Tap conductors may be protected by an overcurrent protection device on which sides?

• A. Only on the feeder side
• B. Only on the load side
• C. They may be protected on both the feeder side and the load side
• D. Only at the main service disconnect

Answer: (C)

Protection of tap conductors hinges on where an overcurrent device can effectively interrupt fault current along the tap path. The key is that the tap must be protected from overcurrent from its origin to where it connects to a protected circuit, and the protection can be placed either upstream (on the feeder side) or downstream (on the load side).

If protection is on the feeder side, the upstream device will trip and cut off current before it reaches the tap, safeguarding the entire run. If protection is on the load side, the device protects the segment after the tap, as long as the tap conductors and their protective coordination are correctly sized. In practice, either placement is allowed depending on conductor sizing, fault current levels, and coordination requirements.

Saying it’s only at the main service disconnect is too restrictive, since valid protection can be placed either before or after the tap, not just at the main disconnect. This flexibility is why the best answer is that tap conductors may be protected on both the feeder side and the load side.