service disconnect

[donnie]

Re: service disconnect

Don, member #4,
If you have a panel,which says it can be used as service equipment when not more than 6 switches are installed , and you only install a 15amp breaker, art. 230.79 (A) says this is allowed.
Question: why would you have to have a main breaker to protect the panel ?
If you have a switch gear that says , can be used as service equipment when no more than 6 switches are installed, and you need only to supply a 15 amp load with a 15 amp breaker or if not where then would the protection for the gear be, as you have said about the panel.

 

[jemsvcs]

Re: service disconnect

Thanks for all of the comments...the different interpretations have been interesting.

The local (i.e., Ohio) AHJ interprets my question as follows:

Although 408.16(A) does require the panel to be individually protected on the supply side (since the panel is by definition a "lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboard") and if someone was having a bad day they might decide to be difficult, they have always seen this situation from the perspective of 230.71(A) and 230.79(A).

Therefore, the equipment as originally installed is done according to Code and a main breaker would not be required.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Re: service disconnect

Donnie,

If you have a panel,which says it can be used as service equipment when not more than 6 switches are installed , and you only install a 15amp breaker, art. 230.79 (A) says this is allowed.

No, 230 does not change the rule in 408. If the breaker is 30 amp or smaller and there is a neutral, the panel itself must have overcurrent protection. Just because the panel is listed as "suitable for use as service equipment" does not change the overcurrent protection rule for panels that is found in 408.16.
See the statemet below from CMP 4 on this issue. At the time of the propsal shown below the current section 408.16 was 384.16.

(Log #1882)
4- 119 - (230-71(a), FPN (New) ): Reject
SUBMITTER: David A. Kerr, Jr., Friendsville, PA
RECOMMENDATION: Add a fine print note to 230-71(a) to read as follows:
FPN: See Sections 384-14, 384-15, 384-16 for restrictions on branch circuit breakers.
SUBSTANTIATION: Very few people seem to realize that most 15-30 ampere branch circuits require main protection. This needs a cross reference.
PANEL ACTION: Reject.
PANEL STATEMENT: The addition of the fine print note does not add to the clarity of this section. Users of the Code are required to follow the applicable rules of Article 384.
NUMBER OF PANEL MEMBERS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE: 11
VOTE ON PANEL ACTION:
AFFIRMATIVE: 11

Don

 

[jim dungar]

Re: service disconnect

After a little further investigation, this specific device (SQD HOM24L70RB) is UL listed as a panelboard, probably under guide #QEUY, and therefore requires a main as well as the 15A branch breaker.

However if the device had been a SQD QO2L40RB I believe it would not have required a main. This device is UL listed as a circuit breaker enclosure not a panelboard, under guide #DIVQ, even though it is refered to as a 2 circuit loadcenter.