Section 39.211. Electrical protection

(a) Conductors shall be suitable for the location, use, and voltage, and each conductor, except neutral conductors, ground wires, and conductors of circuits the opening of which may cause special hazard by the interruption of service or removal of protection, shall be protected against excessive current by a suitable automatic cut-out or by the design of the system.

(b) Neutral conductors in three wire systems shall be arranged without automatic cut-outs interrupting their continuity, unless the cut-out opens conductors of the circuit with one operation. Switches in three wire circuits shall open conductors of the circuit with one operation, except that the switch may be omitted from the neutral. The neutrals shall everywhere be of sufficient size to safely carry the maximum current in either outer conductor at that point. In two wire branches from three wire circuits the conductor connected to the neutral is not for the purpose of this subsection considered a neutral conductor.

(c) Conductors normally grounded for the protection of persons shall be arranged without automatic cut-outs interrupting their continuity between the source of electrical supply and the point at which the ground wire is attached, unless the cut-out opens all conductors of the circuit with one operation. Switches shall open all conductors of the circuit with one operation, except that the switch need not be placed only on ungrounded conductors of the circuit, except that this does not necessarily apply to single pole key sockets which may be used in which the switch may be placed on the grounded side. When the utilization equipment is connected to electrical supply lines, the point of connection to the service leads is considered as the source of electrical supply. The identification of neutral and grounded conductors by some suitable marking will facilitate compliance with this subsection.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 34 Pa. Code § 39.233 (relating to where switches are required).