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Friday, May 25, 2018

Question:

Changing 200 amp panel located 7’ from the meter base, requires an exterior safety switch. The new panel is a main breaker, does the safety switch have to fused or can it be non fused?

Pete McCarthy

A

Answer:

Hey Pete thanks for your question. It is not clear from your example why the exterior safety switch is required. The service disconnecting means must be installed nearest the service conductors entrance point as stated in 230.70(A)(1). If the panelboard main meets those conditions the exterior switch is not required by the NEC. But having a switch on the line side of the panelboard has safety advantages such as being able to completely deenergize everything in the panelboard. If a switch is installed on the supply side of the panelboard, as you describe, it is the service disconnecting means and the service overcurrent device must be part of that switch or immediately adjacent to it as stated in 230.91.

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CHARLIE TROUT: Charles M. Trout, better known as Charlie, was a nationally known NEC® expert and author. He served on several NEC® technical committees and is past chairman of CMP-12. In 2006 Charlie was awarded the prestigious Coggeshall Award for outstanding contributions to the electrical contracting industry, codes and standards development, and technical training. Even though Charlie passed away in October of 2015, his work continues in spirit. NECA continues to maintain this question forum for its many subscribers in memory and recognition of all his significant contributions to making the NEC what it is today.

NECA STANDARDS: NECA publishes the National Electrical Installation Standards™ (NEIS™), a series of ANSI-approved performance and quality standards for electrical construction. NEIS can be purchased in the NECA Store in three formats: a printed or  PDF download of a standard or, as an  annual subscription service.

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