Void Electrical Panel if I put knockout in side of NEMA 1 panel?

[Ravenvalor]

Hello,

I would like to bring a panel feeder into the side of the panel about midway. This will require a 2.5" knockout being made by me. Will this violate the manufacturers UL listing if I do this? I have been turned down in the past for doing this on NEMA 3R installations because the knockouts were higher than the bus. There was a concern about water damage to the bus.

Thanks,

 

[masterinbama]

I would say that on a NEMA 1 unless the manufacturer says not to and you have the required bending and gutter space you are good to go.

 

[kwired]

I sure hope there is nothing wrong with punching a hole, your small loadcenters usually have pre-punched KO's for your convenience, but some commercial/industrial panels have no KO's at all and you must make your own.

One problem you could have especially with a larger raceway may be that there is insufficient bending space for the conductors.

As far as the type 3R panel you were once rejected on, use of proper raintight fittings should not be a cause to turn down that installation.

 

[jwelectric]

I have been turned down in the past for doing this on NEMA 3R installations because the knockouts were higher than the bus. There was a concern about water damage to the bus.

Thanks,

The last sentence of 312.2 says For enclosures in wet locations, raceways or cables entering above the level of uninsulated live parts shall use fittings listed for wet locations.

How was the raceway terminated to the enclosure?

 

[jim dungar]

You cannot 'void' the UL listing, as that is an indication of how it was built and how it left the factory.
You can however modify or install something in a manner that will be non-compliant with the UL Listing. Only your AHJ can make the decision.

This is from UL's White Book:

What happens to the Listing if a UL-Listed product is modified in the field?
An authorized use of the UL Mark is the manufacturer?s declaration that the product was originally manufactured in accordance with the applicable requirements when it was shipped from the factory. When a UL-Listed product is modified after it leaves the factory, UL has no way to determine if the product continues to comply with the safety requirements used to certify the product without investigating the modified product. UL can neither indicate that such modifications ??void?? the UL Mark, nor that the product continues to meet UL?s safety requirements, unless the field modifications have been specifically investigated by UL. It is the responsibility of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to determine the acceptability of the modification or if the modifications are significant enough to require one of UL?s Field Engineering Services staff members to evaluate the modified product. UL can assist the AHJ in making this determination.
An exception for a field modification authorized by UL is when the product has specific replacement markings.

For example, a switchboard may have specific grounding kits added in the field. The switchboard is marked with a list of specific kit numbers that have been investigated for use in that particular switchboard. Only grounding kits that are included on the marking on the product have been investigated for use in that product.

If a party wishes UL to determine if the modifications made to a UL Listed product comply with UL requirements, the appropriate Field Engineering Service can be initiated to investigate the modifications. This investigation will only be conducted after UL consults with the AHJ to ensure that UL?s investigation addresses all areas of concern and meets all of the AHJ?s needs.