Main lug panel as service equipment

[Fred B]

Main lug panel SD HOM612L100RB.
On panel label:
Suitable for use as service equipment when service disconnect (main breaker) is installed.

Suitable for use as service equipment when not more than six main disconnecting means are provided and when not used as a lighting and appliance branch circuit panelboard.

When used as service equipment, install service entrance barrier kit for backfeed main breaker. Service entrance barrier does not allow the loadcenter to be serviced energized.

If i read this correctly it seems if feeding from meter to the panel you can land on the main lug and use for up to six main service disconnects. But it seems that mfg stipulates that if you add branch type circuits into panel it must use a backfeed breaker and not the main lugs.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

That type of installation was prohibited in the 2020 NEC.

Every breaker in that type of installation is a service disconnect, so you can't install a branch circuit, but you could supply a small circuit with one of the six service disconnects in the 2017 and earlier codes.

 

[Fred B]

That type of installation was prohibited in the 2020 NEC.

Every breaker in that type of installation is a service disconnect, so you can't install a branch circuit, but you could supply a small circuit with one of the six service disconnects in the 2017 and earlier codes.

But if the mfg appears to not allow it, even if code might allow based on code cycle, would code then not allow it based on listing alone?

 

[jap]

The way I read it is to say you could have installed branch circuits along with main disconnecting means as long as the number of branch circuits installed did not exceed 10 percent of the circuits (which would make it a lighting and appliance panelboard) and the combined total of the main disconnects and branch circuits or the combination of both did not exceed 6 movements of the hand total.


JAP>

 

[jaggedben]

The lighting and appliance panelboard language refers to out of date NEC code, 408.34. Not sure when it disappeared but see here for example.

 

[jaggedben]

I think it's a little ambiguous if you still have to obey a panel label that refers to code that no longer exists, but as pointed out above, it's basically moot if you're on the 2020 NEC already.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

But if the mfg appears to not allow it, even if code might allow based on code cycle, would code then not allow it based on listing alone?

Unless you are on the 2005 or older code, there is no such thing as a lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard, so there would be no restrictions on the size and function of the six service disconnects.

If you are on an old code, using one of the six breakers to serve a lighting or appliance circuit would make the panel a lighting and appliance branch circuit panelboard.

 

[tom baker]

But if the mfg appears to not allow it, even if code might allow based on code cycle, would code then not allow it based on listing alone?

It would fail inspection if under the 2020 NEC