Remote Disconnect Industrial Machinery

[rubiconbru]

Currently in our manufacturing facility in order to maintain safe practices, in some cases, we have been putting disconnecting switches on the outside of the electrical panel in addition to the OCPD disconnect located in the panel. This is to eliminate electrical current from inside the panel to make it safe for entry. In other cases we have been putting remote fused disconnects rated for OCP in sight of the machinery. This is all in addition to the buss plug which is also rated OCP. Is it legal to replace the remote fused disconnects with non-fused disconnects or rated switches? I do not see why you would not be able to but would like to make sure. I appreciate your input, if there is somewhere in the code that I can research for more detail I would appreciate being pointed in the right direction. Thank you in advance!

 

[augie47]

As long as the equipment conductors are protected per NEC, there is no reason that the disconnects would need to be fusible. Keep in mind, however, non-fuse disconnects normally have a AIC rating of 10k which pose a problem in some industrial high-current circuits.

 

[petersonra]

Interesting point about the SCCR of non-fused switches.

Something that no doubt more than a few people have been tripped up on.

I rarely if ever see fused disconnects at a motor when disconnects are supplied "within sight" of a motor.

 

[rubiconbru]

Excellent point on the SCCR for sure. I didnt think the non fused disconnect posed an issue but its not what i normally see so I wasnt sure. Normally we come off the buss with a fused "buss plug" then go to a fused disconnect rated the same as the buss but located where easilly accessible, which also electrically isolates the machine cabinet. then into the machine which normally has its own internal OCP but does not suffice for entry without safety equipment due to there is still power going into the panel if just the machine disconnect is used. The more I type the more redundant I see this. Thanks guys