Surge protection

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Willie B

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2023 NEC now requires surge protection on many services. The specifics are not provided in 230. I find more often we are installing big residential services. Might have many new loads we wouldn't see 20 years ago. Commonly, we install a meter backboard where meter socket & disconnects are mounted. more than one feeder then supplies the house. It'd be convenient to place surge protection at the meter. This means it would not be connected through a circuit breaker. Would this be code compliant?
 
Start with article 100 definitions
Then Article 280 or 285, on SPDS. I seem to recall the 2023 NEC renumbered the SPD article
Other sections that that apply are general in nature, like 110.14, that are just part of knowing the code
 
Willie B said:
2023 NEC now requires surge protection on many services. The specifics are not provided in 230. I find more often we are installing big residential services. Might have many new loads we wouldn't see 20 years ago. Commonly, we install a meter backboard where meter socket & disconnects are mounted. more than one feeder then supplies the house. It'd be convenient to place surge protection at the meter. This means it would not be connected through a circuit breaker. Would this be code compliant?
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2023 Code requires SPD's at the residential service per 230.67 and at residential feeder fed equipment per 215.18 and 225.42
 
Where is the best location to place the SPD in the main panel? Codes states that "The SPD shall be an integral part of the service equipment or shall be located immediately adjacent thereto"
Can it be placed at the opposite end of the bus bar in the main panel instead of at the entry point for service?
 
Can the SPD be placed under same lug when inside a transfer switch or does it need a breaker
 
mannyb said:
Can the SPD be placed under same lug when inside a transfer switch or does it need a breaker
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Type 1 SPDs do not require a breaker.

Whether it can go on a lug that has feeder conductors also, would be determined by whether or not the lug is rated for multiple conductors.

Real world its done all the time, SPDs, battery charge circuits for generators, etc, are added to lugs that have other conductors on them. I am not personally aware of any incidents caused by the practice, but I have also not done extensive research on the subject.
 
Seven-Delta-FortyOne said:
Type 1 SPDs do not require a breaker.

Whether it can go on a lug that has feeder conductors also, would be determined by whether or not the lug is rated for multiple conductors.

Real world its done all the time, SPDs, battery charge circuits for generators, etc, are added to lugs that have other conductors on them. I am not personally aware of any incidents caused by the practice, but I have also not done extensive research on the subject.
Click to expand...
Don't tell the electrical police, but I've placed multiple conductors in lugs several times without issue. If I need to drop small conductors (12awg) in a lug with a much larger conductor (2/O for instance) I'll crimp a long bootlace ferrule on the 12awg, and place it behind the strands of the larger conductor. I sleep just fine at night knowing what I did :sleep:


SceneryDriver
 
I have seen voltage tap wires for instrument metering made by stripping a little insulation away, prying out one wire strand, and split-bolting the wire to the strand. Would that work for connecting SPDs?
 
When putting small (#14 &12) stranded on a breaker many times I have stripped the wire twice the length I need and fold the wire back over itself then shove it in the breaker. Just think it make a better connection.

Don't tell
 
The horrible things we’ve done…….

Im surprised panels aren’t blowing up all over the place. 😳😂

Im half kidding. I do take the Code seriously, but it’s not like Moses came down from the Mount carrying the latest edition of the NEC. 😳
 
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