?
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Question:
Re: CQD answer published August 9 & August 21, 2018 - Service Equipment 4
In response to the article debating whether a 3 wire single phase conductor set is allowed to a structure as opposed to 4 wire set, the petitioner referenced a " service pedestal" with an overcurrent device . We were all taught in apprenticeship any conductors on load side of an overcurrent device are feeders. Unfortunately this is only partially true. If this pedestal is installed and maintained by a serving utility, then the utility is responsible for declaring the "service point", as defined in NEC article 100 definitions as the point of demarcation where utility service ends and customer responsibility begins. The placement of an overcurrent device installed on the line side (utility) of a system does not render the conductors from said overcurrent device to the structure as feeders, but as service conductors if the utility declares the load side of the overcurrent device as the service point, which is the case with many utility supplied pedestals. This rendering of "service point" is completely the decision of the utility and not the NEC, nor any customer or other party. We can only declare "feeder" when and where the utility states it will be. Thank you much for this opportunity to clarify a greatly misunderstood area. Kelly Stockwill
A
Answer:
Hey Kelly thanks for your comment. You are correct if the utility owns the disconnecting means at the pedestal then the service disconnecting means is downstream of that based on the definition of Service Point in article 100. The service overcurrent device must be located "at" the service disconnecting means location as stated in 230.91 but upstream overcurrent devices are not prohibited. Utilities are typically governed by regulatory commissions.