462 CHAPTER & Special-Purpose Outlets—Electric Heating, Air Conditioning
Heat pump water heaters are discussed in
^ S•
T 440 apply. These are discussed later in this chapter.
ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEATER
Figure 23-10 Code violation. Unless the instructions
furnished with the electric baseboard heater specifi-
cally state that the unit is listed for installation below
a receptacle outlet, then this installation is a viola-
tion of 110.3(8). In this type of installation, cords
attached to the receptacle outlet would hang over the
heater, creating a fire hazard and possible shock
hazard should the insulation on the cord melt. See
fine print note to 210,52,
HEAT PUMPS
A heat pump is simply an air conditioner operating
in reverse. A "reversing valve" inside the unit
changes the direction of the flow of the system's
refrigerant.
A "split" heat pump system consists of an out-
door unit with a hermetic motor compressor, a fan,
and a coil. The indoor unit consists of a coil inside of
the furnace. The movement of air inside the home is
accomplished by the blower fan on the furnace. The
"split system" is the most common type for residen-
tial use.
When all of the components are housed in one
outdoor unit, the system is referred to as a "pack-
aged system."
The hermetic motor compressor is the heart of
the system. The refrigerant circulates between the
indoor and outdoor units, through the coils, tubing,
and compressor, absorbing and releasing heat as it
travels through the system.
In the winter, the heat pump (the outdoor coil)
extracts heat from the outdoor air and distributes it
through the warm air ducts in the home. In extremely
cold climates, a heat pump is supplemented by elec-
tric heating elements in the air handler.
In the summer, the process reverses. The heat
pump (indoor coil) absorbs heat and condenses
humidity from the indoor air. The heat is
transferred to the outside by the refrigerant, and the
humidity (condensation) is removed by piping it to
a suitable drain.
Chapter 19.
Because a heat pump contains a hermetic motor
compressor, the Code requirements found in Article
GROUNDING
Grounding of electrical equipment has already been
discussed and will not be repeated here. Grounding
is covered in Article 250 of the NEC? To repeat a
caution, never ground electrical equipment to the
grounded (white) circuit conductor of the circuit.
CIRCUIT REQUIREMENTS FOR
ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS
For homes that do not have central air conditioning.
window or through-the-wall air conditioners may be
installed. These types of room air conditioners are
available in both 120- volt and 240- volt ratings.
Because room air conditioners are plug-and-cord
connected, the receptacle outlet and the circuit
capacity must be selected and installed according to
applicable Code regulations. The Code rules for air
conditioning are found in Article 440. The Code
requirements for room air-conditioning units are
found in 440.60 through 440.65 of the NEC?
The basic Code rules for installing these cord-
and plug-connected units and their receptacle outlets
are as follows:
• The air conditioners must be grounded.
• The air-conditioner rating may not ex>_ E - -
40 amperes at 250 volts, single phase.
• The rating of the branch-circuit overcurren:
device must not exceed the branch-circuit con
ductor rating or the receptacle rating, whichever
is less.
• The air-conditioner load shall not exceed SO^c
of the branch-circuit ampacity if no other loads-
are served.
• The air-conditioner load shall not exceed
of the branch-circuit ampacity if other loads are
served.
• The attachment plug cap may serve as the dis
connecting means.
• The maximum cord length is 10 ft (3.0 m) for
120-volt units, and 6 ft (1.8 m) for 208- or
240- volt units. This is also a UL requirement.
 CHAPTER 23 Special-Purpose Outlets—Electric Heating, Air Conditioning 463

