Length of wire to main disconnect

[SPARKS-A-FLYIN]

Hi, great site thanks to everybody. I wrote my masters test on wed. (hopefully passed) and ther is on question I still can't find the article that explains it.

What is the length of pvc allowed to feed a 200 amp panel in a dwelling that has 3 feet of wire in the panel.
A 3
B 5
C 8
D 10

I believe that the answer is 5 as I believe you are allowed 8 feet of wire and if there is 3 feet in the panel that leaves 5 feet but I have spent hours trying to locate the article that actually states this. Everywhere I look it just says nearest the point of entrance. Could someone please let me know what article # that is so I can sleep tonight.
thanks much

 

[charlie b]

I cannot even begin to guess. Sorry. But may I ask how confident you are in the precise wording of the question? Is it possible that you left out a word or two that might give a clearer picture of what they are trying to ask? I have never heard of a limit on the length of a conduit, dwelling application or otherwise, so I do not understand what they are trying to ask.

In any event, I wish you well on the results of the test.

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

This sounds like it might be a local law.

 

[nysprkdude]

Hi, great site thanks to everybody. I wrote my masters test on wed. (hopefully passed) and ther is on question I still can't find the article that explains it.

What is the length of pvc allowed to feed a 200 amp panel in a dwelling that has 3 feet of wire in the panel.
A 3
B 5
C 8
D 10

I believe that the answer is 5 as I believe you are allowed 8 feet of wire and if there is 3 feet in the panel that leaves 5 feet but I have spent hours trying to locate the article that actually states this. Everywhere I look it just says nearest the point of entrance. Could someone please let me know what article # that is so I can sleep tonight.
thanks much

I believe the question was probably related to what length of un-fused wire is allowed from the point of entry into the structure and the main disconnect?

The code mandates that this length of unfused cable be limited to "nearest" point of entry into the property.

"Nearest" is not however, specifically defined and therefor up to the interpretation of the AHJ.

An old rule of thumb around here was 5 feet but again that is purely arbitrary.

 

[charlie b]

. . . I believe you are allowed 8 feet of wire. . . .

Can you give any insight as to why you believe that? This might be one of those "we've always done it this way" items that has no basis in code.

"Nearest" is not however, specifically defined and therefore up to the interpretation of the AHJ.

Washington State has published its own ruling on that question. The limit here is 15 feet.

 

[SPARKS-A-FLYIN]

Wisconsin Administrative Code

Wisconsin Administrative Code

Hi thanks for the replies. I found it in the Wisconsin Administrative code and it reads.
This is a department rule in addition to the requirements of NEC 230.70(a)
(a)raceways containing service conductors or cables shall not extend longer than 8 feet into a building to the service disconnect or the first service disconect of a group of disconects as permitted by NEC 230.71.

now that I found this I guess my answer should have been (c) 8ft. For some reason I was thinking that it was written length of wire but it is length of raceway. I think that might be a wrong answer on my test.

thanks again and keep up the great information

 

[SPARKS-A-FLYIN]

Passed

Passed

I passed my test. Just a helpful hint to anybody outthere preparing for thier exam if your state has a seperate set of code changes or amendments I would highlight them in your NEC so as you are taking your test and you get to a highlighted code you know to cross reference it with your state codes. If I would have done this I would have passed the first time, but the second time was alright.