service disconnect location

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Nick D.

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location of service disconnect in a home.
exactly how far can service cables from meter pan to panel be. seems this is interpeted differently by many people. obviosly the disconnect should be as close as possible to point of entry in home. but where is the max footage allowed stated in code. and is this determination of, as close as possible, completly up to the inspector.
 
There is no NEC stated distance. It's up to the AHJ to decide. Some areas have specific lengths that are permitted. This would be a local code and not an NEC length.

Welcome to the forum. :smile:
 
I can't answer for New Jersey (the OP's home, as well as yours, Rob), as I am on the other side of the country. The state-wide limit here is 15 feet. Welcome to the forum.
 
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10' or 15' here in NJ would get a big red sticker. :rolleyes:

Some inspectors will allow some wiggle room if you're using RMC. SE cable had better go right into the panel.
 
It remains my opinion that the word "nearest" means exactly that and you have to install the disconnect at the point where the service conductors penetrate the interior wall surface. If you have a local rule that sets a specific distance then that would apply. Our local rule is 10'.
 
wbalsam1 said:
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/code/pdf/servconductlengthTB.pdf

I had a technical bulletin published when one of the pocos started flexing it's muscle about an actual footage. This bulletin settled them down and they haven't reared their ugly head since. :smile:
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The code wording does not support the opinion that was expressed in the technical bulletin that you provided a link to.
The intent is to provide a service disconnecting means that is at an accessible location as close as is
practical to the point at which these conductors enter a building.
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The code does not use the words "close as practical" and if that is the real intent of the rule, then the code should use those words.
 
wbalsam1 said:
. . . one of the pocos started flexing it's muscle about an actual footage. . .
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Interesting, I didn't know that we had muscle to flex on the load side of the service point. However, their interpretation of NEC was correct; the State of New York has made a local ruling on what they will permit. This is much the same as the State of Indiana uses the Indiana Electrical Code which is the NEC with the Indiana amendments. :smile:
 
charlie said:
Interesting, I didn't know that we had muscle to flex on the load side of the service point. However, their interpretation of NEC was correct; the State of New York has made a local ruling on what they will permit. This is much the same as the State of Indiana uses the Indiana Electrical Code which is the NEC with the Indiana amendments. :smile:
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Never had a problem with IPL, Cinergy or Hendricks on the load side.....Charlie I am formally from In. What is the distance now? DC just changed from 15' to Nearest the point of entrance which is exactly what it means and all are on the same page here.....back to back....Funny how AHJ's look at things such as this.
 
Some utility company specifications establish maximum lengths for service entrance conductors prior to the disconnecting means. These specifications cannot be enforced by a code enforcement authority because such specifications are [FONT=Times,Bold]not [/FONT]part of the enforceable rules and regulations of the State of New York.


This italicized text above is referring to the fact that official New York State Code Officers are not empowered to enforce Power Company rules, only the pocos are permitted to do that. A 3rd-party private electrical inspector does not have the authority vested in him or her, either.
Power compamies enter the third-party inspectors into agreements stating something to the effect that the inspector agrees to enforce poco policies in addition to enforcing the electrical code. But in actuality, a private inspector can only report, not enforce, findings to individuals. The appointed code officials in each community are the AHJ's.​

​
 
dcspector said:
. . . What is the distance now? . .
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Unofficially, it is 10' here. However officially, it is nearest the point of entrance into the building.

wbalsam1 said:
. . . utility company specifications establish maximum lengths for service entrance conductors prior to the disconnecting means. . .
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This is interesting since the NEC permits you to wrap the service entrance conductors all around the building before you get to the service equipment. :smile:
 
service disconnect location

don_resqcapt19 said:
The code wording does not support the opinion that was expressed in the technical bulletin that you provided a link to.
The code does not use the words "close as practical" and if that is the real intent of the rule, then the code should use those words.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. There are no local changes,where I inspect so nearest the point of entrance it must be or it gets red tagged.
 
[Originally Posted by don_resqcapt19
The code wording does not support the opinion that was expressed in the technical bulletin that you provided a link to.
The code does not use the words "close as practical" and if that is the real intent of the rule, then the code should use those words.]

romeo said:
I totally agree. There are no local changes,where I inspect so nearest the point of entrance it must be or it gets red tagged.
Click to expand...

Imagine this scenario, please: A service cable exits the bottom of a single gang 200 ampere meter enclosure and within a foot or so, enters the exterior wall of a dwelling and travels through the box sill, entering the basement at ceiling joist height about 12 feet above the finished floor. The cable then travels straight down the basement wall to a main service panel mounted at a height of 6 feet to the main CB.

This means that there is approximately 6 or 7 feet of cable inside the building. This meets the intent of the wording "close as practical". The wording "nearest the point of entrance" could be distorted to mean place the main panelboard at the ceiling height and build something to climb up to this location while still meeting 110-26 for clearances. This language is at least as ambiguous as our technical bulletin.
 
wbalsam1 said:
[Originally Posted by don_resqcapt19
The code wording does not support the opinion that was expressed in the technical bulletin that you provided a link to.
The code does not use the words "close as practical" and if that is the real intent of the rule, then the code should use those words.]



Imagine this scenario, please: A service cable exits the bottom of a single gang 200 ampere meter enclosure and within a foot or so, enters the exterior wall of a dwelling and travels through the box sill, entering the basement at ceiling joist height about 12 feet above the finished floor. The cable then travels straight down the basement wall to a main service panel mounted at a height of 6 feet to the main CB.

This means that there is approximately 6 or 7 feet of cable inside the building. This meets the intent of the wording "close as practical". The wording "nearest the point of entrance" could be distorted to mean place the main panelboard at the ceiling height and build something to climb up to this location while still meeting 110-26 for clearances. This language is at least as ambiguous as our technical bulletin.
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In your scenario, it is my opinion that the NEC wording requires that the service disconnect be located outside the building. If the code acutally used the words "close as practical" then I would agree that your scenario would be permitted, however those words do not appear in that code section. The word "nearest" means exactly that and if you can't install the service disconnect at the point were the conductors enter the building, then you have to install it outside.
I understand that most code users read this section as if it had the words "as close as practical" in it, but I don't.
 
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