Main Breaker

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Main Breaker

I know if its a service you can not have more than six throws of the hand, without having a Main Breaker or a Fusible Disconnect. I was not sure about a sub panel
 
Main Breaker

This sub is is the same building as the service. Also what if you have a Sub off a Sub , do you need a Main. Also, if you have a Sub in another structure with less than six breakers do you have to have a Main.
 
mdshunk said:
If that sub's in a detached structure, then you're doing the main thing all over again.
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I think i'm getting confused? If I have two panels in 1 building its a sub, but as soon as I leave that building I need a main (if more than 6 switches) , I wonder how they justify this just by going outside, i've seen sub-panels father apart than outbuildings...why a main at OUTBUILDING? and NOT SUB?
 
wmeek said:
This sub is is the same building as the service. Also what if you have a Sub off a Sub , do you need a Main. Also, if you have a Sub in another structure with less than six breakers do you have to have a Main.
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Than NO, and NO again, as far as the 3rd question, only allowed 1 feeder per building and no you would not need a main BUT you would need ground rods unless a branch circuit is the feed.... but don't 100% quote me on that...
 
stickboy1375 said:
I think i'm getting confused? If I have two panels in 1 building its a sub, but as soon as I leave that building I need a main (if more than 6 switches) , I wonder how they justify this just by going outside, i've seen sub-panels father apart than outbuildings...why a main at OUTBUILDING? and NOT SUB?
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I guess you'd have to ask the people that wrote 225.31 and 225.32
 
Each structure on the property has to have a building disconnecting means. This can be from 1 to 6 CB's or fusible switches, as long as they are grouped at each building. And they need to be labeled as main disconnects. If this panel is a sub panel, directly fed from a branch circuit breaker in another panel in the same bldg then it doesn't need a main. If it is fed through a xfmr, then the panel needs to have a fused sw or CB somewhere between the xfmr and the panel, or a main in the panel itself. If it is fed from a transformer, then there are other rules on conductor (tap) length.
 
sparkie001 said:
It's required as a means of shutting off power to the outbuilding in case of fire or other emergency.
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your missing my point because of WHY? How far you have to walk to get to the main? if thats the case like i said before i've seen sub-panel's farther away than out buildings....
 
stickboy1375 said:
your missing my point because of WHY? How far you have to walk to get to the main? if thats the case like i said before i've seen sub-panel's farther away than out buildings....
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Fire departments are not concerned with how far they have to walk/run to get to a sub panel. They just shut the whole building off. So the distance to a sub panel in the same building is not important.
 
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sparkie001 said:
Fire departments are not concerned with how far they have to walk/run to get to a sub panel. They just shut the whole building off. So the distance to a sub panel in the same building is not important.
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Thanks I knew I was missing something...
 
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