Tap conductors shall be permitted to be protected against overcurrent in accordance with ?

• A. 210.19(D)
• B. 240.21
• C. 368.17(B)
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Tap conductors can be protected against overcurrent in ways that follow multiple parts of the code, as long as the protection matches the conductor’s ampacity. The idea is that protection isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule here—the NEC recognizes several valid references that cover taps, and they can all apply in different installation contexts.

210.19(D) deals with ampacity for branch-circuit conductors and includes provisions that allow tap conductors to be protected appropriately based on their rating and how they’re installed. This ensures that a short, feed-from-a-tork or from a different distribution path doesn’t overtax the conductor just because it’s a tap.

240.21 provides the general principle that conductors must be protected by an overcurrent device, sized so the device won’t allow more current through the conductor than it can safely carry. This is the baseline protection rule that applies to taps just as it does to other conductors.

368.17(B) covers protection related to equipment such as panelboards and switchgear, addressing how taps that connect through or into such equipment should be protected in a way that’s consistent with the equipment’s design and protection strategy.

Because each of these provisions can govern tapping scenarios, the correct understanding is that tap conductors may be protected against overcurrent in accordance with all of the referenced rules, depending on the specific installation. This is why the best answer is that all of the above apply.