• There is an ever-present potential arcing-fault

120/240 VOLT
hazard related to the power supply cords on
room air conditioners that could cause a fire or
create an electrical shock hazard. In addition
to requiring that the air-conditioner unit be
properly grounded, NEC® 440.65 requires that
factory-installed LDCI or AFCI devices be pro-
vided on single-phase cord-and-plug-connected
room air conditioners. These devices are per-
mitted to be an integral part of the attachment
plug cap, or may be located in the power supply
cord within 12 in. (300 mm) of the attachment
plug cap. Figure 23-11 Types of
LCDIs are Leakage Current Detection and
Interruption Protection devices. They can sense
leakage current flowing between or from the CENTRAL HEATING AND
cord conductors and interrupt the circuit at a AIR CONDITIONING
predetermined level of leakage current. The residence discussed throughout this text has
AFCIs are discussed in Chapter 6. central electric heating and air conditioning con-
sisting of an electric furnace and a central air-
Receptacles for Room conditioning unit.
Air Conditioners The wiring for central heating and cooling sys-
Figure 23-11A is a straight 240-volt receptacle. tems is shown in Figure 23-12. Basic circuit require-
Figure 23-1 IB is a combination receptacle. The lower ments are shown in Figure 23-13. Note that one
portion is for 120-volt use, and the upper portion is branch circuit runs to the electric furnace and
for 240-volt use. Note the different slot configura- another branch circuit runs to the air conditioner or
tion that meets the noninterchangeable requirements heat pump outside the dwelling. Low-voltage wiring
of406.3(F). is used between the inside and outside units to

ELECTRIC FURNACE/ AIR-CONDITIONER UNIT I THERMOSTAT

ELECTRIC
HEATING
CLASS 2
DISCONNECT
ELEMENTS
LOW-VOLTAGE
SWITCH
WIRING

DISCONNECT
SWITCH REFRIGERANT VAPOR
LIQUID REFRIGERANT
AIR-CONDITIONER/HEAT PUMP FEEDER

ELECTRIC
____
FURNACE DO NOT RUN THE LOW-VOLTAGE CLASS 2
FEEDER
CIRCUIT WIRES O IN THE SAME CONDUIT AS THE POWER
WIRES ©. SEE 725.136(A).

AIR-CONDITIONER/ HEAT PUMP UNIT

Figure 23-12 Connection diagram showing typical electric furnace and air-conditioner/heat pump installation.
 464 CHAPTER B Special-Purpose Outlets—Electric Heating, Air Conditioning

BRANCH-CIRCUIT
OVERCURRENT
PROTECTION:
• MUST BE ABLE
TO CARRY
STARTING CURRENT.
• FUSES OR CIRCUIT
BREAKER MUST BE
OF SIZE AND TYPE
AS MARKED ON
NAMEPLATE.
TYPICAL
AIR-CONDITIONING
UNIT

DISCONNECTING MEANS • SELECT SIZE BASED C % .

'*±* RATED-LOAD CURRENT C*= =RI CIRCUIT
SELECTION C',. = = =•«" WHICHEVER IS GREATE= - *X:
ROTOR CURRENT. • AMPERE RATING OF SW~D-AT
LEAST 115% OF NAM==_^ LOAD CURRENT OR
BRA 1.: — SELECTION CURRENT -WHO* IS GREATER.
• MUST ALSO BE HORSEPCV.— CHECK TABLE
430.248, TA5_= * TABLE 430.250, AND TABLE -3:
COMPARE THE RATED-LOAI : BRANCH-CIRCUIT
SELECTION r AND HORSEPOWER RATING • MUST
BE WITHIN SIGHT C= ' EQUIPMENT AND MUST BE
^=.*Z ACCESSIBLE.
*• SHALL NOT OBSCURE THE EQUIPMENT'S
NAMEPLATE. 5 •*

BRANCH-CIRCUIT CONDUCTORS
• THE MINIMUM CIRCUIT AMPAGiTi
REQUIRED FOR THE AIR-CONDITIONING
UNIT IS FOUND ON THE LABEL. THIS
HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE
MANUFACTURER TAKING INTO
HERMETIC REFRIGERANT CONSIDERATION THE MOTOR
MOTOR COMPRESSOR COMPRESSOR CURRENT, FAN MOTOR
CURRENT, AND HEATER CURRENT. THIS
IS GENERALLY 125% OF THE LARGEST
MOTOR PLUS THE FULL-LOAD RATING
OF THE REST OF THE EQUIPMENT
LOADS, SUCH AS FANS AND HEATERS.

