Looking to replace an old breaker 30+ year old breaker with a new one. The issue is I can't terminate the existing 750kcmil conductors to the new 3-pole breaker because each lug on the new breaker accepts 2-500kcmil conductors. Any reason why I can't tap each 750kcmil with 2-500kcmil conductors and terminate them to each lug? The taps would be a couple feet long and remain in the switchboard. Thanks.
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Tapping Conductors
- Thread starter JAMAN
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petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
Looking to replace an old breaker 30+ year old breaker with a new one. The issue is I can't terminate the existing 750kcmil conductors to the new 3-pole breaker because each lug on the new breaker accepts 2-500kcmil conductors. Any reason why I can't tap each 750kcmil with 2-500kcmil conductors and terminate them to each lug? The taps would be a couple feet long and remain in the switchboard. Thanks.
I don't believe this would be a tap at all. Just a larger conductor for a short distance. I don't have a problem with it.
Strathead
Senior Member
- Location
- Ocala, Florida, USA
- Occupation
- Electrician/Estimator/Project Manager/Superintendent
Looking to replace an old breaker 30+ year old breaker with a new one. The issue is I can't terminate the existing 750kcmil conductors to the new 3-pole breaker because each lug on the new breaker accepts 2-500kcmil conductors. Any reason why I can't tap each 750kcmil with 2-500kcmil conductors and terminate them to each lug? The taps would be a couple feet long and remain in the switchboard. Thanks.
In fact, you can size the short jumpers for the amperage of the breaker, which I am sure is less than parallel 500's.
Looking to replace an old breaker 30+ year old breaker with a new one. The issue is I can't terminate the existing 750kcmil conductors to the new 3-pole breaker because each lug on the new breaker accepts 2-500kcmil conductors. Any reason why I can't tap each 750kcmil with 2-500kcmil conductors and terminate them to each lug? The taps would be a couple feet long and remain in the switchboard. Thanks.
Did you check to see if you could purchase the appropiate lugs for the new breaker. Might be less expensive than doing
the taps.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
Thank you all for the replies. So if this is not considered a tap, then is it a splice?
I would not be able to switch out the lugs as I've spoken to the manufacturers rep and apparently lugs that can accept 750kcmil wire are not available on the replacement breaker.
A tap is a conductor (or set of conductors) that has an ampacity that is not protected by the CB. Assuming the 750 kcm conductor is adequately protected, the two parallel 500 kcm conductors are also well protected.
A single 700 kcm conductor is only good for 475 A (if Cu).
Two 500 kcm conductors would be good for 740 A (in Cu).
A couple of 250's might well be adequate.
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