Article 215: Feeders

Occupying the "between space" in power distribution

Jun 1, 2007

by

Mike Holt
NEC Trainer / Consultant, Mike Holt Enterprises
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Last month, we looked at branch-circuit requirements in Art. 210. The next logical step up from
the branch circuit is the feeder circuit. Thus, Art. 215, which provides the requirements for
sizing and installing feeders (see What's a Feeder? on page 62), follows Art. 210. At first
glance, the difference in length between Art. 215 and Art. 210 may seem puzzling why have a
separate Article just for
Last month, we looked at branch-circuit requirements in Art. 210. The next logical step up from
the branch circuit is the feeder circuit. Thus, Art. 215, which provides the requirements for
sizing and installing feeders (see What's a Feeder? on page 62), follows Art. 210.
At first glance, the difference in length between Art. 215 and Art. 210 may seem puzzling
why have a separate Article just for feeders, anyhow? This is an object lesson in the value of
Art. 100. A quick review of the definitions branch circuit and feeder helps us see why a
separate Article is necessary and sheds light on why Art. 215 is so much shorter.
The main difference is that a feeder runs between an overcurrent protection device (OCPD) at
the supply and a downstream OCPD (typically supplying a branch circuit), while a branch
circuit runs between an OCPD and an outlet (or final load). In other words, a feeder supplies
power to a branch-circuit OCPD which, in turn, powers a branch circuit. However, you size
that branch-circuit OCPD based on branch-circuit load calculations (and outlet requirements),
not on feeder calculations.
Because a feeder occupies this between space in power distribution, feeder requirements are
simpler and fewer than branch requirements. Consequently, Art. 215 is much shorter than Art.
210.
Article 210 also devotes extensive space to dwelling-area branch circuits. But because they
occupy the between space in power distribution, feeders have minimal requirements for
dwellings [215.2(A)(3)].

Minimum rating

Determine the minimum feeder conductor size, before you apply any conductor adjustment
and/or correction factors, by adding the two following quantities: 125% of the continuous load
[215.2] and 100% of the noncontinuous load.
Once you have the total load, size the minimum conductor required to carry that load based on
the terminal temperature rating ampacities as listed in Table 310.16 [110.14(C)]. Size the
OCPDs based on this same ampacity [215.3 and 240.4].

<b>Fig. 1.</b> Feeder ampacity must be no less than 125% of the continuous load, plus 100% of the
noncontinuous load (200A 2 1.25 4 250A).

Here's a pop quiz to see if you can properly size a feeder. What size feeder conductor do you
need for a 200A continuous load, if the terminals are rated 75C (Fig. 1)? How do you
determine the correct answer? Because the continuous load is 200A, the feeder conductors
must have an ampacity at least 250A (200A 1.25). Using the 75C column of Table 310.16,
you find that 250kcmil conductors are suitable because they have an ampere rating of 255A at
75C. However, there is an exception to the 125% rule. Where the assembly and the OCPD
are both listed for 100% continuous load operation, you can size the feeder conductors at
100% of the continuous load. Note that equipment suitable for 100% continuous loading is
rarely available in ratings under 400A. The NEC requires the feeder grounded (neutral)
conductor not to be smaller than the size listed in Table 250.122 (Table), based on the rating of
the feeder OCPD.

Test your knowledge, with another pop quiz. What size grounded (neutral) conductor do you
need for a feeder consisting of 250kcmil ungrounded conductors and one grounded (neutral)
conductor protected by a 250A protection device, where the unbalanced load is only 50A, with
75C terminals (Fig. 2)?
Table 310.16 and 220.61 would permit an 8 AWG grounded (neutral) conductor rated 50A at
75C to carry the 50A unbalanced load; however, Table 250.122 requires that the grounded
(neutral) conductor not be smaller than 4 AWG.

<b>Fig. 2.</b> The size of the grounded neutral conductor must not be smaller than specified in 250.122,
based on the rating of the feeder overcurrent protection device.

