Hi All, I upgraded a 100A main to a 200A main. Then installed a 100A sub-panel in a garage (40 ft. away). The Inspector say I have to add a main breaker in the sub panel even though I put a 100A CB in the Main panel feeding the sub. He also wants me to add a separate ground system and add a bushing on the conduit coming into the sub panel even though the conduit is PVC. I thought if I install another ground at the garage it would have to be bonded to the ufer at the house. Any thoughts? Eric

Eric,
Sorry the inspector is correct on all counts.
See 225.31(note six or less breakers are permitted to serve as the required building disconnect), 250.32(A) and 300.4(F) and 352.46.
Don

It depends where you live (I guess). In North Carolina, I would not need a MB in the garage panel but would, of course, need the bushing and the ground rod/wire for the garage service.

Of course the "authority having jurisdiction" interprets the code and so it is a good idea to get to know your inspectors before doing work in a new town.

To me it makes no sense to have redundant mains like you describe. The wiring for the 100A garage panel is already protected; why would you want to protect it twice?

Anyway, around here they would not make me do it.

CJS

Welcome CJS to ECN.

There is no requirement protect the panel twice, as you said it makes no sense.

There is a NEC requirement to have a disconnecting means in a separate building or structure. Check out 225.31 & 225.32.

The garage Delectric is taking about is "40 ft. away" so you need a disconnecting means at that structure.

The easiest way to meet that requirement is a main breaker panel, but you could use a disconnect switch ahead of a main lug panel.

Bob

[This message has been edited by iwire (edited 09-16-2004).]

Only if you have more than 6 breakers.
I'm telling you, here they do not make you put one. I have run a #2 SER all the way across a crawl space to the other side of the house to then go underground another 60' to the garage and then terminate at a 100A ML panel.

I spliced the SER with mechanical lugs in a "J" box and then ran just 3 - #2 URD alum conductors UG to the garage and then grounded the service there.

This is not a seperately derived system and according to this particular county inspector, a main was not needed. Afterall, it is already protected for short and overload at its MB. So, if you have less than 6 breakers in that garage panel you are good (around these parts anyway).
:~)

Yes I agree you may have up to 6 means of disconnect, that could be 6 breakers regardless of panel size.

If you have 7 or more circuits we are back to needing a main breaker or a disconnect ahead of a main lug panel.

Don't want to sound stupid, but what is the bushing the inspector is requiring? A plastic bushing, a ground bushing?

I prefer installing a sub-panel with a main or disconnect. That way if I'm working in the garage I can see that it's off.

Dave

300.4(F) & 352.46 both require plastic bushings for this PVC.

It's been awhile since my exam, but you need a plastic bushing on any pipe where the conductors are larger than a #4 (I think). It would be easy enough to find out by going to the book.
I use PB's on all services. Bonding bushings of course are not required on pvc.
I seldom need to use bonding bushings in my work but I've needed them in the past on bigger jobs on conduits carrying a grounding electrode conductor (both ends must get bonded), or on seperately derived systems like transformers when you go to bond the neutral, or..... I could go on and on I suppose.....

We also used to use IMC sweeps on PVC UG pipe runs so the rope or pull string wouldn't cut into the PVC sweep and then you have to bond that sweep (obviously if you think about it) and a bonding bushing is the easiest method.

CJS a you are correct that raceways with conductors larger than 4 AWG need a bushing that is 300.4(F) in the 2002.

However if you go to Article 352 you will find 352.46 requires a plastic bushing on all PVC regardless of wire size.

The bonding of a metal sweep in a PVC raceway is not needed if it is below ground. (250.80 Exception)

If it is exposed but goes into a metal enclosure with two lock nuts it will not need bonding bushings unless it has service conductors in it or is using concentric KOs not listed for the purpose and is has conductors operating over 250 volts to ground. (250.97)

Hi Bob...352.46 seems like a little overkill to require bushings on PVC...bushing manufacturers musta lobbied for that rule

shortcircuit

Thanks for all of your replies. I had a little trouble finding some of the articles and the 1999 book (contains all my notes etc.)I was using has a different article for 352.46 than the 2002. normally I put a sub feed lug in the main and a main breaker in the sub panel. The bushing was a stupid oversight but since the conduit was PVC I didn't think much of it. There are exceptions for the main breaker or disconnect which probably don't apply to me but it looks like I'll be installing another sub panel.

iwire:
I never said that bushings are not required on PVC; I said that bonding bushings are not required EVER on PVC.

And, yes, IMC sweeps must be grounded when above ground (any portion of them), or if you come up with metallic raceway.

Alot of electrical work is common sense.

:~)

The Garage is a Completely Separate Building Structure. You MUST have a Disconnect coming in. The GROUND BAR, is so that you don't have half of current flowing into the NEUTRAL and the GROUND WIRE all the way into the house. Or perhaps in a CIRCULAR MOTION. You also have to keep SEPARATED THE GROUND AND NEUTRAL BARS. in the Subpanel for the same reazon. You don't want the Ground wire to have electricity going back in the house. The Bushing is to protect the conductors, when you FIRST run the wire in. Have a Nice Day.