Power operated service disconnects.

Pinnie

Senior Member
Location
Ohio
Occupation
Commercial Electrician
In 230.90(a) it says “Single-pole breakers, grouped in accordance with 230.71(B), shall be considered as one protective device”

Does this mean you can use multiple single-pole breakers to disconnect each ungrounded service conductor, or am I misreading this?
 
Also, in 230.71(a)(4) it says for the purpose of this section, a power operated service disconnecting means that’s installed as part of listed equipment is not considered a service disconnecting means. Then in 230.76 (2) it says it can be. What am I missing?
 
In 230.90(a) it says “Single-pole breakers, grouped in accordance with 230.71(B), shall be considered as one protective device”

Does this mean you can use multiple single-pole breakers to disconnect each ungrounded service conductor, or am I misreading this?
The code is not completely clear, but it would by my opinion that multiple single pole breakers tied together with a handle tie can be used as a service disconnect, however there are restrictions on the use of multiple single pole breakers as the overcurrent protective device in Article 240. Those restrictions may require the use of a multipole breaker.
 
Also, in 230.71(a)(4) it says for the purpose of this section, a power operated service disconnecting means that’s installed as part of listed equipment is not considered a service disconnecting means. Then in 230.76 (2) it says it can be. What am I missing?
230.71(A)(4) says the disconnect that supplies power to a power operated disconnect is not counted as a service disconnect.
230.76(2) permits the use of a power operated switch as a service disconnecting means. However that power operated switch must be physically located in a location where service disconnects are permitted to be located. You can't use the control for that power operated switch as the service disconnect.
 
230.71(A)(4) says the disconnect that supplies power to a power operated disconnect is not counted as a service disconnect.
Ah. That’s a hard one to interpret. Thank you.
The code is not completely clear, but it would by my opinion that multiple single pole breakers tied together with a handle tie can be used as a service disconnect, however there are restrictions on the use of multiple single pole breakers as the overcurrent protective device in Article 240. Those restrictions may require the use of a multipole breaker.
Gotcha. I wouldn’t use this allowance anyway just curious.
 
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