OVERLOAD PROTECTION:
• THIS IS USUALLY AN INTEGRAL
PART OF THE EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIED
BY THE MANUFACTURER.

LABEL:
• MANUFACTURER'S NAME
• VOLTAGE
• FREQUENCY
• PHASES
• MINIMUM CIRCUIT AMPACITY
• MAXIMUM RATING OF BRANCH-
CIRCUITS, SHORT-CIRCUIT, AND
GROUND-FAULT PROTECTIVE DEVICE
• WILL STATE "MAXIMUM SIZE FUSE"
OR "MAXIMUM SIZE FUSE OR
CIRCUIT BREAKER"
 Figure 23-13 Basic circuit requirements for a typical residential-type air conditioner or heat pump. Reading the
label is important in that the manufacturer has determined the minimum circuit ampacity and the maximum size
and type of fuse or circuit breakers.

provide control of the systems. The low-voltage Class
2 circuit wiring shall not be run in the same raceway as
the power conductors, 725.136(A).
Refer to Chapter 24 for more information about low-
voltage circuitry.
"Time-of-Use" Lower Energy Rates
Many utilities offer lower energy rates for air-
conditioner and/or heat pump loads through special
programs, such as "time-of-use" usage and sliding scale
energy rates. This is covered in Chapter 19.
 CHAPTER 23 Special-Purpose Outlets—Electric Heating, Air Conditioning
465
UNDERSTANDING THE DATA FOUND
ON AN HVAC NAMEPLATE
The letters HVAC stand for heating, ventilating, and
air conditioning.
Article 440 applies when HVAC equipment em-
ploys a hermetic refrigerant motor-compressor(s).
Article 440 is supplemental to the other articles of the
NEC® and is needed because of the unique character-
istics of hermetic refrigerant motor-compressors.
The most common examples are air conditioners,
heat pumps, and refrigeration equipment.
Hermetic refrigerant motor-compressors:
• combine the motor and compressor into one unit
• have no external shaft
• operate in the refrigerant
• do not have horsepower and full-load current
(often referred to as full-load amperes or FLA)
ratings like standard electric motors. This is
because as the compressor builds up pressure,
the current increases, causing the windings to
get hot. At the same time, the refrigerant gets
colder, passes over the windings, and cools
them. Because of this, a hermetically sealed
motor can be "worked" much harder than a
conventional electric motor of the same size.
Special terminology is needed to understand
how to properly make the electrical installation.
These special terms are found in 440.2 and in UL
Standard 1995. An air-conditioning nameplate from
Shiver Manufacturing Company help explain these
special terms.
• Rated-Load Current (RLC): Rated-load
current is established by the hermetic motor-
compressor manufacturer under actual operation
at rated refrigerant pressure and temperature,
rated voltage, and rated frequency. RLC is
marked on the nameplate. In most instances, the
marked RLC is at least equal to 64.1 % of the
hermetic refrigerant motor-compressor's maxi
mum continuous current (MCC). In our exam
ple, the RLC is 17.8 amperes. See 440.2.
• Maximum Continuous Current (MCC): This
is the maximum current that the hermetic refrig
erant motor-compressor can draw before dam
age occurs. Manufacturers know the damage
capabilities of their equipment, and generally
provide the necessary internal overcurrent pro-
tection that keeps the hermetic motor-compressor
from burning out. This value is 156% of the
marked RLC or branch-circuit selection current
(BCSC). The overload protective system for the
hermetic refrigerant motor-compressor must
operate for currents in excess of the 156% value.
Do not look for the MCC value on the name-
plate of the end-use equipment. The MCC value
might be marked on the motor-compressor. It is
nice but not necessary for the electrician to
know the MCC value of the motor-compressor.
See 440.52.
Branch-Circuit Selection Current (BCSC):
The manufacturer of the HVAC end-use equip-
ment might design better cooling and better
heat dissipation into the equipment, in which
case the hermetic refrigerant motor-compressor
might be capable of being continuously
"worked" harder than other equipment not so
designed. "Working" the hermetic refrigerant
motor-compressor harder will result in a higher
current draw. This is safe insofar as the motor-
compressor is concerned, but the conductors, dis-
connect switch, and branch-circuit overcurrent
devices must also be capable of safely carrying
this higher current draw. This higher value of
current is marked on the nameplate BCSC.
Because the BCSC ampere value is always
equal to or greater than the RLC ampere value,
this BCSC value must be used instead of the
RLC value when selecting conductors, dis-
connects, overcurrent devices, and other associ-
ated electrical equipment. Table 23-2 shows
that the BCSC is 19.9 amperes. See 440.2 and
440.4(C).
Minimum Circuit Ampacity (MCA): MCA
is the minimum circuit ampacity requirement to
determine the conductor size and switch rating.
MCA data are always marked on the nameplate
of the end-use equipment and are determined
by the manufacturer of the end-use equipment
as follows:
MCA = (RLC or BCSC x 1.25) + other loads
Other loads would include condensing fans,
electric heaters, coils, and so forth, that operate
concurrently (at the same time).
466 CHAPTER Z3 Special-Purpose Outlets—Electric Heating, Air Conditioning

