Service panel wiring

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Guy Bratt

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Richmond, MI, USA,
I'm retired and spend a lot of time with my wife watching the tube. Reguarding the program "Holms Inspection" I have seen some supposed electrical service issues where they say branch circuit wiring cannot enter the panel next to the service entrance conductors. I know this is a Canadian program. Does anybody know is this only in Canada or is this new code in the US also?
 
Welcome to the forum.:)

230.7 prohibits conductors other than service conductor to be installed in the same service raceway.

Chris
 
service panels

service panels

I understand that. What I think I see on the show is the panel laying long way on it's side so branch circuits enter from overhead to the long side so as the wiring into the panel is not near the service conductors. Over the years I've seen panels entered from top bottom and side with no reguard for the service conductors once inside the panel.

With that statement I believe I read in the Electrical Contractor Magazine code questions that panels installed so the breaker handles are down with the power on would be a violation. Another Canadian issue?

Like they used to say on NAT GEO "Always Wonder"
 
I'm no Canadian code expert but I'm pretty sure that is normal for Canadian installations, and will even add it is normal for the line side of the main breaker to be partitioned and guarded so that there is no way to come into contact with live service conductors without first removing an additional cover for that area of the panel.
 
Guy Bratt said:
I understand that. What I think I see on the show is the panel laying long way on it's side so branch circuits enter from overhead to the long side so as the wiring into the panel is not near the service conductors. Over the years I've seen panels entered from top bottom and side with no reguard for the service conductors once inside the panel.

With that statement I believe I read in the Electrical Contractor Magazine code questions that panels installed so the breaker handles are down with the power on would be a violation. Another Canadian issue?

Like they used to say on NAT GEO "Always Wonder"
Click to expand...

Correct, 240.81 requires that the "Up" position of circuit breakers installed vertically to be the "on" position.

Chris
 
Canadian Panels are designed so that the service conductors are isolated from the rest of the panel. I think Don made a proposal to get that concept in the NEC.
 
Here is Don's proposal

4-140 Log #3389 NEC-P04
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Donald A. Ganiere, Ottawa, IL
Add new text to read as follows:
Enclosures that contain the service overcurrent protective device and feeder or branch circuit overcurrent protective devices shall be provided with a barrier that isolates the service conductors and the service overcurrent protective device from the feeder or branch circuit protective devices. With the current design of service equipment that contain branch circuit or feeder overcurrent protective device, it is not possible safely install new conductors or circuits. The electrical safe work rules in OSHA and NFPA 70E prohibit working, other than troubleshooting, in these enclosures if the line side of the service overcurrent protective device is energized. The only way to comply with the electrical safe work rules would be to have the utility disconnect the service conductors before you work in the panel. This is not practical and leads workers to ignore the
safe work rules. This code change will make it possible to work in the service equipment without having the utility disconnect the line side power, by removing the (unacceptable) exposure to the unprotected line side connections.
This requirement has been in place for Canadian service equipment for many years. There is no reason why we can?t have the same protection for the electrical workers here in the U.S.
Canadian Standards Association Standard C22.2 No. 29, Clause 7.4.1.2 states: "The main switch or circuit breaker shall be located in a separate section of the enclosure with a sheet-metal barrier or the equivalent, of the same thickness as the walls of the enclosure, having bushed holes or the equivalent, for the necessary wiring between compartments". The major manufacturers of switchboards and panelboards currently make products that are in compliance with the CSA Standard so it will not be a hardship on them to comply with this safety rule.
Click to expand...
 
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