Tap rule ?

Status
Not open for further replies.
E

electricblue

Senior Member
Location
Largo, Florida
Occupation
EC
Retired electrician telling me how to do a job in a way I'm not familiar with. We have a meter bank with mains. Can I tap a fused 120v circuit onto the main within 6'?
 
It's a condo meter bank 7 meters each 200 amp feeding condos upstairs. Parking garage on first floor. They want 120v outlets at 7 storage units in garage metered to each unit. The guy is citing the 6' tap rule
 
electricblue said:
It's a condo meter bank 7 meters each 200 amp feeding condos upstairs. Parking garage on first floor. They want 120v outlets at 7 storage units in garage metered to each unit. The guy is citing the 6' tap rule
Click to expand...

There is no "6' tap rule". There is a 10' tap rule and a 25' tap rule.

The tap rules are located in 240.21(B)

Here are the 2 rules that I referenced.

(B) Feeder Taps. Conductors shall be permitted to be tapped,
without overcurrent protection at the tap, to a feeder as speci‐
fed in 240.21(B)(1) through (B)(5). The provisions of
240.4(B) shall not be permitted for tap conductors.

(1) Taps Not over 3 m (10 ft) Long. If the length of the tap
conductors does not exceed 3 m (10 ft) and the tap conductors
comply with all of the following:
(1) The ampacity of the tap conductors is
a. Not less than the combined calculated loads on the
circuits supplied by the tap conductors, and
b. Not less than the rating of the equipment containing
an overcurrent device(s) supplied by the tap conduc‐
tors or not less than the rating of the overcurrent
protective device at the termination of the tap
conductors.
Exception to b: Where listed equipment, such as a surge protective
device(s) [SPD(s)], is provided with specifc instructions on mini‐
mum conductor sizing, the ampacity of the tap conductors supply‐
ing that equipment shall be permitted to be determined based on the
manufacturer’s instructions.
(2) The tap conductors do not extend beyond the switch‐
board, switchgear, panelboard, disconnecting means, or
control devices they supply.
(3) Except at the point of connection to the feeder, the tap
conductors are enclosed in a raceway, which extends from
the tap to the enclosure of an enclosed switchboard,
switchgear, a panelboard, or control devices, or to the
back of an open switchboard.
(4) For feld installations, if the tap conductors leave the
enclosure or vault in which the tap is made, the ampacity
of the tap conductors is not less than one-tenth of the
rating of the overcurrent device protecting the feeder
conductors.
Click to expand...

And the 25' tap rule

(2) Taps Not over 7.5 m (25 ft) Long. Where the length of
the tap conductors does not exceed 7.5 m (25 ft) and the tap
conductors comply with all the following:
(1) The ampacity of the tap conductors is not less than one-third
of the rating of the overcurrent device protecting
the feeder conductors.
(2) The tap conductors terminate in a single circuit breaker
or a single set of fuses that limit the load to the ampacity
of the tap conductors. This device shall be permitted to
supply any number of additional overcurrent devices on
its load side.
(3) The tap conductors are protected from physical damage
by being enclosed in an approved raceway or by other
approved means.
Click to expand...

Chris
 
raider1 said:
There is no "6' tap rule". There is a 10' tap rule and a 25' tap rule.

The tap rules are located in 240.21(B)

Here are the 2 rules that I referenced.



And the 25' tap rule







Chris
Click to expand...
.




So then if I'm understanding the 10' rule. Putting a 60A fusable disco is rated less the the 200amp equipment is a no.
 
It bears mentioning that in the described scenario there shall also be a main disconnect prior to the 7 meters and there associated disconnects. The OP didn't mention this. Otherwise, these taps would be merely an increase in an already code violating installation. NEC 230.71
 
Strathead said:
It bears mentioning that in the described scenario there shall also be a main disconnect prior to the 7 meters and there associated disconnects. The OP didn't mention this. Otherwise, these taps would be merely an increase in an already code violating installation. NEC 230.71
Click to expand...
While I agree a main before a 7-meter-main combo is required, tapping on the load side of the meter-main does not amplify having a no main-main violation.
 
Smart $ said:
While I agree a main before a 7-meter-main combo is required, tapping on the load side of the meter-main does not amplify having a no main-main violation.
Click to expand...


My mistake,I was envisioning the taps being after the meters but before the mains for some reason.:ashamed1:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top