[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 07-20-2003).]

550.32(B) permits this type of installation.
Don

With respect, Don, this has not always been the case. Only recently (1999) were we allowed to do this, but only on manufactured homes. The 1st pic doesn't look like a mfg. home, but a mobile home, which we still can't put a service on. The other pics do look like mfg. homes, so these, on 1st look, seem to be ok.

Rick Miell

Rick,
Look at the definitions. Starting with the 99 code the terms "mobile home" and "manufactured home" are interchangable. This permission to install the service on a manufactured home first appeared as an exception in the 93 code, but the service was required to be installed by the home manufacturer.
I agree it is hard to tell from the pictures if there is a "permanent foundation" which is required in the '99 code, of if the manufacturing tie down requirements of the 02 code have been met.
Don

Read 2002 530.32 b 3. A disconnect IS required outside the TRAILER. Also in each TRAILER service panel theres a tag saying this panel MUST be feed by a 4 wire feed. The ground and Neutral must be kept seperate to that ist pnl.Also trailer walls are NOT contructed to take the weight of a Mast Unless Additional Supports are installed at the Factory.

Don,
from the 2002 NECH (all rights reserved)

550.2 Definitions.
Manufactured Home. A structure, transportable .....For the purpose of this Code and unless otherwise indicated, the term mobile home includes manufactured homes.
Mobile Home. A factory-assembled structure ......For the purpose of this Code and unless otherwise indicated, the term mobile home includes manufactured homes.

550.32 Service Equipment.
(A) Mobile Home Service Equipment. The mobile home service equipment shall be located adjacent to the mobile home and not mounted in or on the mobile home. The service equipment shall be located in sight from and not more than 9.0 m (30 ft) from the exterior wall of the mobile home it serves. The service equipment shall be permitted to be located elsewhere on the premises, provided that a disconnecting means suitable for service equipment is located in sight from and not more than 9.0 m (30 ft) from the exterior wall of the mobile home it serves. Grounding at the disconnecting means shall be in accordance with 250.32.

Mobile home service equipment must be located in sight of the mobile home, but the equipment can be up to 30 ft from any point on the exterior wall of the mobile home. This requirement recognizes the use of feeder raceways that are external to the mobile home. Service equipment may be located more than 30 ft from the mobile home if an additional disconnecting means is located within 30 ft of the mobile home and grounding and bonding of this additional disconnecting means is performed in accordance with the provisions of 250.32. In a mobile home park, this arrangement facilitates locating service equipment at one or more centralized locations that are not within the required 30-ft proximity to the mobile home. Feeders are installed from this service equipment to the properly located mobile home site disconnecting means.

(B) Manufactured Home Service Equipment. The manufactured home service equipment shall be permitted to be installed in or on a manufactured home, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The manufacturer shall include in its written installation instructions information indicating that the home shall be secured in place by an anchoring system or installed on and secured to a permanent foundation.
(2) The installation of the service equipment shall comply with Article 230.
(3) Means shall be provided for the connection of a grounding electrode conductor to the service equipment and routing it outside the structure.
(4) Bonding and grounding of the service shall be in accordance with Article 250.
(5) The manufacturer shall include in its written installation instructions one method of grounding the service equipment at the installation site. The instructions shall clearly state that other methods of grounding are found in Article 250.
(6) The minimum size grounding electrode conductor shall be specified in the instructions.
(7) A red warning label shall be mounted on or adjacent to the service equipment. The label shall state the following:
WARNING DO NOT PROVIDE ELECTRICAL POWER UNTIL THE GROUNDING ELECTRODE(S) IS INSTALLED AND CONNECTED (SEE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS).
Where the service equipment is not installed in or on the unit, the installation shall comply with the other provisions of this section.

The provisions of 550.32(B) specify the conditions required in order to install the service equipment in or on a manufactured home. The concern over the unit being moved off-site (intentionally or unintentionally) without the ability to disconnect the electrical supply is addressed in condition (1). A manufactured home with a service in or on the unit must be anchored in place or secured to a permanent foundation.
Other conditions specified by 550.32(B) cover the need to provide proper grounding and bonding conductors, systems, and connections and to install the service equipment in accordance with the applicable requirements in Article 230. The provisions of 550.32(B) only apply to manufactured homes as defined in 550.2. end of quoted material

italic text is handbook commentary

I believe that this section clearly seperates the requirements for the different types of buildings, one requirement for mobile home, another for manufactured homes. This seperation follows the wording of the last sentence of the definitions for both Mobile Homes and Manufactured Homes, where it says that the two are the same, "unless otherwise indicated". If these two locations are the same as far as services are concerned, why the two different sections, A & B?

