Main circuit breaker retaining KIT

[brother]

I was trying to find a code article that required the main circuit breaker to "retain" in the MLO panel if you used it as the "main". Basically installing a main circuit breaker reatining kit, or is it just a 'manufactured' requirement??

 

[roger]

408.36(F)

Roger

 

[mdshunk]

This is also a general requirement of the UL, in accordance with the UL panelboard marking guide.

 

[mistermudd]

Try 408.36(F)

 

[mistermudd]

Yeh, what Roger said. Didn't see it.

 

[norcal]

It first appeared in the 1990 NEC as 384-16(f).

 

[mdshunk]

It first appeared in the 1990 NEC as 384-16(f).

Which sometimes makes it rough to backfeed a breaker in an old MLO panel that was never designed with a hold down kit in mind.

 

[frenchelectrican]

I agree with that one Marc i did notice that on older panel box as well some are not even designed for that way.

Merci, Marc

 

[e57]

I recently found that some panels - while they have provision for breaker hold-downs - and the kits will fit them - that the panel itself isn't rated to be back-fed by a breaker. (i.e. certain CH BR main lug panels - not all...) Read the rating labels carefully. Especially panels that have a 'per stab' or 'sum of breakers' rating. If listed as "suitable as service equipment" - that wording will usually accompany a diagram for which breaker location should be used as a back-fed as well.

 

[brother]

thanks for the info. Im curious on these old panels if they are not made to be back fed from a breaker, then what do you do? do you have to change out the whole panel if you doing a job??

 

[brother]

I hope some one answers my question. so i bump this to the top

 

[brantmacga]

thanks for the info. Im curious on these old panels if they are not made to be back fed from a breaker, then what do you do? do you have to change out the whole panel if you doing a job??

well you can do whatever you want except backfeed it i guess. you could nipple over into a disconnect, or install the overcurrent device upstream of the feeder. is there anything specific you are working on right now and have this problem?

 

[busman]

This is a little off topic, but a few months ago, I came across a Sq. D 6 space panel that had what appeared to be 2 loose CB's. Come to find out that the panel came with a couple of those little red breaker retaining clips already installed. The person who installed the sub-panel obviously didn't know what they were and tried (and succeeded) to install the breakers without removing the clips. Cost the HO a service call to have me find them and remove the clips. I added the clips to my inventory.

Mark