Service conductor length before needing a disconnect.

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petchman5

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White Bear Lake MN
Thursday April 12th I removed and replaced an old fuse box service. Because of the width of the new 100 amp 32 space panel I had to move it around the corner. So the SEC comes into the house and is infused for 22" between meter and panel. The inspector is calling for a disconnect to be installed. Amy arguments i could make? I mean it is less distance than a Sweep 90. or would I need to sleeve it in something. I was always told 3 feet of service cable into the house before needing a disconnect and have had other inspectors say 6 feet. Any input would be appreciated.
 

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Code says "nearest the point of entrance" (230.70) so you are pretty much regulated by that Code jurisdiction's interpretation. You might ask if installing the conductors in a metallic wireway would make any difference. Often with that protection, a longer length is accepted.
 
If that is a service cable then why does it have 4 conductors? Looks like SER not SEU.

If they are service conductors then I would agree with the inspector. Some areas have amendments that actually state the length of wire while others just use the somewhat ambiguous nec RULE.
 
Pretty much up to the AHJ. Around here it's 5 feet but that's usually running exposed in a basement. The fact that yours is buried in the wall is probably the reason for the concern. Since you already have SER it should be an easy change.

-Hal
 
As mentioned it's a judgement call but I would probably allow it. I wouldn't allow the four conductor cable to be used as shown in the photo. You have a choice, either add the disconnect on the outside or change to a raceway and encase it in concrete.
 
petchman5 said:
Thursday April 12th I removed and replaced an old fuse box service. Because of the width of the new 100 amp 32 space panel I had to move it around the corner. So the SEC comes into the house and is infused for 22" between meter and panel. The inspector is calling for a disconnect to be installed. Amy arguments i could make? I mean it is less distance than a Sweep 90. or would I need to sleeve it in something. I was always told 3 feet of service cable into the house before needing a disconnect and have had other inspectors say 6 feet. Any input would be appreciated.
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Since it is only 100 amp you can get a small panel to use as a disco. GE makes a 4ckt panel rated 125 amp for less then $30. It comes with a small square washer to use as a lock down, so the main is ok. Of course you will have to buy a 100 amp breaker also.
 
5 feet of conductor inside the building is the rule here. There are times when they might allow a little more - you better ask first though in those situations.

Only thing wrong with using 4 wire cable like OP did is he essentially has a parallel neutral, assuming N and G are both connected in the meter. Disconnect the bare conductor (at least on one end) and nothing wrong with it. Still leaves a grounded "shield" if only connected at one end and shoulnd't be anything wrong with that.
 
It would be nice to have a specified length written in the code for distance into a building.

This has always been a crapshoot when it comes to what is allowable.Why for instance can't there simply be a length, period, end of discussion.

A number of times I have installed a disco only to have the inspector say" you were fine with the length, you didn't need that switch outside.

When working in a variety of municipalities, it's not practical call every inspector and ask what they will allow,

2'
3'
4'
Etc.

Pick a number and that's that.
 
Washington state code explicitly states that the limit here is 15 feet. I don't know if MN has a similar code. Have you looked for applicable state codes?
 
packersparky said:
I believe that MN adopts the NEC in its entirety without amendments.
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But the point is that the NEC is ambiguous. Florida adopts the NEC and doesn't allow local jurisdictions to pass any rules more or less stringent than the code. The allowance for the code we are discussing changes from one jurisdiction to another because the NEC doesn't give a definitive distance.
 
Strathead said:
But the point is that the NEC is ambiguous. Florida adopts the NEC and doesn't allow local jurisdictions to pass any rules more or less stringent than the code. The allowance for the code we are discussing changes from one jurisdiction to another because the NEC doesn't give a definitive distance.
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I understand that, that is why I responded to Charlie that the OP would not find a definitive answer in any MN code.
 
Around here you can do a panel swap with no permit, unless the HO wants one. The poco will allow you to pull the meter and put it back in. If it is locked they will unlock it for you. You do need to have an E1 (unlimited electrical contractor) liscense.
 
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