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notelectrician · Apr 29, 2011, 06:13 PM

I have a two unit building. The meters are on the first floor. The disconnects are on the first floor but the building inspector is requiring a disconnect inside the second floor unit. The problem is that second floor shut off can't be outside the meter area and it has to be together with the first floor. Is there a way to wire a remote shut off that can terminate the power just outside the meter?

ballengerb1 · Apr 29, 2011, 06:15 PM

Is there a sub panel on the second floor?

notelectrician · Apr 29, 2011, 06:35 PM

Yes, there is a subpannel on the second floor.

notelectrician · Apr 29, 2011, 06:37 PM

Yes, there is a subpannel on the second floor.

tkrussell · Apr 30, 2011, 03:45 AM

I am having difficulty understanding what you have and what is needed.

The problem is that second floor shut off can't be outside the meter area and it has to be together with the first floor.

There can be the two disconnects for first and second floor at the meter, then each panel can have a disconnect.

notelectrician · Apr 30, 2011, 07:18 AM

Thanks for getting back to me. There is already a disconnect for the 2nd floor unit installed by the meter on the first floor. The inspector wants the second floor to have access to the disconnect but the location of the meters is not in a common area. If I move the disconnect to the second floor it creates two problems:1 the fire dept can't shut it off from the ground level and 2 there is a live lead wire between 1st and 2nd floor that will still be connected. The code says I need disconnect at the meter from both the 1st and 2nd floor. Is this possible?

notelectrician · Apr 30, 2011, 07:30 AM

Thanks for getting back to me. There is already a disconnect for the second floor unit installed by the meter on the first floor. The inspector wants the second floor to have access to the disconnect but the meters are not in a common area. If I move the disconnect to the second floor it creates 2 problems:1 the fire dept. can't shut off all the power from the ground level and the lead to the second floor will still be live. The code says I need disconnect at the meter and from the second floor unit. Is this possible by means of a remote switch or a loop with 2 disconnects?

tkrussell · May 1, 2011, 04:35 AM

The key term is "common area". Tenants must have access to all circuit breakers that serve their space.

There are methods of using a remote device to open a circuit breaker, take my word for it, very expensive method, since a shunt trip breaker would be needed.

Simpler and cheaper to install a disconnect or a Main Breaker kit in the second floor panel.

I understand the intention of the inspector, to give tenants a means of accessing a disconnect to shut off their panel, however, this leaves the other Main disconnect inaccessible to the tenant. I believe the inspector is not considering this.

Leaving a breaker still inaccessible to the tenant still voids the intention of the electric code, as if the breaker trips, the tenant has no access to reset that breaker.

donf · May 1, 2011, 07:38 AM

The panel on the second floor could already meet the "Six" switch requirement.

If the panelboard on the second floor does not have a Main Circuit Breaker, it may be a Main Lug Only panelboard. The requirement for this type panelboard is that it can be cut off by operating the first six breakers in the panelboard.

So the question becomes, what type of panelboard is in the second unit.