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| Subject - service disconnect | |
| schof2 |
I have a situation where the service meter was moved for an addition and a 200 amp disconnect switch was needed to refeed the existing 200 amp panel. I used a 3 pole 200 amp switch and broke all three conductors from the meter thru the disconnect. The inspector says I cannot break the neutral. Is there an article no. that says you cannot do this. Please advise. Thanks |
| Ryan_J | Your inspector is wrong. |
| schof2 | Thank you Ryan. I can't imagine why you would not be able to break the neutral with a disconnect switch.. |
| kbsparky | When dealing with branch circuits, as long as you break all ungrounded conductors with the same action, you are permitted to break the grounded conductor as well. Using a 3-pole breaker does this. However, on service equipment where the neutral conductor is intentionally grounded, the inspector may have a problem with breaking the neutral. Why not place that neutral on a solid bar, and use only 2 of the 3 poles in that breaker? |
| stedder | Did you run 4 wire to the new location from the disco? |
| schof2 | Yes I ran a 200 amp 4 wire sub-feed cable and separated the grounds and neutrals at the main panel. If I use a solid bar in the disconnect for the neutral now, I will have to repull the load side conductors because the neutral would be short. |
| kbsparky | quote: So, move the neutral bar down so it will reach the shortened conductor. You may have to replace the conductor feeding it from the meter box, but that should be a shorter piece than the entire sub-feed assembly  My question now is: How did you ground the neutral and connect it to the equipment grounding conductor if it's installed in the 3-pole breaker? I am missing something here ... 
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| schof2 | You're right I would repull the shorter meter neutral to the disconnect. Doesn't article 230.75 state that you can disconnect the neutral conductor? As far as the ground wire in the disconnect, that is connected to a ground lug by itself. I just don't understand why the inspector won't allow all three conductors to be broken with one switching action. |
| industraildog | quote: |
| industraildog | The way i read this is that you moved a 200 amp single phase panel from it's original place beyond 6' requiring a disconnect to be used. You then used a three pole breaker for two lines and one nutrual. if this is the case it is wong, wong, wong. the nutrual must be bonded at the disconnect at all times. with out the bond you pose a differance of potential if the breaker fails at some time down the road leaving you with a panel with no nutruals wich are isolated at the panel from the ground. make sense. |