not think it is, and there is a lot of fraud out there, including equipment tampering.

Pierre
 
Re: female plug for a gen. hook up

The UL listing is probably for the box itself and not for what has been installed or the application approval for the box after manufacture. The label will have a number or description that says "generator control equipment" or something specific. A modification after UL listing, by doing what was done here, will void the label.
UL always defers to NEC when there is a conflict. The only way to determine if the UL label is valid is to have a UL field audit but, that seems unnecessary.
The attachment cord sections previously cited are basis enough for rejecting this job.
Change the female at the load to male.
 
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