You also have to consider the size of the service conductors when you size feeder conductors.
Feeder conductors for individual dwelling units or mobile homes needn't be larger than service
conductors sized per 310.15(B)(6). For the sake of efficiency, you should size the conductors
to minimize voltage drop. Doing so is an engineering consideration, not an NEC requirement
[215.2(A)(3) FPN No. 2].

High-leg identification
On a 4-wire, delta-connected, 3-phase system where the midpoint of one phase winding is
grounded the conductor with the highest phase voltage-to-ground (208V) is called the highleg.
Panelboards supplied by a 4-wire, delta-connected, 3-phase system must have the high-leg
conductor (208V) terminate to the B (center) phase of a panelboard [408.3(E)]. (This has
been a rule since 1975). An exception to 408.3(E) permits the high-leg conductor to terminate
to the C phase when the meter is located in the same section of a switchboard or panelboard.
Ensure this high-leg conductor is durably and permanently marked with an orange outer finish
(see Color System) at each point a connection is made where the grounded (neutral)
conductor is present [110.15]. The NEC says you can use other means but doesn't provide
further detail. Get permission from the AHJ to use some other means.

Ground-fault protection of equipment

Article 100 tells us that ground-fault protection of equipment systems interrupt power to
protect equipment, but at lower current levels than those required to protect conductors
through the operation of a supply circuit overcurrent device.
Each solidly grounded wye electrical 277/480V feeder disconnecting means rated 1,000A or
more must be provided with ground-fault protection of equipment, and the installation must
comply with 230.95 or 240.13 [215.10].
If ground-fault protection is on the supply side of the feeder, you don't have to also provide it on
the load side; nor do you have to provide it for emergency systems [700.26] or legally required
standby systems [701.17].
Never apply ground-fault protection to fire pumps [695.6(H)], which must run no matter what. It
makes no sense to save the pump but burn down the building.

Identification

<b>Fig. 3.</b> The grounded (neutral) conductor of a feeder must be identified per 200.6 [215.12(A)].

The grounded (neutral) conductor of a feeder must be identified per 200.6 [215.12(A)] (Fig. 3).
The equipment grounding conductor must be identified per the requirements of 205.119, but it's
not really a grounding conductor. It's actually a bonding conductor. This conductor creates a
low-impedance path between metallic objects. Because of the low impedance, the voltage
differential between objects is low. The result is an equipotential plane between objects bonded
by the equipment grounding (bonding) conductors. Equipment grounding (bonding)
conductors:

Can be bare, or individually covered or insulated.

Sized 6 AWG and smaller that are insulated must have a continuous outer finish that is
either green or green with one or more yellow stripes [250.119].

Larger than 6 AWG and insulated can be permanently reidentified with green marking
(at the time of installation) at every point where the conductor is accessible [250.119(A)].

Ungrounded conductors
Where the premises wiring system contains feeders supplied from more than one voltage
system, each ungrounded conductor (where accessible) must be identified. Identification can
be by color-coding, marking tape, tagging, or other means approved by the AHJ. System
identification must be permanently posted at each feeder panelboard or similar feeder
distribution equipment.
Service conductors supply power to the service equipment, and feeders run from the service
equipment to the branch OCPD. Feeders are the between circuits that occupy the between
space in power distribution. Keeping this in mind will help simplify feeder work on your next
job.

Sidebar: What's a Feeder?

Article 100 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 branchcircuit overcurrent device. The clumsiness of this wording makes this definition hard to follow.

Here's an easier way to look at it: The circuit conductors that supply power to a branch-circuit
overcurrent device or to a panel that contains such devices. The power may come from the
service equipment, a separately derived system, or other power supply source.

Sidebar: Color System

Electricians often use the following color system for power and lighting conductor identification:

120/240V single-phase black, red, and white

120/208V, 3-phase black, red, blue, and white

120/240V, 3-phase black, orange, blue, and white

277/480V, 3-phase brown, orange, yellow, and gray; or, brown, purple, yellow, and
gray.