Service disconnect

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It would be completely impractical in my area to require them. It would probably be fine in many residential settings, but it would never work in a city environment, where often the metering equipment is right on a sidewalk or within a few feet of one. I know the disconnects could be locked and could easily be cut by first responders, but that sort of defeats the purpose of having it there for a homeowner in an emergency. But there has never been an issue with this and if it were, it would have been required long ago. The fire department will simply call the poco and have the power cut to the building in an emergency right at the pole.
 
Yes, usually required around here, mostly as a result of a deal between the fire department and the city inspectors. Now, having done it for so many years, it has become common practice even outside the city jurisdiction. Other common practice is to mount a main panel next to the meter so circuits for heat pump compressors, well pumps and other exterior loads can be easily served.
 
tadavidson said:
Please refresh my memory. Exactly where is this addressed in "da code"?
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230.70(A)(1).

VI. Service Equipment — Disconnecting Means
230.70 General. Means shall be provided to disconnect all
conductors in a building or other structure from the service-
entrance conductors.
(A) Location. The service disconnecting means shall be
installed in accordance with 230.70(A)(1), (A)(2), and
(A)(3).
(1) Readily Accessible Location. The service disconnect-
ing means shall be installed at a readily accessible location
either outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the
point of entrance of the service conductors.
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And the last part of what infinity quoted "or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors" is what is always a topic of discussion on sites like this one. Because of how it is worded NEC leaves any specific maximum distance from the point of entry pretty much up to the AHJ.
 
ActionDave said:
None. As long as you don't need a ladder or a screwdriver to get to the disconnect it's readily accessible.
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:happyyes:

Art 100 def for readily accessible:

"Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom access is requisite to actions such as to use tools, to climb over or remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth."

And-

110.26(F):

"Electrical equipment rooms or enclosures housing electrical apparatus that are controlled by a locks(s) shall be considered accessble to qualified persons"
 
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There is also, I believe, a section that states that "readily accessible" shall not require tools *other than a key* or words to that effect.

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zbang said:
Hoarding epidemic? Less that 5% of the world's population show signs of clinical hoarding. I think there are better reasons to require outside disconnects (or not).
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Its way more than 5% in appalachia where im from


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electrofelon said:
So sounds like the meter is hot sequence? They just don't want load on the meter, but are ok if it's hot?
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Correct. Meters are not rated as disconnects (no AIC rating) and we are one of the utilities that allow meter readers to do disconnect/reconnects in the field. Many larger utilities require a meter tech or lineman to do it under load. I think it's more a COA than actually a hazard beyond the scope of the meter reader, but I don't know for sure. Fire depts. like them too...easier than pulling the meter. I doubt if there's much argument that pulling a meter with an open disconnect is safer. But faults can still occur if line side wiring or the meter itself or socket hardware faults during meter removal. Results are sometimes pretty ugly. I used to have gory pictures, but left 'em at work when I retired....just trying to reduce the odds of injury.
 
GoldDigger said:
There is also, I believe, a section that states that "readily accessible" shall not require tools *other than a key* or words to that effect.

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That is in the 2017 NEC definition. Key part is new.

Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to take actions such as to use tools (other than keys), to climb over or under, to remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.
 
jumper said:
That is in the 2017 NEC definition. Key part is new.

Accessible, Readily (Readily Accessible). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to take actions such as to use tools (other than keys), to climb over or under, to remove obstacles, or to resort to portable ladders, and so forth.
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They are forgetting super heroes don't need a ladder or a key to obtain access:D
 
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