PLC and NEC 312.8 & 373.8

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dbasnett

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My company is in the Power Line Communications(PLC) business, the in-building version not the BPL version. PLC allows Ethernet to be transmitted over existing electrical wiring. In order to accomplish this we need to make an attachment to all phases in a circuit breaker panel. We manufacture a box that does that. Box specs: has 4-14 AWG wires, 3 phase, 1 neutral; 277VAC phase-neutral, 480VAC phase-phase; 0.1A ; RF connector for signal.

The normal attachment is with a new three-phase breaker and is not a problem. Full panels are the source of my questions:
Could our equipment be spliced? My reading of Mike's post about 312.8 and 373.8 seem to indicate yes.
Could our equipment be double lugged with existing service? Again I think the answer is yes if the breaker is rated for it. But how do I find out if a breaker is rated for it?

Thanks in advance.
 
Re: PLC and NEC 312.8 & 373.8

A breaker can be double lugged if it is listed for that application, per 110.3(B). Check the instructions for the breaker. You could always make a tap or splice the load side conductors. Of course you conductors would have to be protected at there ampacity or 15 amperes for a 14 awg.
 
Re: PLC and NEC 312.8 & 373.8

Tom Baker is right about the splicing. There is a common misconception that one may not make splices (e.g. wire nuts) inside breaker panels. Provided the splicing is done properly and one does not go nuts (no pun intended) and overfill the available wire space, there is no problem.
 
Re: PLC and NEC 312.8 & 373.8

And if for example you only had a 30 a OCPD you could make a tap and use the ten foot tap rule and still use 14 AWG, of course your interface panel would have to be a listed panel
 
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