Pole barn sub panel

[mojoinco]

A bit off topic (poster has already completed his feeder burial):
Isn't there a derate of the current limits based on open burial versus conduit? It's a cooling/heating issue as I recall.

 

[MikeInMaine]

I'll jump back in here -- ducks13, quoted below, is right -- you aren't required to have a main breaker if you have a panel with 6 breakers or fewer.

Work safe,
Mike

It sounds like lots of people will disagree but you are not required by code to have a main breaker. You are allowed 6 switches to disconnect a service to a structure or an outside feeder like you have. The rest of your evaluation of what you should do is correct.

 

[rambler]

I'll jump back in here -- ducks13, quoted below, is right -- you aren't required to have a main breaker if you have a panel with 6 breakers or fewer.

Work safe,
Mike

I was so required, my county follows whatever NEC they had in 2008, at that time my electrician & my inspector said it was code - have boxes just like that, needed main disconnect in each. Not trying to argue, just how my deal went,

--->Paul

 

[mx842]

I was so required, my county follows whatever NEC they had in 2008, at that time my electrician & my inspector said it was code - have boxes just like that, needed main disconnect in each. Not trying to argue, just how my deal went,

--->Paul

This is one problem with the internet......it's reach is everywhere in the world. Each location has their own codes they go by some are more lax than others and sometimes you may just get an inspector that is a d!@k and just wants to mess with you.

The inspector that signed off on my house when it was completed told me that no job done by man was perfect and it was his job to find the faults that are sure to be in any job he goes to. He also told me he had never been on a job that he couldn't find some little nit to pick, some big, some small but every job will have them.

I guess this is why it is hard for someone to give exact answers to questions like, how big does my beam have to be to span my 12' room or what size lumber do I need for a 32' truss system or what wire size do I need for my garage.

This is a neat thread and I have learned some things that I didn't know but having said that with any project you probably ought to check with the local building codes just to be safe.