out building disconnect

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cplinc35

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Burlington, VT
I have a situation where there is a 200 amp meter/panel mounted on the utility pole set to feed 6 cabins for a summer camp. Each cabin is to get a 20 amp circuit for lighting and a few outlets. The cabins range from 15' to 70' from the pole. Do I need another disconnect at each cabin or is the breaker at the pole adequate?
 
I have a situation where there is a 200 amp meter/panel mounted on the utility pole set to feed 6 cabins for a summer camp. Each cabin is to get a 20 amp circuit for lighting and a few outlets. The cabins range from 15' to 70' from the pole. Do I need another disconnect at each cabin or is the breaker at the pole adequate?

If you run a MWBC (multiwire branch circuit) then you can use a dp switch as a disconnect but every building needs a disconnect. If you need more than a MWBC then you would need a feeder with a panel rods, disco etc. Read art. 225.30 and 250.32

BTW- welcome to the forum
 
In my opinion he will need a service rated disconnect switch at each cabin. The exception allowing snap switches only applies to residential property. A 30 amp fused disconnect is likely as small as he will find with a service rating. But a service rated disconnect will be fused so that makes it a feeder nesesetating grounding electrodes.

Maybe he could install dummy fuses in the disconnect and avoid the electrode requirement.
 
Another possible method of doing this that I would take into consideration is to just run a single feeder that hits every building and tap it for the supply to each building. The last one would not even require to be full size feeder conductors because you can use the tap conductors of unlimited length rule for outside feeders.
 
Square D not fusible 2 and 3 pole safety switches are suitable for use as service equipment.

I don't recall ever seeing the pull out type AC disconnects ever being suitable for use as service equipment.
 
I agree and this is a technicality which makes no sense. I believe Chris wrote a proposal to change that. I believe I did also.
 
who says each cabin only needs a 20 amp circiut, doesnt the requirements of 220 apply what are the square footages of these cabins? how are they heated? lots of questions come to mind as to how only an outlet and some lights on the same circuit be legal....
 
who says each cabin only needs a 20 amp circiut, doesnt the requirements of 220 apply what are the square footages of these cabins? how are they heated? lots of questions come to mind as to how only an outlet and some lights on the same circuit be legal....

What part of 220.12 does a cabin have to comply with? Sounds like 180 VA per receptacle and whatever the luminaires are rated for constitutes the load.

...And why couldn't the lights and receptacles be on the same circuit?
 
who says each cabin only needs a 20 amp circiut, doesnt the requirements of 220 apply what are the square footages of these cabins? how are they heated? lots of questions come to mind as to how only an outlet and some lights on the same circuit be legal....

Which type of occupancy in 220.12 applies. My best suggestion is Lodge rooms @1? VA ft.

With a 20 amp 120 volt circuit you can have a 1600 ft cabin and just the one circuit if there is no other load than general lighting. That would be a 40 x 40 cabin.
 
The cabins are 20x15 already wired with 3 outlets and 2 porcelain fixtures. They were moved away from the lake last spring and the existing u/f romex was no longer usable. 3/4" pvc replaced the u/f and there is a 20 amp breaker at the meter for each cabin. There are no heaters, A/C or anything else. The whole place is deserted from early September thru late May.
 
I don’t think they were telling you about the ac style disconnects because they thought there was Air Conditioning in the cabins. They where pointing out that if you could find AC Style disconnect that was rated as service equipment that might be an inexpensive way to provide a disconnect at each cabin.

Btw was this Nonmetallic Cable direct buried, and how many years did it last

They were also addressing weather you would need to establish a grounding electrode system at the cabin. Weather your disconnect had overcurrent protection or if it was Non_fuseable
 
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I mentioned the lack of A/C to give a clearer picture as with the lack of heat. No idea how long the u/f romex was there. I believe the breakers provide the over current protection. Do the disconnects need to be mounted inside the cabins or can they be mounted on the outside?
 
As long as those cabins are within 50 feet of your main box (and within sight), I don't think you need any additional disconnecting means.

Those units that are not within sight, or further than 50 feet away should have an additional disconnecting means....
 
That does not apply to separate buildings or structures. Maybe it should but it does not.

That is part of why I suggested in post 4 to run a feeder that hits every building and tap to a breaker on each building.

You need a service rated disconnect at every building no matter what.

You need a grounding electrode at every building no matter what.

How does not having overcurrent device not require a grounding electrode? I see nothing in 250 part III that would permit this. 250.50 says you need it.
 
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