hi,
thanks for the replies. isnt the pushbutton an INTEGRAL part of the contactor just as the HANDLE of the disconnect switch is an INTEGRAL part of the disconnect? the blades of a disconnect are what opens the circuit. just like the set of contacts in the pb station can fail, so too can the handle of the disconnect. i have never seen a disconnect that the handle quit working on but there are a lot of things i have not seen that have happened.
a contactor needs an input or it will stay closed, a disconnect needs an input or it will remain closed.
the problem with the pb station is that it does not remove the power supply. the contactor could be stuck closed..
i beleive there is a definition that would clear this up..nice debate though
even though a disco may not be required at a residential site, the ahj likes to see it so there is another reason to install one..
thanks
mustang
