I am adding a standby generator to my house and have a question
about mounting the auto transfer switch.
Here is the background, my power enters overhead down a 2"
rigid metal conduit into a meter base from there it continues down
into a second box with a 200A main breaker service disconnect
in it, then it enters a PVC conduit that continues
to the ground and runs underground into the house and to the
circuit breaker distribution panel.
I am putting in a ASCO 200A auto transfer switch in a NEMA 3R enclosure.

Now for the question. The easiest place to mount the switch will be
under the main disconnect (just cut the PVC conduit and mount the switch
inline).
If I do this, the conduit will exit the transfer switch box at 6" to 9"
above ground level. Can the top of the conduit and the bottom of the
switch box be this close to the ground???
If this won't fly I'll have a few more questions.
Dave in Tucson

Flooding by a simple pipe breaking could cause problems, why risk a nice
unit by placing it so low.

Flooding by a simple pipe breaking could cause problems, why risk a nice
unit by placing it so low.

he said 6" to 9" from grade to the bottom of the can. That must be a heluva
pipe you are thinking of that can flood the yard to 6" deep.
I like the other solution of a gutter and mounting it at the disconnect height
for elegance but that probably means another set of splices in the system (from
the existing feeder) or pulling in a new 200a 4 wire feeder.

Greg wrote:
Flooding by a simple pipe breaking could cause problems, why risk a nice
unit by placing it so low.


he said 6" to 9" from grade to the bottom of the can. That must be a heluva
pipe you are thinking of that can flood the yard to 6" deep.
I like the other solution of a gutter and mounting it at the disconnect height
for elegance but that probably means another set of splices in the system (from
the existing feeder) or pulling in a new 200a 4 wire feeder.

That pretty well sums up my problem the other solutions would involve
splices between the main disconnect and the breaker panel (is that a
code issue in itself???) or pulling 60+ feet of new wire. Flooding is
not much of an issue in this area, if I have 6" of water at this
location someone's loading up an ark. So for the real question: is there
a specific code reference to having the conduit with the main feeds to
my house end so close to ground level?
Thanks, Dave in Tucson

is there
a specific code reference to having the conduit with the main feeds to
my house end so close to ground level?

No, not NEC anyway. If there are no breakers in there there are no maximum
heights either.