Service panel location question

[green.bubbly]

In a residential home, is there any special requirements when locating a service panel near an exterior door or window?

 

[Norcal]

In a residential home, is there any special requirements when locating a service panel near an exterior door or window?

Check with your PoCo when planning a service location, they have final say if they do not like it they will not connect it. To answer your question the weatherhead location, point of attachment will dictate if it's OK or not.

 

[green.bubbly]

Thanks Norcal, I will check with them next week. I am hoping it will be ok located between a window and a door. About 16 inches from either. If not, it is no big deal to move it.

 

[PittsS1]

I actually failed an inspection because the main panel was one stud bay offset from the meter base. The conductors came out the back of the meter base to a pulling elbow, and then up the one stud bay to an elbow, through the stud separating the meter base and panel bays, and into the new panel.

He used his "discretion" in insisting there was too long a conduit run for unfused conductors, though the code doesn't specify exactly what is too long. Just that you must minimize the length of this run. (this is per him, I'm no electrician and didn't ask him to cite the particular code item) This is one of those gray areas, and he made me re-do it before allowing the power company to come connect.

It irritated me at first, but the more I thought about hanging cabinets and putting screws in the wall after it's all closed up, the more I think it might be a somewhat reasonable request, just made me mad that I had done the work for nothing especially given that there wasn't an actual code dictated maximum length. That, and I plan to stay here forever, and it was about a 3' run while the new is still about a 1' run...

 

[Gooch]

I actually failed an inspection because the main panel was one stud bay offset from the meter base. The conductors came out the back of the meter base to a pulling elbow, and then up the one stud bay to an elbow, through the stud separating the meter base and panel bays, and into the new panel.

He used his "discretion" in insisting there was too long a conduit run for unfused conductors, though the code doesn't specify exactly what is too long. Just that you must minimize the length of this run. (this is per him, I'm no electrician and didn't ask him to cite the particular code item) This is one of those gray areas, and he made me re-do it before allowing the power company to come connect.

It irritated me at first, but the more I thought about hanging cabinets and putting screws in the wall after it's all closed up, the more I think it might be a somewhat reasonable request, just made me mad that I had done the work for nothing especially given that there wasn't an actual code dictated maximum length. That, and I plan to stay here forever, and it was about a 3' run while the new is still about a 1' run...

where the LB's(can't imagine you actually used pull ell's) in the wall?

if so, that is why it failed.

 

[rwreuter]

that is retarded.....the NEC does state how long.....15' of unfused conductors. someone should give that dude a lesson on the NEC....

 

[BigJohn20]

that is retarded.....the NEC does state how long.....15' of unfused conductors. someone should give that dude a lesson on the NEC....

Care to give a code reference? I'll show you mine that says this is purely an AHJ call:

VI. Service Equipment — Disconnecting Means
230.70 General. Means shall be provided to disconnect all
conductors in a building or other structure from the serviceentrance
conductors.
(A) Location. The service disconnecting means shall be
installed in accordance with 230.70(A)(1), (A)(2), and
(A)(3).
(1) Readily Accessible Location. The service disconnecting
means shall be installed at a readily accessible location
either outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the
point of entrance of the service conductors.
(2) Bathrooms. Service disconnecting means shall not be
installed in bathrooms.
(3) Remote Control. Where a remote control device(s) is
used to actuate the service disconnecting means, the service
disconnecting means shall be located in accordance with
230.70(A)(1).

 

[rwreuter]

i was under the impression he failed for the inspectors discression concerning the unfused conductors.

"He used his "discretion" in insisting there was too long a conduit run for unfused conductors,"

that is what i am referring too.

 

[Gooch]

i was under the impression he failed for the inspectors discression concerning the unfused conductors.

"He used his "discretion" in insisting there was too long a conduit run for unfused conductors,"

that is what i am referring too.

right, and what dictates how long the unfused wires are? the location of the service disconnect.

 

[PittsS1]

Gooch, yes, you are correct it was a LB, and the cover was going to remain accessible which I understand is acceptable?

Only reason for failing it was unfused conductor length. I tried to ask in a non-confrontational manner what was acceptable, and that's when he said it was up to his discretion. I actually had a licensed master electrician do the run from the meter base to the panel, and he was quite surprised to hear that it failed.

It's actually better that I changed it, as now I don't have an LB to leave accessible...