Mike Dolt Enterprises
Mike Dolt Enterprises
User: electrofelon, Location: Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
Asked on: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 7:26 pm EDT
Answered on: Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 4:42 am EDT
Question: I have been doing some feeder taps the last few days and got thinking about the whole subject. The question I thought of is can we tap a feeder without the feeder and/or does the feeder we are tapping have to terminate and supply something? If the answer is "yes", and "no" respectively, then couldnt the whole feeder tap section just be eliminated and the essence of these rules be discussed with feeders? Let me give an example. Say I have a 400 amp fused switch that is the service equipment. Can I come off the load side lugs with #2 copper for 6 feet and hit a 100 amp MCB panel (assuming I am meeting the other requirements under 240.21(B))? My first instinct is that of courses I can do this but couldnt one argue that I am not tapping a feeder?
Can we tap a feeder without the feeder and/or does the feeder we are tapping have to terminate and supply something?
Yes, you can tap a feeder without the feeder. The NEC defines a feeder tap as "a conductor, either bare or insulated, extended from a feeder between points of connection to the feeder." (NEC 240.21(B)) Therefore, a feeder tap does not require the feeder to terminate or supply anything.
Could the whole feeder tap section just be eliminated and the essence of these rules be discussed with feeders?
No, the feeder tap section cannot be eliminated. The rules for feeder taps are necessary to ensure that the tap conductors are properly sized, protected, and installed. These rules help to prevent overloads, short circuits, and other electrical hazards.
Example
In your example, you are allowed to come off the load side lugs of the 400 A fused switch with #2 copper for 6 feet and hit a 100 A MCB panel. This is considered a feeder tap because the conductors are extended from the feeder (the load side lugs of the fused switch) to the 100 A MCB panel.
Conclusion:
Yes, we can tap a feeder without the feeder and no, the feeder we are tapping does not have to terminate and supply something. The feeder tap section cannot be eliminated because the rules for feeder taps are necessary to ensure the safety of the electrical installation. Flag for review