Line side

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jbolen

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I have a problem....I understand that the lineside of a 1600 amp breaker is on the top side..and load is on the bottom...but what NEC Art. requires the line to be on the top side.
 
404.7 says " . . . When these switches or circuit breakers are operated vertically rather than rotationally or horizontally, the up position of the handle shall be the (on) position."

Line in the bottom is ok.
 
I can be doen either way but having the load side on top can present some safety issues. You should put a warning label on the breaker stating the configuration.
 
zog said:
I can be doen either way but having the load side on top can present some safety issues. You should put a warning label on the breaker stating the configuration.
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Strange this question should come up, I was asked the very same thing yesterday from 1 of our QC inspectors. He wanted to reject it.
I said I don't think it's a violation but I do think it's dumb.
As was suggested I told him to mark line and load on the breaker.
 
Feeding the bottom of a breaker is very common in machinery and HVAC equipment.

I see no danger as long as qualified people are working on the equipment.
 
The breaker will work fine feeding the load side it doesn't know the difference. I agree with the others it may be confusing but it is a code complient install.
 
I see no danger as long as qualified people are working on the equipment.
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Key word being Qualified I agree 100% with Bob. :)
 
Here is a typical bottom feed panel that I wired a couple of weeks ago. This one is a 600 amp main breaker GE panel board.

BottomFeed600.jpg
 
I've seen that type of installation frequently. Conduit fill looks questionable but I'm sure that it's probably ok.:smile:
 
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SEO said:
The breaker will work fine feeding the load side it doesn't know the difference. I agree with the others it may be confusing but it is a code complient install.
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The breaker may work fine, but the AHJ may reject the install if the breaker specs don't specifically state that reverse feeding is allowed.
 
Willis said:
The breaker may work fine, but the AHJ may reject the install if the breaker specs don't specifically state that reverse feeding is allowed.
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Where is the requirement that says the breaker must allow reverse feeding? If the CB doesn't specify line/load you can use it either way.
 
infinity said:
Where is the requirement that says the breaker must allow reverse feeding? If the CB doesn't specify line/load you can use it either way.
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True enough, however:
"UL's DIVQ Guide Information for circuit breakers infers that breakers are suitable for reverse feed unless LINE and LOAD are marked on them. Guide Information reads: ?Line and load markings on a circuit breaker are intended to limit connections thereto as marked.? UL?s WJAZ Guide Information for switches says the equivalent.
UL 489 requires reverse feed breakers and reverse feed switches to meet certain construction requirements and to be tested with line and load connections reversed. Paragraph 9.1.1.13 reads: ?Circuit breakers shall be marked ?line? and ?load? unless the construction and the test results are
acceptable with the line and load connections reversed."


An exerpt from www.eaton.com/ecm/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=39954
 
whillis said:
Paragraph 9.1.1.13 reads: ?Circuit breakers shall be marked ?line? and ?load? unless the construction and the test results are
acceptable with the line and load connections reversed."
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Which supports Robs point, unless it is marked line and load it is suitable for backfeed.
 
iwire said:
Which supports Robs point, unless it is marked line and load it is suitable for backfeed.
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I don't dispute Rob's statement. My post was in response to this comment: "The breaker will work fine feeding the load side it doesn't know the difference. I agree with the others it may be confusing but it is a code complient install."
 
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