In our example, the marked MCA is 26.4 See Article 440, Part IV.
amperes, calculated by the manufacturer of the A mistake that electricians often make is to
end-use equipment as follows: multiply the MCA by 1.25 again. Certainly
(19.9 x 1.25) + 1.5 = 26.375 amperes there is no hazard in doing this, but it might
(round off to 26.4) result in an unnecessary higher installation cost.
For long runs, larger conductors would keep
Referring to Table 310.16, using the 60°C
voltage drop to a minimum.
column, 10 AWG copper conductors would be
Outdoor installations of air-conditioning
adequate for this air-conditioning unit.
equipment might be in very hot parts of the
country. You might want to review Chapter 18 for
SHIVER MANUFACTURING COMPANY the NEC® correction factor requirements where
high ambient temperatures are encountered.
MODEL NO. XYZ -
ELECTRICAL RATINGS - Maximum Overcurrent Protection (MOP):
VAC HZ PH RLC LRC FLA
The MOP value is the maximum size overcur-
Compressor 230 60 1 17.8 107 —
rent protection, fuse, or circuit breaker. The
Outdoor fan motor MOP value is marked on the nameplate and is
V4 hp 230 60 1 — 1.5 determined by the manufacturer of the end-use
Branch-circuit selection current 19.9 amperes 26.4 equipment as follows:
Minimum circuit ampacity amperes 45.0
Maximum fuse or HACR type brkr. (RLC or BCSC) x 2.25 + other loads
amperes 197 min.
Operating voltage range: 253 max. Other loads include condensing fans, electric
heaters, coils, and so on, that operate at the
Table 23-2 same time. In our example, the marked MOP is

BRANCH CIRCUIT

DISCONNECTING MEANS

BRANCH-CIRCUIT OVERCURRENT DEVICE

LARGE
40-AMPERE FUSES OR CIRCUIT BREAKER

LARGE RELAY SMALL WIRES SMALL FAN

MOTOR,
2 AMPERES

LARGE WIRES

COMPRESSOR 30
AMPERES

Figure 23-14 In a typical air-conditioner unit, the branch-circuit overcurrent device must protect the large
components (large wires, large relay, hermetic motor compressor) as well as the small components (small wires,
fan motor, crankcase heater) under short-circuit and/or ground-fault situations. It is extremely important to
install the proper size and type of overcurrent device. Read the nameplate on the equipment and the instructions
furnished with the equipment.
 CHAPTER 23 Special-Purpose Outlets—Electric Heating, Air Conditioning 467

