Branch circuit or Feeder ? 3

[ck2013]

Hi,

My understanding from NEC 2011 article 100 is that: branch circuit conductor is connected between panelboard and receptacle, feeder conductor is connected between service equipment and panelboard. Regarding the conductor connected between a panelboard and its subpanel, is it a feeder conductor or a branch circuit conductor? I am asking because feeder and branch circuit have different voltage drop requirements. Thank you in advance.

 

[wroggent]

A feeder starts and ends at an overcurrent protective device.

 

[shamsdebout]

Per the NEC,what you described would be a feeder.

I thought the total 5% voltage drop fine print note can be any combination between branch and feeder as long as the total voltage drop was no more than 5%.

 

[jraef]

Easier way to tell is that a branch terminates at the load device or receptacle. If it's not a branch, its a feeder (or service main).

"Will work for (the memory of) salami"

 

[jmbelectrical]

shamsdebout,

Be careful when addressing voltage drop. I live in the U.S. and my state's building code mandates that voltage drop not exceed 2% for a feeder and 3% for a branch circuit. Based upon this requirement, a circuit with, for example, 4% voltage drop at the feeder and 1% voltage drop at the branch circuit, would be a violation.

 

[ck2013]

jmbelectrical - Thanks for providing the building code information in your state. Building code mandates different voltage drops for feeder and branch circuit, that's exactly why I am asking this question.

I think the conductor between the panel and its subpanel should be a feeder based on my understanding of NEC and everyone's responses. Thank you all for providing suggestions.

 

[shamsdebout]

Thanks jmbelectrical for that tidbit of information. I see that the state of FL requires this. Good to know.

I thought this was interesting:

http://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/...7code/DCA09-DEC-269/DCA09-DEC-269-Bhamani.pdf