Main Panel Outside, But main panel wiring inside.

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Rsumen

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Cleveland, Ohio
I do not know if this "exterior disconnect" is a main panel.
About the home:
(There are several town home units in a row. This home is in the middle of the building. There
is an elect "disconnect & meter" at one end of the building. (see photo). Then there is a panel in the basement.
I am very use to seeing this with "bonding of neutrals & grounds at the exterior" (main panel), and "Isolated neutrals"
at the basement sub panle. However, I sometimes see what I saw today & was hoping for some feedback as to
whether this is OK, or if not, how big an issue is it.
At this 2009 built Row Town house, there was an outside panel / disconnect (see photo) and a basement
"panel or sub panel" (not sure what it would be in this case).
The outside meter / main disconnect (all normal), but in the basement of the unit, there is a full panel, wired as a main. It has; A main disconnect breaker, 2 hot feeds, a sheathed neutral, and two GECs (Just as a main panel would have). The neutrals are bonded, to the grounds and panel enclosure. (OK for a main, not OK for a sub)
I know that with a typical exterior disconnect, the inside panel would be a sub panel with isolated neutrals.
Note: The disconnect outside, is far away from the unit at the end of the building outside. So.....
Is this an exception, OK for the interior panel to be wired as a main panel? Or should I be writing it up as a defect?
Thanks in advance for some info on this.
 

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If there is a disconnect outside then the interior panel is not a main and would be wired incorrectly. It would need an equipment grounding conductor as well
 
Dennis Alwon said:
If there is a disconnect outside then the interior panel is not a main and would be wired incorrectly. It would need an equipment grounding conductor as well
Click to expand...

Yes I know that, as I noted. (Main vs subs, basic knowledge)
I am asking are there any exceptions as in this case, the outside "disconnect" is very far
from the units basement panel.
Are there any Electricians, that can comment.
 
If there is a disconnect outside then the interior panel is not a main and would be wired incorrectly. It would need an equipment grounding conductor as well.

Dennis said it so well I just copy and pasted :p

No exceptions for distance.
 
Rsumen said:
Yes I know that, as I noted. (Main vs subs, basic knowledge)
I am asking are there any exceptions as in this case, the outside "disconnect" is very far
from the units basement panel.
Are there any Electricians, that can comment.
Click to expand...
There are no exceptions and the distance between the interior panel and the disconnect at the meter does not make any difference.
 
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