Main or no Main

[dce]

Do you need a main or not? A second building on same property as house. It has a panel in it with 4 circuits in it.
The way I look at it per 225-32 of the NEC you need main disconnect inside or outside nearest the point of entrance. The NEC 225-36 says it must be rated as service equipment.
The kicker is the use, is it for lighting and appliance. I think by definition of lighting and appliance panel board it is.
So, I think it needs a main breaker.

 

[bphgravity]

Re: Main or no Main

I am thinking that it may not need a main breaker or main disco. If the feeder supplying the second building has overcurrent protection not exceeding the rating of the second building's panelboard, you are permitted up to 6 disconnecting means at that location.

 

[charlie]

Re: Main or no Main

Bryan, how do you get around 225.32? IMO, you are required to have that disconnecting means.

 

[pierre]

Re: Main or no Main

As per 225.33(A), you are permitted up to 6 switches or sets of circuit breakers before a main disconnect is required.

 

[charlie b]

Re: Main or no Main

I agree that you need a disconnecting means, and that the feeder breaker from the first building does not count. But I don?t think it has to be service rated. I think the exception to 225.36 applies here.

{Edit: I also agree that the disconnecting means is satisfied by having four breakers in a sigle panel inside the second building.}

Also, to address another aspect of the original question, you do not need to have a main breaker as part of an ?lighting and appliance panelboard.? It can be MLO, if there is a feeder breaker on the upstream panel that meets the size requirements that Bryan had mentioned.

[ March 15, 2005, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: charlie b ]

 

[dce]

Re: Main or no Main

It does have to be suitable for service equipment. The exception only applies to 3 and 4-way switches. The way I understand that is if you have a light only on a garage the switch can be used as the sole disconnect.
The other part of this thing is some manufactures write inside the cover of the panelboard that it is only suitable as service equipment, when it has a main breaker in it and used as lighting and appliance panelboard.
Others say that if you do not have more than six breakers and are using it as a lighting and appliance you do not need a main breaker.
Although it stil has to be suitable for service equipment per 225.36.