45 amperes, determined by the manufacturer as

follows:
(19.9 x 2.25) + 1.5 = 46.275 amperes
Rounding down to the next lower standard size,
the MOP is 45 amperes. See Article 440, Part III.
Type of Overcurrent Protection: Check the
nameplate carefully and do what it says! HACK
(Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration)
equipment nameplate might indicate "Maximum
Size Fuse," "Maximum Size Fuse or Circuit
Breaker," or "Maximum Size Fuse or HACR
Circuit Breaker." AIR-CONDITIONER
In the past, circuit breakers were subjected NAMEPLATE READS
"MAXIMUM SIZE
to specific tests unique to HVAC equipment and FUSE 40 AMPERES"
were marked with the letters HACR. Today, no
additional tests are made. All currently listed Figure 23-16 This installation does not "Meet Code"
circuit breakers are now suitable for HVAC because the overcurrent device inside the building is
not of the type specified on the air-conditioner
application. These circuit breakers and HVAC
nameplate. Refer to A/EC® 110.3(8),
equipment may or may not show the letters
HACR. Because of existing inventories, it will
take many years for the marking HACR to
disappear from the scene. In the meantime, read
and follow the information found on the name-
plate of the equipment. NONFUSED
See Figure 23-14, Figure 23-15, Figure PANEL
DISCONNECT

23-16, and Figure 23-17. INSIDE

BUILDING
-< 5 ~ b - ©

L
Figure 23-15 This installation "Meets Code." The
Q 0
DISCONNECT SWITCH
PANEL WITH 40-AMPERE FUSES
INSIDE
BUILDING I
AIR-CONDITIONER
NAMEPLATE MARKED "MAXIMUM
SIZE FUSE OR HACR CIRCUIT
BREAKER, 40 AMPERES."

Figure 23-17 In the past, air-conditioning equipment

AIR-CONDITIONER and circuit breakers were marked with the letters
NAMEPLATE READS HACR. As time passes and current inventory is used
"MAXIMUM SIZE
FUSE 40 AMPERES" up, this marking will disappear form the nameplates
of equipment and on the circuit-breaker label. In the
meantime, follow the manufacturer's Installation
disconnect is within sight of the unit. The disconnect instructions and the data found on the nameplate.
contains fuses as specified on the air-conditioner Refer to NEC® 1.10,3(8),
nameplate. Refer to NEC 110,3(8),
468 CHAPTER 2J Special-Purpose Outlets—Electric Heating, Air Conditioning

Disconnecting Means to Be in Sight: NEC®
440.14 of the Code requires that the disconnecting
means must be within sight of the unit, and it
must be readily accessible. See Figure 23-15,
Figure 23-16, and Figure 23-17. Mounting the
disconnect on the side of the house instead of on
the air conditioner itself allows for easy
replacement of the air-conditioning unit, should
that become necessary. Mounting the disconnect
behind the air conditioner or heat pump would not
be considered "readily accessible" by most
electrical inspectors. Generally, there is just not
enough space to work safely on the disconnect.
Squeezing behind or leaning across the top of the
air conditioner to gain access to the disconnect is
certainly not a safe practice. Mounting the
disconnect on the outside wall of the house, to one
side of the AC unit, is the accepted practice. See
Article 440, Part II and 110.26.
>NEC* 440.14 states that if you mount the
disconnect on the equipment, do not obscure the
equipment's nameplate(s).-^ It is hard to believe
that some installers mount the disconnect switch
on top of the equipment's nameplate, making it
impossible to read the nameplate. Disconnecting
Means Rating: Figure 23-18 shows a fusible
and a nonfusible "pull-out"
disconnect commonly used for residential air-
conditioning and/or heat pump installations.
The horsepower rating of the disconnecting
means must be at least equal to the sum of all of
the individual loads within the end-use equip-
ment, at rated load conditions, and at locked
rotor conditions, 440.12(B)(1).
The ampere rating of the disconnecting means
must be at least 115% of the sum of all of the
individual loads within the end-use equipment, at
rated load conditions, 440.12(B)(2). Installing a
disconnect switch that equals or exceeds the MOP
value will in almost all cases be the correct choice.
The MOP in our example is 40 amperes. Thus, a
60-ampere disconnect switch is the correct size. In
cases where the MOP value is close to the ampere
rating of the disconnect switch (i.e., 30, 60, 100,
200, etc.). locked-rotor current values must be
considered. • Locked-Rotor Current (LRC): This
is the maximum current draw when the motor is in
a "LOCKED" position. When the rotor is locked, it
is not turning. The disconnect switch and controller
(if used) must be capable of safely interrupting
locked-rotor current. See 440.12 and 440.41. In our
example, the nameplate indicates that the hermetic
refrigerant motor-compressor

