Main disconnect for group metering

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jap

Senior Member
Occupation
Electrician
The ahj in our area often allow more than (6) meters and tennant breakers to be installed in a group metering location without a main disconnect.I feel this is incorrect. One of the inspectors indicated to me that the point of service originated after each meter and there could be as many as needed to service an establishment. I disagree. I feel that the service disconnecting means applies to the feeder from the transformer to the main terminal box of the group metering.Most group metering can be added to to infinity. I am now looking at a set of prints that shows a Main service disconnecting means instead of a Main terminal box on the group metering because there are (8) meters and tennant breakers.I agree with this but if I quote it as such I will surely be higher than any of my competitors that will quote it without the disconnecting means and get away with it.
Who is correct?
 
This could be something adopted by the AHJ in your area. Have you asked an other inspector why it isn't required? The one you asked seems to have a different opinion of a service origin than me.
 
What if this area formally added an exception? NEC requires AFCI protection in residential bedrooms but some areas removed it when adopting the NEC. I do find it a little hard to believe, since I though one reason for the 6 disconnect rule was so firefighters could shut down power quickly.
 
You are correct 6 max then a disco. If the AHJ has thier own exception this could cloud things but the way I was schooled "Bid the document" if it shows a main disconnect you need to include it. What I have done is bid something the way it is drawn and made sure to note that there is a way to lower the price if it is acceptible to the builder and AHJ. It shows the builder that you are seeing opptions that may put money in his pocket. It is not always the low bid that gets the job.
 
As long as the service disconnects are installed "nearest the point of entry" of the service conductors, then each set of service entrance conductors can have up to six means of disconnect. The disconnects for one set of service entrance conductors are not required to be grouped with the disconnects for other sets of service conductors. 230.71(A)
Don
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
As long as the service disconnects are installed "nearest the point of entry" of the service conductors, then each set of service entrance conductors can have up to six means of disconnect. The disconnects for one set of service entrance conductors are not required to be grouped with the disconnects for other sets of service conductors. 230.71(A)
Don
Click to expand...


Is it your interpritation that you could have 100 service meter panels lined up and have 6 disconnect handles in each for a total of 600 disconnecting means?
 
Each meter can be considered a separate service, with its own set of one to six disconnects:

230.2(D) Different Characteristics. Additional services shall be permitted for different voltages, frequencies, or phases, or for different uses, such as different rate schedules
Click to expand...
It has been established that each meter can have its own rate schedule, since the billing is different for each one, hence each one is considered to be a separate "service".

I agree with your AHJ on this one.
 
So what are we calling the service conductors?
The service conductors feeding the group metering or the service conductors feeding the individual lease spaces?
I consider the service conductors the wires that are feeding the group metering from the xfmr.
 
Is it your interpritation that you could have 100 service meter panels lined up and have 6 disconnect handles in each for a total of 600 disconnecting means?
Click to expand...
Yes, that is what the code rules say. Now the problem is complying with 230.70(A)(1).
Don
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top