detached garage/structure with a single branch circuit.

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acrwc10

Master Code Professional
Location
CA
Occupation
Building inspector
I was at a site the other day and they had a detached garage with a single MWBC 20 amp feeding it. I remember from there being an exception that would allow you to not have a local disconnect on this type of installation. Did that exist and get removed from the code or has there always been a requirement for a local disconnect switch?
 

Little Bill

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Tennessee NEC:2017
Occupation
Semi-Retired Electrician
I was at a site the other day and they had a detached garage with a single MWBC 20 amp feeding it. I remember from there being an exception that would allow you to not have a local disconnect on this type of installation. Did that exist and get removed from the code or has there always been a requirement for a local disconnect switch?

You can run a MWBC and that counts as a single circuit. But you do have to have a disconnect. A snap switch is acceptable for a single circuit.
 

JDBrown

Senior Member
Location
California
Occupation
Electrical Engineer
You can run a MWBC and that counts as a single circuit. But you do have to have a disconnect. A snap switch is acceptable for a single circuit.

The sections that Bill is referring to are 225.36 (Exception) and 225.38 (Exception). My oldest code book is 1993, but this requirement was in the NEC at least that long ago (even if the section numbers were different back then).

Also, just in case it matters, 250.32(A) (Exception) exempts a building fed by a single branch circuit (including MWBC) from needing its own grounding electrode.
 
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