Figyre 23-18 (A) is a pu!!-out fusible disconnect. Fuses are inserted into fuse clips on the
pull-out device. Insert the pull-out device for "ON," and remove the pull-out device for "OFF,"
(B) is a nonfusible disconnect, available in 30- and 60-ampere ratings at 240 volts. Both
have padlock provisions to prevent unauthorized tampering. Air-conditioner disconnects are
available that have a GFCI receptacle as part of the disconnect enclosure. The GFC1
receptacle must be wired to a separate 20-ampere, 120-volt branch circuit. Courtesy of
Midwest Electric Products.
 CHAPTER 23 Special-Purpose Outlets—Electric Heating, Air Conditioning
has an LRC of 107 amperes. The fan motor has
an FLA of 1.5 amperes and would have an LRC
approximately 6 times higher. According to
440.12(B)(l)(b), all locked-rotor currents and
other loads are added together when combined
loads are involved. Therefore, the total locked-
rotor current that the disconnect switch in our
example would be called upon to interrupt is:
(1.5 x 6) + 107 = 116 locked-rotor amperes
Checking Table 430.251(A) for the conver-
sion of locked-rotor current to horsepower, we
find that the locked-rotor current for a 230-volt,
single-phase, 3 -horsepower motor is 102 am-
peres, and the locked-rotor current for a
230-volt, single-phase, 5-horsepower motor is
168 amperes. Selecting a disconnect switch on
the basis of the locked-rotor current in our
example, the air-conditioning unit is considered
to be a 5-horsepower unit, because 116 falls
between 102 and 168. Manufacturers' technical
literature indicates that a 30-ampere, 240-volt
heavy-duty, single-phase disconnect switch
has a 3-horsepower rating, and a 60-ampere,
240-volt heavy-duty, single-phase disconnect
switch has a 10-horsepower rating. Thus, a 60-
ampere disconnect is selected. Note that this is
the same size disconnect selected previously on
the basis of MOP.
ENERGY RATINGS
Energy ratings indicate the efficiency of heating and
cooling equipment. Basically, these ratings are a
comparison of output (heating or cooling) to input
gas, or oiJ).
Energy Efficiency Rating (EER): Cooling
efficiency rating for room air conditioners.
The ratio of the rated cooling capacity in Btu
per hour divided by the amount of electrical
power used in kilowatt-hours. The higher the
EER number, the greater the efficiency.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER):
Cooling efficiency rating for central air
conditioners and heat pumps. SEER is deter-
mined by the total cooling of an air condi-
tioner or heat pump in Btu during its normal
usage period for cooling divided by the total
electrical energy input in kilowatt-hours dur-
469
ing the same period. The higher the SEER
number, the greater the efficiency.
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE):
Tells you how efficiently a furnace converts
fuel (gas or oil) to heat. For example, an
AFUE of 85% means that 85% of the fuel
is used to heat your home, and the other 15%
goes up the chimney. The higher the effi-
ciency, the lower the operating cost. Old fur-
naces might have an AFUE rating as low as
60%. Mid-efficiency ratings are approxi-
mately 80%. High-efficiency ratings are 90%
or higher. Maximum furnace efficiency avail-
able is approximately 96.6%. The higher the
AFUE number, the greater the efficiency.
Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF):
Heating efficiency of a heat pump. HSPF is
determined by the total heating of a heat
pump in Btu during its normal usage period
for heating divided by the total electrical
energy input in kilowatt-hours during the
same period. The higher the HSPF rating, the
greater the efficiency.
