RobertMacy wrote:
On Sat, 24 Aug 2013 07:40:51 -0700, Tom Horne
wrote:
On Saturday, August 24, 2013 9:47:29 AM UTC-4, Ivan Vegvary wrote:
I have a sub-panel in my greenhouse that is fed by an incoming wire
from the main house panel. The incoming wire is directly feeding a
30 amp breaker, therefore I can disconnect the power to the panel by
simply tripping the breaker therein. (Also within the panel are two
additional 15 amp breakers, one for lights and the other for a
single outlet.



I've always liked the convenience of the "breaker input" instead of
hard wiring the input directly to the panel. Does this method meet
code? Any hazards? Any down-side?



Thanks for all replies.



Ivan Vegvary

The code requires that all equipment be installed in accordance with
it's listing and marking. If you check that equipment in the
listings you will find that you are instructed to use a tie down kit
when using a plug on breaker as a main breaker for the buss that it
plugs on to. That is so that the breaker can not be readily removed
from the buss while it's buss clamps are energized. Install the
listed tie down kit and you are good to go.

Is the feeder to the greenhouse panel three wire or four?
Is your greenhouse a detached structure in relation to the building
in which the Service Equipment that supplies the feeder is located?
If detached when was it built?

Has anybody pointed out that breakers are designed to be ON most of
the time, and once in a while kick OFF? and Switches are designed to
be turned ON or OFF a lot? Simple thought process suggests that
abusing a breaker to use it as a switch is going to have some long
term, unexpected consequence. Like not turn ON when you want, or not
kick OFF when you want.

I've seen plenty of businesses that use the breakers to turn things on/off at
the ends of the day.