Horizontal Panel Mounting

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bphgravity

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Florida
240.33 of the 2002 NEC allows circuit breaker enclosures to be installed horizontally where in accordance with 240.81

240.81 states "Where circuit breaker handles are operated vertically rather than rotationally or horizontally, the "up" position of the handle shall be the "on" position.

Does this mean that a typical panelboard that is normally mounted vertically with two rows of horizontal breakers are not permitted to be installed horizontally? In this case, one row would not meet this requirement.

However, panelboards that have vertically installed breakers that become horizontal when the panel is mounted horizontal are allowed per this section?

Please clarify? :)
 
don_resqcapt19

don_resqcapt19

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Illinois
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retired electrician
Re: Horizontal Panel Mounting

Bryan,
Does this mean that a typical panelboard that is normally mounted vertically with two rows of horizontal breakers are not permitted to be installed horizontally? In this case, one row would not meet this requirement.
Click to expand...
I guess you could just install one row of breakers and be in compliance, but that is not very practical.
However, panelboards that have vertically installed breakers that become horizontal when the panel is mounted horizontal are allowed per this section?
Click to expand...
As these breakers would now operate horizontally, I think it would be code complaint.
Don
 
charlie

charlie

Senior Member
Location
Indianapolis
Re: Horizontal Panel Mounting

The intent is to prevent the circuit breaker from being on where the circuit breaker handle is in down position. The old Zinsco panelboards could be on their sides and have all of the circuit breakers usable. I don't know of any others that would not lose 1/2 of their spaces where they are installed on their sides.
 
physis

physis

Senior Member
Re: Horizontal Panel Mounting

404.7 Indicating. General-use and motor-control switches, circuit breakers , and molded case switches, where mounted in an enclosure as described in 404.3, shall clearly indicate whether they are in the open (off) or closed (on) position.
Where these swith or circuit breaker handles are operated vertically rather than horizontally, the up position of the handle shall be the (on) position.

I don't know why circuit breakers are under "switches".

[ May 16, 2003, 01:48 PM: Message edited by: physis ]
 
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