Generator Tap Box Vs Pin and Sleeve Inlet

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W@ttson

W@ttson

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USA
Hello,
I am looking to see if anyone can tell me why someone would go with a TapBox like this (assuming you don't get any fancy kirk key or phase rotation monitoring features):
TapBox

Vs simply a pin and sleeve inlet like this:
Pin and Sleeve Generator Inlet


If the benefit is to just get the extra features like breaker or MTS incorporated within, then is it required to have a breaker for the Pin and sleeve version or is the generator breaker protecting the conductors from the tap box to the rest of the distribution system?
 
Are you thinking that Tap Box has a breaker in it? That device at the top is just a fuse holder for the fuses feeding those pilot lights on the door.

The Tap Box is better for when you have multiple possible generators and some may come to you with different rotation than others. The cam-lok connectors make it simple to swap phases. The inlet option makes that issue difficult to deal with, especially on a “dark and stormy night”, which is usually when you need the emergency generator. But if you have total control of what generator gets used and how everything is phased, then the pin and sleeve system is way simpler and safer to use.

Yes, the generator breaker (assuming here is one) protects the conductors.
 
Also, the tap boxes start at 400 amps.

Are there any pin and sleeve connectors that can handle that much current?
 
Jraef said:
Are you thinking that Tap Box has a breaker in it? That device at the top is just a fuse holder for the fuses feeding those pilot lights on the door.

The Tap Box is better for when you have multiple possible generators and some may come to you with different rotation than others. The cam-lok connectors make it simple to swap phases. The inlet option makes that issue difficult to deal with, especially on a “dark and stormy night”, which is usually when you need the emergency generator. But if you have total control of what generator gets used and how everything is phased, then the pin and sleeve system is way simpler and safer to use.

Yes, the generator breaker (assuming here is one) protects the conductors.
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Jraef,

Thanks for the reply! That tap box was just a sample. There are others that include the features I mentioned, like this one:
Tapbox with breaker

So basically, if I went with a tap box or a pin and sleeve that did not have a breaker directly/immediately after the inlet, I just need to make sure that the generator connecting to the breakerless tap box or inlet has a breaker that is not larger than the ampacity of the conductors from that device to the rest of the distribution system. The integrated breaker in the link above is nice to have but not necessary.
 
spraymax6 said:
Jraef,

Thanks for the reply! That tap box was just a sample. There are others that include the features I mentioned, like this one:
Tapbox with breaker

So basically, if I went with a tap box or a pin and sleeve that did not have a breaker directly/immediately after the inlet, I just need to make sure that the generator connecting to the breakerless tap box or inlet has a breaker that is not larger than the ampacity of the conductors from that device to the rest of the distribution system. The integrated breaker in the link above is nice to have but not necessary.
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Correct.

Having the MTS built in is of course very convenient too, but you can also buy a Double Throw Safety Switch and mount your pin and sleeve inlet to the bottom of it. (The ones that come with them are receptacles, not inlets).
 
Another benefit to the 'tap box' type is you can have a phase rotation monitor connected to an undervoltage release or shunt trip on the breaker to protect the building from reversed phase rotation. The ONLY time I would want pin and sleeve is if the facility owned one or more portable generators that use this arrangement to connect to the building and no 3rd party generators will ever be used. Even then I would spend the extra couple hundred bucks to put a phase monitor and go/no go indicator lights next to the inlet and keep a camlock to pin and sleeve adapter onsite incase a 3rd party generator was needed.
 
Todd0x1 said:
Another benefit to the 'tap box' type is you can have a phase rotation monitor connected to an undervoltage release or shunt trip on the breaker to protect the building from reversed phase rotation. The ONLY time I would want pin and sleeve is if the facility owned one or more portable generators that use this arrangement to connect to the building and no 3rd party generators will ever be used. Even then I would spend the extra couple hundred bucks to put a phase monitor and go/no go indicator lights next to the inlet and keep a camlock to pin and sleeve adapter onsite incase a 3rd party generator was needed.
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very good point.
 
Try handling the cable and plug that go along with the inlet and you'll be installing a tap box.
 
If the pin and sleeve configurations aren't large enough then you can go with parallel Cam-Lok cables that are used for load bank testing and in the motion picture and theater industries.
 
infinity said:
If the pin and sleeve configurations aren't large enough then you can go with parallel Cam-Lok cables that are used for load bank testing and in the motion picture and theater industries.
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I just did that over the weekend. Poco had a scheduled shutdown to replace a pole down the street. Our office has a 1200A disco switch that feeds into a MTS before the building's MDP, all from the previous tenant. Our load at 480v is around 20A/phase. It sure looked funny with a little 20kw diesel generator connected by 2ga camlock cable to that huge switch.
 
petersonra said:
camlok makes 150, 400, and 690 Amp rated plugs and receptacles. I have used all three. Plus they make lesser rated ones as well.
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All we really ever see is the E1016 size which are rated 300 or 400 amps depending on wire size range. The 150a E1015 series never really gets used much because they are sized for #8-#4 and you can't run individual conductors smaller than #2. The 690 Amp E1017 series, well no one wants to buy, store, or handle 500mcm Type W. More than 400 amps? Parallel runs.
 
I set up a system for generator connnections, used IEC 309 for 100 amps and under, these are color coded and interchangable between mfgs, Leviton, Hubble, etc
For 200 and 400 amps went with cam locks and a cam lock panel, for 277/480. The cam lock inlet panel had a microswitch on the last connector that was tied to a shut trip on the generator breaker. If that connector was turned just a bit it tripped the gen breaker.
With the cam locks we used type W portable cable. our operators liked this system as it was easy and safe to connect

For the cam lock inlet panels I had a custom NEMA 3R enclosure made with a door. Today you can buy this type of enclosure from Eaton.
The alternative is to use a crouse hinds pin and sleeve connector, a very heavy cable that is as is as big as your leg. Go with cam locks
 
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