ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Termination Troubles

I get to terminate this tomorrow. 3-400Kcmil copper per phase. They have to go through the Ct’s then to the left. They make a 180 back to the breaker lugs. Do you think they could have designed it any more difficult? This is a GE Spectra Series Switchboard. It’s not going to be pretty!

Maybe the manufacturer should come do it.

I cant wait to see the "after" picture!

See Section 384-10 in the 1996 or 1999 NEC and 408.10 in the 2002 NEC.

"The conduit or raceways, including their end fittings, shall not rise more than 75 mm (3 in.) above the bottom of the enclosure."

Measure to see if this rule is violated?

Finished the make up today. Like I said it’s not pretty. I had to move the CT’s. There was no way they would work where the factory put them.
Joe, the highest point of the conduits is 3.5” from the slab. Technically a violation but not enough to help this situation. The CT’s on the other hand are far less than the required 10” in table 408.10.
One other dilemma here is the parallel runs. The conduits (installed by another contractor) are 2.5Ft different in length from the longest to shortest.(longest on the right of course. ) I had to make up the difference in this section.
It’s defiantly ugly, but code compliant.






[This message has been edited by Nick (edited 02-17-2002).]

OK, now a question for discussion. Did moving the CT’s from there factory installed position violate the listing of this gear? Even though they created multiple code violations where they were?

Nick,
I you refering to the "UL" listing, or a factory warranty matter. ?

NS4M

Yes, exactly!

Huh?

My experience in these matters is that ANY change to the gear and the location of its parts would void any specific warranty. But we all know that when it comes to combo switch gear, the locations of pt's, ct's low voltage wireways, etc....leave something to be desired. At our company, we make the manufacturer aware of the problem, ask for advice, or what we can change ( in writing), and if they don't budge, we make the changes anyways. As long as the changes do not violate the nec, and DO provide a safer way or more practical way ( which many times means a safer way), we change it. Too a point of course
But in regards to the ct's and there locations, the ct's are "listed", but this has NOTHING to do with they're location. I could show you numerous examples of this.

I'd say you did the best with the situation, and made the right choice. Its the kind of things that must be done in the REAL world.
( Don't even get me started about working 480v hot)

Regards
NS4M