I'm installing new upgraded service as part of a new addition I have built. It is a 400 amp meter base that feeds two 200 AMP SE lines. One 3 wire (2 hot & 1 neutral) line goes directly to one of two 200 amp SE panels. The other 3 wire line goes to an SE rated auto switch for the generator. From there the switch output goes to the second 200 amp SE panel. I have a whole house generator that feeds the 200 amp auto switch. The switch is wired directly between the service entry meter and one of the two the main service panels, all of which are new installation. Both SE panels, the auto switch and meter base have a common ground tie that also connects to 2 ground rods. The SE panels and the SE rated auto switch are all mounted inside side-by-side.
Today the electrical inspector told me that the main service panel connected to the auto switch must have ground and neutral unbonded and fed with 4 wire service from the auto switch as it is considered a sub panel. The other SE panel is OK with ground and neutral bonded, fed with 3 wire from the meter base. . This doesn't make sense. Only the hot are switched by the auto switch, ground and neutral are bonded within the auto switch. Ground and neutral from the generator are also bonded in the switch We are under the 2012 NEC rules at this location and the sections governing generators is not even close to being clear.
Does installing the auto switch really make the service entry panel a sub panel? What sections in the code address this?
Today the electrical inspector told me that the main service panel connected to the auto switch must have ground and neutral unbonded and fed with 4 wire service from the auto switch as it is considered a sub panel. The other SE panel is OK with ground and neutral bonded, fed with 3 wire from the meter base. . This doesn't make sense. Only the hot are switched by the auto switch, ground and neutral are bonded within the auto switch. Ground and neutral from the generator are also bonded in the switch We are under the 2012 NEC rules at this location and the sections governing generators is not even close to being clear.
Does installing the auto switch really make the service entry panel a sub panel? What sections in the code address this?
