National Electrical Installation Standards

Standards as High as Your Own

 
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Monday, August 20, 2018

Question:

Re: CQD answer published Thursday, August 9, 2018 -Service Equipment

In response to the new question for Wed August 8th. I have always assumed that if there is a main disconnect, then any service wires on the load side of that disconnect are to be considered a feeder. Then also the main grounding must occur at the service disconnect and not anywhere downstream of that disconnect. If I read the question correctly, then there is a main disconnect/ overcurrent protection at the meter pedestal he is talking about in his question.

Therefore I would agree with him that a ground neutral and two hot wires are going to the home from the main at the pedestal. I do not see how it can be done any other way unless the ahj has said that the wiring to the home from the pedestal can be considered as though they were a service drop to the home.

Kenneth Lynes

A

Answer:

Hey Kenneth thanks for your comment. The original question submitter indicated there is a service pedestal supplying a remotely located one family dwelling. The service overcurrent device must be located "at" the service disconnecting means location as stated in 230.91. Service conductors do not extend beyond the service disconnecting means based on the definition of Service Conductors in Article 100. You are correct, the conductors on the load side of the service equipment (from the service pedestal and the one family dwelling) are feeders based on the definition of Feeder in Article 100.

As we stated using a 120/240 volt single phase 3-wire feeder on the load side of the service is not allowed because both grounded equipment grounding conductors would be connected to it in the single family dwellings - a violation of 250.24(A)(5). An equipment grounding conductor must be run with the grounded and ungrounded conductors to the one family dwelling. Service Drop conductors are overhead and are utility owned based on their definition in Article 100.

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