BEST OF CODE TIME 3: Feeder & Service Entrance Conductor, Mechanical Execution of Work & Panelboards

There are a lot of confusing terms that we must learn as electricians. Especially considering that there are many different terms used to describe the same thing! In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin explains Feeder & Service Entrance Conductors, Mechanical Execution of Work, and Panelboards.

🤘⚡️EU Learning System⚡️🤘
For Individuals --- https://electricianu.com/learning-sys...
For Businesses --- https://electricianu.com/learning-sys...
-Video courses on every side of the electrical trade (theory, code, safety, wiring, install, troubleshooting, leadership, and more)
-Practice exams for 2017, 2020, 2023 code
-YouTube videos categorized and searchable
-Audio lessons
-Forum
-Business version has admin portal and ability to assign learning to technicians and monitor progress
-Any business size from 2 techs to 2,000!

🎓💡CONTINUING EDUCATION💡🎓
Sign up here --- https://electricianu.com/continuing-e...
-State Approved
-Video Based

✍📝PRACTICE EXAMS📝✍
Get them here --- https://www.electricianu.com/electric...
-2017, 2020, and 2023 NEC versions
-Online Residential Wireman Exam
-Online Journeyman Exam
-Online Master Exam
-300 Question Online Code Cannon (not license specific, all code)
-Take as many times as you want
-All of the above come with printable PDFs

🎤🎧PODCAST🎧🎤
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7ldCwdx...
Apple Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

📱👍SOCIALS👍📱
TikTok -   / electricianu  
Instagram -   / electrician_u  
Facebook -   / theelectricianu  
Reddit -   / electricianu  
Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ElectricianU
Discord -   / discord  

🎧🎹Music, Editing, and Videography by Drake Descant and Rob LeBlanc🎹🎧

#electrician #electrical #electricity

Article 100 of the NEC defines Feeders as “all circuit conductors between the service equipment, the source of a separately derived system, or other power supply source and the final branch circuit overcurrent device”. In essence, a set of wires leaving the service and “feeding” another panel or distribution point. There are two definitions for Service Entrance Conductors in the NEC (one for overhead and underground). An overhead service entrance conductor is defined as “The service conductors between the terminals of the service equipment and a point usually outside the building, clear of building walls, where joined by tap or splice to the service drop or overhead service conductors”. An underground service entrance conductor is defined as “The service conductors between the terminals of the service equipment and the point of connection to the service lateral or underground service conductors”. So, the term feeder really describes a set of conductors AFTER the service feeding something while service entrance conductors describe the conductors BRINGING IN the service to our building.
When it comes to HOW we install our electrical work, we must install it correctly and properly not just a rag tag installation! Article 110.12 of the NEC tells us “Electrical equipment shall be installed in a neat and workmanlike manner”. That in itself tells us that we must install our work in a neat systematic order. The code goes on to tell us that we must close up any unused openings (we don’t want someone sticking something into a panel that can cause an arc flash), that the parts of the equipment cannot be damaged or contaminated with anything they aren’t supposed to have on them and that cables & conductors installed exposed on a surface of ceilings and walls shall be supported in a fashion that will not damage the cables.
Article 408, Part 3, governs the installation of Panelboards. Article 408.30 specifically tells us that the panelboard shall be protected by an overcurrent protective device that does not have a rating greater than the panel itself. So, you cannot protect a 225a panel with a 400a breaker! The panel could fail before the breaker trips. The NEC also states that the overcurrent protective device shall be located within or at any point on the supply side of the panelboard. That is why some of the panels we encounter are Main Lug Only and some are Main Circuit Breaker. As long as the panel is being protected by an overcurrent device on the Line Side of the panel, then the breaker doesn’t necessarily need to be IN the panel. However, Article 225 Part 2 (buildings or other structures supplied by a feeder or branch circuit) has some additional items to consider. 225.31 says that a building or structure have a disconnecting means for it. So, if you have a separate building it needs to have a means of disconnect for that building. That COULD be a panel or a disconnect. Many times, it is easier to place a panel on the exterior of the separate building and therefore provides a means of disconnecting power to that building.