jar546
Forum Coordinator
If you have a situation where let's say there is a gutter above a group of subfed panels that comes from an MDP (Main Distribution Panel) that is full of 4/0 copper wire (rated at 230A) to feed down to the sub-panels.
Coming out of the gutter you see a conduit that takes #4 copper (85A) runs to an enclosure 20' away with a single circuit breaker installed that is rated at 125A. The #4's are Polaris tapped from the 3/0 wire inside the gutter to feed the 125A breaker.
From the 125A breaker there is another conduit with #4's that goes an additional 50' away to a motor controller with an integral overload device, which then, in turn feeds a motor. The motor is a 20A 230V squirrel cage motor, 3 phase motor which means it is good for 54A.
How is this possible?
How can we tap off of a feeder rated at 230A to a wire rated at 85A without OCPD to a single breaker rated at 125A to a motor controller then motor with wires only rated at 85A and be legal?
Coming out of the gutter you see a conduit that takes #4 copper (85A) runs to an enclosure 20' away with a single circuit breaker installed that is rated at 125A. The #4's are Polaris tapped from the 3/0 wire inside the gutter to feed the 125A breaker.
From the 125A breaker there is another conduit with #4's that goes an additional 50' away to a motor controller with an integral overload device, which then, in turn feeds a motor. The motor is a 20A 230V squirrel cage motor, 3 phase motor which means it is good for 54A.
How is this possible?
How can we tap off of a feeder rated at 230A to a wire rated at 85A without OCPD to a single breaker rated at 125A to a motor controller then motor with wires only rated at 85A and be legal?