National Electrical Installation Standards

Standards as High as Your Own

 
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Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Question:

Good Morning,

I enjoy reading the Code Question of the Day and use it to challenge my code knowledge and some preconceptions I have. Concerning the answer to CQD 2/5/21: The Question was referring to a feeder, not service disconnects. Feeder disconnect locations are found in 225.32 of the NEC. This is different from service disconnect locations as it requires the disconnect be located nearest the point of entry whether inside or outside.

Dustin Behounek

A

Answer:

Hi Dustin,

These requirements are  fairly identical and address the readily accessible location either outside the building or inside, nearest the point of entrance of the conductors. The purpose in 230.70(A)(1) is specific to service conductors that are typically supplied by a utility and are generally not with overcurrent protection that meets NEC requirements. The idea here is to limit the length those conductors run within a building to only as much as absolutely necessary. In 225.32 same rules apply to feeders. Feeders may be tap conductors to a larger feeder, they may be secondary conductors from a transformer or other source, and so forth. The requirements are the same for consistency between Articles 230 and 225.

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