Mike Dolt Enterprises
Mike Dolt Enterprises
User: Richard Cummins, Location: Chattanooga TN
Asked on: Friday, March 25, 2011 at 4:45 pm EDT
Answered on: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 3:17 am EDT
Question: My question is about the defintion of the battery system. NEC Article 480.5 refers to " A disconnecting means shall be readily accessible and located within sight of the battery system." A battery system in my application consists of the Battery Racks with Batteries, the Battery Chargers and the 125 VDC, 225A panelboard. Is this correct interpetation for NEC Article 480.5? I must have a disconnecting means within sight of all components of the battery system? Nearly all of our customers, Engineering Firms, want the batteries in a room by themselves with a lot of air movement and Class 1 Div 2 switches, lights and exhaust fans with fiberglass conduit and fittings. I would need a NEMA 12 disconnect to locate the disconnect in the battery room.We have been installing the disconnect just outside of the battery room door. You can see the batteries with the door open and the 125VDC panelboard and battery chargers are next to the disconnect.
Yes, your interpretation of NEC Article 480.5 is correct. The disconnecting means must be located within sight of all components of the battery system, including the battery racks with batteries, the battery chargers, and the 125 VDC, 225A panelboard.The purpose of this requirement is to allow for quick and easy disconnection of the battery system in the event of an emergency. If the disconnecting means is not within sight of all components of the battery system, it may not be possible to disconnect the system quickly and safely.In your case, you have been installing the disconnect just outside of the battery room door. This is acceptable, as long as you can see all of the components of the battery system from the location of the disconnecting means. However, if you are not able to see all of the components of the battery system from the location of the disconnecting means, you will need to install the disconnecting means inside the battery room.It is also worth noting that the disconnecting means must be readily accessible. This means that it must be easy to get to and operate. If the disconnecting means is not readily accessible, it may not be possible to disconnect the battery system quickly and safely in the event of an emergency.In your case, the disconnecting means is located just outside of the battery room door. This is acceptable, as long as the door is easy to open and the disconnecting means is easy to reach and operate. However, if the door is not easy to open or the disconnecting means is not easy to reach and operate, you will need to install the disconnecting means inside the battery room. Flag for review