NONCOINCIDENT LOADS
Loads such as heating and air conditioning are not
likely to operate at the same time. The NEC9 recog-
nizes this diversity in 220.60. Therefore, when cal-
culating a feeder that supplies both types of loads, or
when sizing a service-entrance, only the larger of the
two loads need be considered. This is discussed in
Chapter 29 where service-entrance calculations are
presented. Of course, the branch circuit supplying
the heating load is sized for that particular load, and
the branch circuit supplying the air-conditioning
load is sized for that particular load.
RECEPTACLE NEEDED FOR
SERVICING HVAC EQUIPMENT
For servicing HVAC equipment, NEC® 210.63
requires that a 125-volt, single-phase, 15- or 20-
ampere-rated receptacle be installed:
at an accessible location
on the same level as the HVAC equipment
within 25 ft (7.5 m) of the equipment, and
the receptacle shall not be connected to the load
side of the equipment disconnecting means
 470 CHAPTER 23 Special-Purpose Outlets—Electric Heating, Air Conditioning
The outdoor receptacles required by 210.52(E) (one in
front and one in back) might or might not meet the
requirement of 210.63. If the HVAC equipment is
located on a roof, in an attic, or a similar location, a
receptacle must be installed in that location so as to be
on the same level as the equipment.
A receptacle is not required if the equipment
served is an evaporative cooler in one- and two-
family dwellings. This type of equipment requires
very little servicing.
Some air-conditioner disconnects have a GFCI
receptacle as an integral part of the disconnect
enclosure, Figure 23-19. The GFCI receptacle must be
supplied by a separate 15- or 20-ampere, 120-volt
Figure 23-19 Photo of an AC disconnect that has an
integral GFCI receptacle. Courtesy of Midwest Electric
Products, Inc.
REVIEW
Note: Refer to the Code or the plans where necessary.
ELECTRIC HEAT
1. a. What is the allowance in watts made for electric heat in this residence?.
b. What is the value in amperes of this load?________________________
branch circuit. Installing this type of air-conditioner
disconnect eliminates the need for installing a recep-
tacle as part of the premises wiring. But this could
also become a nightmare trying to figure out how to
wire it. When wiring with this type of disconnect,
both the AC branch circuit and the 20-ampere 120-
volt branch circuit for the GFCI receptacle must
somehow be run to the disconnect. This might
require more time and material than wiring the
required receptacle for the AC as required by 210.63 in
the customary way. The choice is yours.
Adjustment factors might have to be applied
when more than three current-carrying conductors are
installed in the same raceway or cable. 310.15(B)
(2). All of this depends upon the wiring method: is it
NM cable or is it a raceway?
GAS EXPLOSION HAZARD
Although it might seem a bit out of place in an elec-
trical book to talk about gas explosions, we must
talk about it.
Often overlooked is a requirement in 2.7.2(c) of
NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, that gas meters be
located at least 3 ft (900 mm) from sources of ignition.
An electric meter or a disconnect switch are possible
sources of ignition. Some utility regulations require a
minimum of 3 ft (900 mm) clearance between
electric metering equipment and gas meters and gas-
regulating equipment. It is better to be safe than sorry!
Check this issue out with the local electrical inspector
and/or the local electric utility before installing the air-
conditioner or heat-pump disconnect on the outside of
the house. Also consider the location of the service
watt-hour meter.