×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Service point location

Service point location

Service point location

(OP)
Using the NEC (2014) definition of service point.


Can the service point be located inside of the service entrance equipment?

Said another way:

Is there any situation in which the conductors entering service entrance equipment can be either a service drop or service lateral?

Or said another way yet:

Is there any situation in which the conductors entering the service entrance equipment not be calculated in accordance with Article 220 of the NEC?

Does it make a difference if the service entrance equipment is inside or outside of a building? My view is that conductors entering an indoors service entrance equipment would need to be sized in accordance with Article 220 because the service point would be the building wall, or somewhere further outside the building.



In regards to 110.14(C)(1)(b)

Does that apply to service conductors (underground/overhead service conductors and service entrance conductors), service drops, or service laterals?
Does this rule apply to all terminations in a piece of equipment? For example, does it apply to cable lugs bolted on to bus bars, e.g. utility cable termination compartment on a switchboard? I have encountered a few people who believe it only applies to the terminals of protective devices.

In regards to 110.14(C)(1)(b) and 310.15(A)(3)

If a cable ampacity is calculated as allowed by 310.15(C) (e.g. using an amapacity calculator) for a cable with 90C rated insulation, and that cable terminates in a switchboard labeled for 60C/75C terminations, must the maximum operating temperature of the cable at the calculated ampacity not exceed 75C? If so, does that apply to service conductors (underground/overhead service conductors and service entrance conductors), service drops, or service laterals? My opinion is that it must not exceed 75C, even for any type of conductor supplied by a utility.


RE: Service point location

The location of the service point is set by the utility company. I think it would be possible to have the service point inside a building.

RE: Service point location

Per NEC and local codes, the location of the service point is normally is set by the servicing utility. The servicing utility does not go by the NEC for wire size, temperature rating and also transformer KVA size. the utility will state where the service point is, conduct size, buss bars, lug size, type and size ( volt, amps, phases, and available fault) of service.The utility also specs where the meters are to be located with conduit size, type of meter enclosure, grounding for metering purposes.
This is way the engineer needs all this information before starting on the project. The engineer can suggest all of the above items, but the utility has the final say.
Yes the service point can be inside of a building as long the service conductors in conduit(s) encased in concrete.
I did one shopping center where service point was over 1000 ft inside the building.
Hope this helps
Dave

RE: Service point location

The servicing utility specification handbook typically identifies the service point. See page 29 of the attached link as an example. Link

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources