SEU Cable In-Wall

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KRG9729

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We recently installed a 200 amp service. The SEU cable runs thru the wall in a stud bay about 3' (see attached photo). The sheetrock will be replace and we are concerned about the cable possibly being damaged. The simplest remedy we came up with to protect the cable is to remove the cable from the panel and sleeve the cable with a piece of 2" EMT where it comes through the wall. We would use a coupling and SEU connector on the end of the pipe and a EMT connector with a bonding bushing and #4 jumper to the ground bar. My question is whether or not this would be an acceptable installation. Thank you.


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Protection of that cable as installed would not concern me any more or less than any other NM cable however 338.12(B) forbids USE cable indooors if that is indeed what that is.
 
Although you can run up to 5 feet inside a building something about what you did there bothers me. If it were exposed in a basement that's one thing. But buried in a bay like that, I wouldn't do it. There is no OCP on it and I've seen too many service faults due to lightning and crosses with the primary. Even when run on the outside serious fire damage can happen to the building.

Usually in cases like that I mount the meter pan outside directly behind the panel and just feed through the wall with a nipple.

-Hal
 
It's a judgement call for the inspector. Like Hal I don't like it because it's concealed.
 
KRG9729 said:
We recently installed a 200 amp service. The SEU cable runs thru the wall in a stud bay about 3' (see attached photo). The sheetrock will be replace and we are concerned about the cable possibly being damaged. The simplest remedy we came up with to protect the cable is to remove the cable from the panel and sleeve the cable with a piece of 2" EMT where it comes through the wall. We would use a coupling and SEU connector on the end of the pipe and a EMT connector with a bonding bushing and #4 jumper to the ground bar. My question is whether or not this would be an acceptable installation. Thank you.


View attachment 17957
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infinity said:
It's a judgement call for the inspector. Like Hal I don't like it because it's concealed.
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Even if it gets sleeved in EMT? Thanks.
 
KRG9729 said:
Even if it gets sleeved in EMT? Thanks.
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According to the actual code language it wouldn't matter if were in a raceway, even RMC. The requirement is that the conductors enter the panel nearest the point of entry of the SEC's. To me that photo does not depict what is spelled out in the actual code language, however some inspectors might disagree.

VI. Service Equipment — Disconnecting Means230.70 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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KRG9729 said:
Even if it gets sleeved in EMT? Thanks.
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The issue isn't so much that it can be hit with a screw, it's that the service entrance cable has no over current protection. I don't know where in NY you are, but here in Westchester the rule is no service conductors (even in RGS) can be concealed and no more than 5' within the building from the point of entrance to the disconnect or main breaker panel.

-Hal
 
hbiss said:
The issue isn't so much that it can be hit with a screw, it's that the service entrance cable has no over current protection. I don't know where in NY you are, but here in Westchester the rule is no service conductors (even in RGS) can be concealed and no more than 5' within the building from the point of entrance to the disconnect or main breaker panel.

-Hal
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I am willing to bet that even unconcealed there would be the same objection. You might see it before it starts a fire, or you might not. ;)
 
jumper said:
NY amendment/allowance?
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I don't know where in NY you are, but here in Westchester the rule is no service conductors (even in RGS) can be concealed and no more than 5' within the building from the point of entrance to the disconnect or main breaker panel.
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At the state level, NYS has not declared a specific distance. Is that 5' rule in Westchester actually in writing, or just what the inspectors all will give you? Here in the otsego county area, it varies from inspector to inspector, but usually between 5 and 8 feet.

Personally, I have no trouble with the install in the OP and have done that many times.
 
SEC's can be run in unlimited lengths on the outside of the building but the nearest entry rule applies once they penetrate into the structure. Running them in conduit within a wall is not considered outside of the structure. There is an exception for when the SEC's are run vertically through an eave.

230.6 Conductors Considered Outside the Building.Conductors shall be considered outside of a building or
other structure under any of the following conditions:
(5) Where installed within rigid metal conduit (Type
RMC) or intermediate metal conduit (Type IMC) used
to accommodate the clearance requirements in 230.24
and routed directly through an eave but not a wall of a
building.
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Up to 5 feet is the general rule here also. I have had to mount one breaker panel on the outside wall (inside garage) and the other on an inside wall (kitchen to garage wall) because of wall layout and not an issue running SEU one stud bay over. One of our typical 400 amp residences. With two service entrance panels, it is rare to be able to come out of the meter pan into both boxes. Especially when the panels are in the basement.
 
Frank DuVal said:
Up to 5 feet is the general rule here also. I have had to mount one breaker panel on the outside wall (inside garage) and the other on an inside wall (kitchen to garage wall) because of wall layout and not an issue running SEU one stud bay over. One of our typical 400 amp residences. With two service entrance panels, it is rare to be able to come out of the meter pan into both boxes. Especially when the panels are in the basement.
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Your local AHJ may allow that, but there is no VA statewide amendment for that allowance.
 
Is there any evidence that this has ever created a problem?

If you cross the primary lines over to the secondary it seems unlikely that what ever circuit breakers there are might do any real good.

I wish the CMP would stop making unenforceable rules like this. If they insist on using this kind of language, they say what they actually mean.

They could simply add a parenthetical note "(not to exceed 8 feet)" after the word nearest.
 
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