Vernon Tuck
Stainless
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2008
- Location
- Brenham, Texas
Guys,
The link below contains a description of the differences between main breaker and main lug load centers:
ElectricSmarts Network - Story: Main Breaker vs. Main Lug: What?s the Difference?
I gather the impression that all sub-panels downstream from the service entrance are typically main lug and that these have to have a "service disconnect".
In another recent post here, I mentioned some Square D QO 200 amp "feed-thru" load centers I'm using in our shop. If I'm not mistaken, these load centers can be converted from main breaker to main lug by simply removing the main breaker.
My concern is that I may be using the downstream boxes incorrectly because I have passed the entire 200 amps from the service entrance box to an identical box on the opposite side of an outside wall. Both are outside boxes. I'm just using one on the outside beneath the service entrance and meter can and the second (identical) box back to back with the first box, on the inside of an exterior wall.
Both of these boxes still have main disconnects. Other than possibly spending money unnecessarily, what I'd really like to know is:
Is there anything WRONG (such as a NEC code violation) with doing it this way?
The reason I ask is that I'm now contemplating doing it again. If there is a compelling reason to remove the "main breakers" from the sub-panels (converting them to "main lug") then I will do so.
I hope this makes sense.
Thanks
V
The link below contains a description of the differences between main breaker and main lug load centers:
ElectricSmarts Network - Story: Main Breaker vs. Main Lug: What?s the Difference?
I gather the impression that all sub-panels downstream from the service entrance are typically main lug and that these have to have a "service disconnect".
In another recent post here, I mentioned some Square D QO 200 amp "feed-thru" load centers I'm using in our shop. If I'm not mistaken, these load centers can be converted from main breaker to main lug by simply removing the main breaker.
My concern is that I may be using the downstream boxes incorrectly because I have passed the entire 200 amps from the service entrance box to an identical box on the opposite side of an outside wall. Both are outside boxes. I'm just using one on the outside beneath the service entrance and meter can and the second (identical) box back to back with the first box, on the inside of an exterior wall.
Both of these boxes still have main disconnects. Other than possibly spending money unnecessarily, what I'd really like to know is:
Is there anything WRONG (such as a NEC code violation) with doing it this way?
The reason I ask is that I'm now contemplating doing it again. If there is a compelling reason to remove the "main breakers" from the sub-panels (converting them to "main lug") then I will do so.
I hope this makes sense.
Thanks
V