Interpretation - NEC 230.71 - Effective Date

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fyjimo

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Could someone please tell me the date/edition that NEC 230.71 became effective?

Given that a single residence home was built in 1961, and no modifications have been made to the JB/panel, is the "six disconnect rule" applicable?
 
The six disconnect rule was in chapter 18 the 1947 National Electrical Code Handbook (2351-a of the NEC), this is the earliest I have.

Roger
 
Yes.

This is the "main and range" buss panel.

Given that your answer to the question regarding the "six disconnect rule" was yes; is it a homeowners' responsibility to install a main breaker regardless of the age of the home?
 
There would be no need to install anything, it is compliant the way it is, now or then.

Roger
 
Thanks.

Please correct me if my interpretation of 230.71.B is incorrect. Supposing that there are 12 single pole breakers on a panel, and I can manuall trip all breakers with 4 "sweeps of the hand", I am in compliance with the Code.
 
fyjimo said:
Thanks.

Please correct me if my interpretation of 230.71.B is incorrect. Supposing that there are 12 single pole breakers on a panel, and I can manuall trip all breakers with 4 "sweeps of the hand", I am in compliance with the Code.
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I dont think thats what they mean by 6 throws
 
If there is no main in or ahead of this panel you would be incorrect.

If the 12 single pole breakers are feeding (6) individual multi-wire branch circuits, each set of breakers feeding their own multi-wire branch circuit would need to have a handle tie, which would change 12 to 6 or 4 depending on whether the multi-wire branch circuits are single or three phase.

Or better yet, what Pierre said. ;)


Roger
 
Actually, I'm trying to avoid fixing anything. I am in the process of selling my home. During inspection, the inspector noted that there were 12, 20 amp breakers on the distribution panel without a main breaker. Point being, this is how the house was wired in 1961 and it passed inspection at that time.

Is it a home owners responsibility to upgrade the electrical system in his/her home with each new release of the NEC?
 
fyjimo said:
Actually, I'm trying to avoid fixing anything. I am in the process of selling my home. During inspection, the inspector noted that there were 12, 20 amp breakers on the distribution panel without a main breaker. Point being, this is how the house was wired in 1961 and it passed inspection at that time.

Is it a home owners responsibility to upgrade the electrical system in his/her home with each new release of the NEC?
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As long as it was to code at time built your fine.However it does not grandfather things that were missed or never to code
 
You should hire an electrician to come look at your service, you said it was a Main / Range type, now you say it doesn't have a Main.

An installation that was code compliant when it was built does not need to be brought up to modern day codes if there are no improvements being done (although some insurance companies can throw a monkey wrench in this) but, if in fact you don't have a main, your installation was in violation even in 1961.

Roger
 
fyjimo said:
Please correct me if my interpretation of 230.71.B is incorrect. Supposing that there are 12 single pole breakers on a panel, and I can manuall trip all breakers with 4 "sweeps of the hand", I am in compliance with the Code.
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Incorrect. Count handles.
 
Excuse me for my ignorance regarding the type of panel. I'm not a wirenut; that's why I'm here for advice.

There's no main breaker. The panel in question is an "XO Circuit Breaker Load Panel". The panel was installed during original construction in 1961. No modifications have been made since that time. Looking at the panel I see that there are 5, 20 amp breakers on one side, and 6, 20 amp breakers on the other.
 
And there is no Main disconnect located outside or somewhere else?

Roger
 
Well, if I had bought the house the way it is now, I would tell the buyer that it is "as is", take it or leave it. It may depend on how hard you want to sell whether you do the fix or not.

If a HI inspected my house it would take pages to write up the violations if modern day codes were used, (mainly structural) it is a two story log home built in 1939, and if/when I sell, it will be "as is"

Roger
 
can you follow the wire from the meter to this panel ? I am finding this hard to believe that it ever passed with no main.Was there inspections in your town back then ?
 
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