You are not allowed to install a service on a "Mobile Home", under any conditions, while you are allowed to do this on Manufactured Homes, following the guidelines in (B).

With respect.


Yoopersup, again with respect, the 2002 section 550.32(b)(3) does not state that a disconnect is required, nor is a disconnect even mention there. This section refers to the connection of a grounding electrode connection, and running that conductor outside of the building. This means that if the service equipment (disconnect) is installed inside of the home (which is allowable following the rules laid out in this section) then the manufacture is required to run the grounding electrode conductor from the disconnect to a location outside of the home. This could be a j-box mounted on the side of the home, where the installer could splice a length of grounding electrode conductor to it, and run the GEC to a grounding electrode, following the rules in 550.32(b)(4),(5)&(6).

[This message has been edited by rmiell (edited 07-21-2003).]

[This message has been edited by rmiell (edited 07-21-2003).]

[This message has been edited by rmiell (edited 07-21-2003).]

Rick,
I see your point. I think that I'd permit the service to be on the structure as long as the structure is connected to a permanent foundation, even if the code doesn't really permit that installation.
Don

PS: I don't think that I'd approve the mast in the first picture even for a "real" building unless the service drop was very very short.


[This message has been edited by resqcapt19 (edited 07-21-2003).]

2002 nec handbook (after section 550.32 b
(The provisions of 550.32(b) only apply to manufactured homes as defined in 550.2).
Also Where have you EVER seen the ground wire (Spliced) in a J box outside the structure?? Also what about the lable in each moblie home intererior panelboard that says , This MUST be hooked up to a 4 wire feed, ground and Neutral seperate. That does come under listing and labeling.

I am not an AHJ, but the way I read Art 550 is the first two photos could be a violation. But to really throw a 'monkey wrench' into this: section 230.66 - last sentence - "Individual meter socket enclosures shall not be considered service equipment."

How does that affect this installation?

My neice just had a manufactured house that looks just like the last picture installed on a foundation.

Pierre

2002 nec 250.24B
Grounded conductor SHALL be run to each service disconnectioning means encloser, Thats why I refered to 550.32b3 in pervious posting. Also everyone seems to be ingoring the fact Trailers have a posting inside each panelboard inside stating the requirement of a 4 wire feed?????

I agree that the feeder for a MH or MB is required to be 4-wire. However, if the conditions are all met, you could run a normal 3-wire setup into a disconnect inside of a mfg. home, and establish the grounding there. Of course if the manufacturer labels it as a 4-wire, then that is what is required. But then, they would not have installed the equipment in the method for allowing the inside disconnect, so that point is moot. Only if manufacturer has installed it is this allowed.

Also, all photos show a meter/breaker box combo, so the wiring between that box and the inside box would be a feeder, and it would be 4-wire per code.

I have not seen this j-box connection myself, but that does not mean it does not exist, or is not allowed. Let's not put personal feelings into reading the code. If it is installed per code, then it is allowable by code. I am sure there are numerous ways of routing the GEC outside of the structure, and using a j-box is just one example. Just leaving a loop of GEC stubbed out of the skin would be another. Installing some type of terminal might be another. The point is that to do so is allowable, if installed per the code.

Rick Miell

Guys,- All those homes in the pics are mobile homes, 99.9% of the time you see skirting,its a mobile home or a double wide up on blocks, which is not a permanent foundation, which makes those services a violation. Any home built on a metal frame that can have axles installed is mobile.

"Mobile Home"



Somewhat Stuck "Mobile Home"

[This message has been edited by ThinkGood (edited 07-23-2003).]

Great photos.

In Colorado, the only true way to identify between the two is by the state required sticker, which either says built to HUD standards (for mobile homes) or to UBC standards (For manufactured homes). To say the only way to tell the difference is by the presence of skirting is incorrect. I have seen numerous mobile homes without skirting, or set upon a permanent foundation, so these are manufactured homes? I don't think so. Look at the label, that is how you tell the difference.

rmiell,- Sorry about that,I forgot about people installing mobiles on permanent foundations, not very common in my area. I have seen a couple though.