Service Equipment disconnecting ALL Conductors

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czars

Czars
Location
West Melbourne, FL
Occupation
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor
I was just reading Mike's latest newsletter about Electrical Services and something caught my eye. NEC 230.70 states that "a means shall be provided to disconnect all conductors in a building . . . . from the service entrance conductors". I have always interpreted this to mean "disconnect all ungrounded conductors", but 230.70 clearly says all and that sounds to me like the grounded conductor is included. None of the residential services that I've worked on have had service equipment capable of disconnecting the grounded conductor. What am I missing??
 
czars said:
I was just reading Mike's latest newsletter about Electrical Services and something caught my eye. NEC 230.70 states that "a means shall be provided to disconnect all conductors in a building . . . . from the service entrance conductors". I have always interpreted this to mean "disconnect all ungrounded conductors", but 230.70 clearly says all and that sounds to me like the grounded conductor is included. None of the residential services that I've worked on have had service equipment capable of disconnecting the grounded conductor. What am I missing??
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I never noticed that however I believe it is intended to mean all ungrounded conductors as I have never seen the grounded conductor switched.
 
Check out 230.75

230.75 Disconnection of Grounded Conductor.
Where the service disconnecting means does not disconnect the grounded conductor from the premises wiring, other means shall be provided for this purpose in the service equipment. A terminal or bus to which all grounded conductors can be attached by means of pressure connectors shall be permitted for this purpose. In a multisection switchboard, disconnects for the grounded conductor shall be permitted to be in any section of the switchboard, provided any such switchboard section is marked.
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Service Equipment disconnecting ALL Conductors

Thanks for the point to 230.7. That was what I was missing. Some day I will learn to just turn the page and finish the Article.
 
When I ask the question about disconnecting the grounded conductor at the service entrance, I have yet to have one person say it is required.

The work we perform in the field, have become "practices" of installation. Most do not realize that this requirement exists, and then do not realize the NEC has provisions for this.
In gear, you will see a label on the bus where the neutral link of neutral disconnect is located.
 
Alot of times when I do a service, I will bring the neutral wire straight through the lugs in the meter can "unbroken" and land it at the service disconnect. I will however strip the insulation back in the meter can and secure the exposed copper in the can with the lugs provided.
Does this mean I am violating a code?
 
aftershock said:
Alot of times when I do a service, I will bring the neutral wire straight through the lugs in the meter can "unbroken" and land it at the service disconnect. I will however strip the insulation back in the meter can and secure the exposed copper in the can with the lugs provided.
Does this mean I am violating a code?
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No, the requirement is met by the termination in the disco.
 
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