On Jul 9, 11:39*am, Wayne Whitney wrote:
On 2010-07-09, Steve Barker wrote:

And it's all the same building. *Actually, the panels are only about
8 feet apart, but in different rooms.

gfretwell is exactly right about the need for the disconnects to be
grouped, I missed that. *Whoever installed the second panel installed
a violation which should be fixed. *So the second panel should be
converted to a subpanel of the first main panel, which would require a
4-wire feeder from the first main panel. *Hopefully it wouldn't be too
hard to do since it is only 8 feet away.

Cheers, Wayne

In order not to limit the power available to the rating of one panel
it may be better to locate an enclosed breaker for one panel at the
other panels location or to group two disconnects at one location on
the exterior of the building with each disconnect feeding one of the
panels. There is only supposed to be a single set of service entry or
feeder conductors supplying the building except for an emergency
feeder from an alternate power source or a supply with different phase
or voltage characteristics.

Just a reminder that the code specifically allows a separate
disconnect for a water pump located at the yard pole so that you can
kill power to the building without shutting off the source of water
used for first aid fire suppression. The conductors from the water
pump disconnect are another exception to the one set of supply
conductors rule.

--
Tom Horne