Did an inspection on a 1 1/2 HP grinder at a manufacturing company. While it would seem that something like this would not require overload protection, I'm having a hard time finding an exception in the NEC. It's cord-connected and has an on/off switch, so someone could turn it on and leave it on. Thoughts?
Yes they could turn it on and leave.
III. Motor and Branch-Circuit Overload Protection
430.31 General. Part III specifies overload devices intended
to protect motors, motor-control apparatus, and motor branchcircuit
conductors against excessive heating due to motor
overloads and failure to start.
430.42 Motors on General-Purpose Branch Circuits.
Overload protection for motors used on general-purpose
branch circuits as permitted in Article 210 shall be provided
as specified in 430.42(A), (B), (C), or (D).
(B) Over 1 Horsepower. Motors of ratings larger than
specified in 430.53(A) shall be permitted to be connected to
general-purpose branch circuits only where each motor is protected
by overload protection selected to protect the motor as
specified in 430.32. Both the controller and the motor overload
device shall be approved for group installation with the
short-circuit and ground-fault protective device selected in accordance
with 430.53.
(C) Cord-and-Plug-Connected. Where a motor is connected
to a branch circuit by means of an attachment plug and
a receptacle or a cord connector, and individual overload protection
is omitted as provided in 430.42(A), the rating of the
attachment plug and receptacle or cord connector shall not
exceed 15 amperes at 125 volts or 250 volts. Where individual
overload protection is required as provided in 430.42(B) for a
motor or motor-operated appliance that is attached to the
branch circuit through an attachment plug and a receptacle or
a cord connector, the overload device shall be an integral part
of the motor or of the appliance. The rating of the attachment
plug and receptacle or the cord connector shall determine the
rating of the circuit to which the motor may be connected, as
provided in 210.21(B).