680.22 covers well pumps?

[foqnc]

Hi all, I am industrial electrician, I come here to learn more.
I have a question a friend ask me, he has a well pump on a 15 regular breaker, he is being told that it needs to be on a GFCI Breaker, and $80 is the cheapest he has found.
Looking through the NEC the closest I can find would be if it falls under 680.22 (B) GFCI Protection.
Searching here I found a great post by Iwire dated 7/01/2007 which list these.

Ground-fault circuit-interrupters


Accessory buildings, dwelling
units, 210.8(A)(2)

Basements, dwelling units, unfinished,
210.8(A)(5)

Bathtubs, hydromassage,
680.71

Definition,
Art. 100-I

Deicing and snow-melting equipment,
426.32

Electrically operated pool covers,
680.27(B)(2)

Fountains,
680.51(A)

Garages, commercial,
511.12

Garages, dwelling units,
210.8(A)(2)

Permitted uses,
210.8, 215.9

Personnel, protection for,
426.32

Pipeline heating,
427.27

Pools and tubs for therapeutic use,
680.62(A)

Receptacles,
210.8

Bathrooms, in dwelling units,
210.8(A)(1)

Bathrooms in other than
dwelling units,
210.8(B)(1)

Boathouses,
555.19(B)

Construction sites, at,
527.6

Existing,
406.3(D)(2)

Garages, in dwelling units,
210.8(A)(2)

Health care facilities,
517.2(A)

Kitchens in dwelling units,
210.8(A)(6)

Marinas and boatyards,
555.19(B)

Mobile homes,
550.13(B), 550.32(E)

Outdoors, dwelling units,
210.8(A)(3)

Park trailers,
552.41(C)

Pools,
680.5, 680.6, 680.22, 680.23, 680.32

Recreational vehicles,
551.40(C), 551.41(C), 551.71

Required,
210.8

Rooftops in other than dwelling units,
210.8(B)(2)

Sensitive electronic equipment,
647.7(A)

Spas and hot tubs, 680.42,
680.43, 680.44, 680.57

Wet bar sinks,
210.8(A)(7)

I still have to search for a GFCI breaker, and he will pay it if he has too, but its seems a grey area, regarding Well Pumps, unless I am missing that I treat them as a fountain/pool. It will be used for his lawn irrigation system.
Any help pointing me in the right direction is appreciatted.

 

[steve66]

680 doesn't apply unless he plans on swimming or wading in his well. Or unless it is a decorative pool or fountain - which I think not.

:smile:

Steve

 

[C3PO]

I have done several well pumps over the years and have never GFCI protected the pump.

 

[foqnc]

Thanks for the replies guys, I just wanted to check it was not a 'Grey' area that I was misunderstanding.

 

[haskindm]

It is not a "Grey" area. Your friend was plain told wrong. A well pump does NOT need GFCI protection. Well pumps are connected to an equipment ground. Proper grounding and bonding trumps GFCI protection every time. We install GFCI protection most often on RECEPTACLES because we cannot be assured that users will maintain the grounding connection.

 

[tom baker]

Well pumps/motors and controllers are covered by Art 430. If the supply to well controller was intended to be cord and plug connected then that receptacle if, 15 or 20 amp, 125, may be required to be GFCI protected depending on where it is located. But the rules in Art 430 would still be used.
Heres a suggestion to understand what code rules apply where:
Read the .1 section of each article, its the scope or what its about. Compare the scopes of 680 and 430.

 

[steve66]

One other thing we should point out: any instructions provided with the pump need to be followed. If the instructions say GFCI, then it needs GFCI.

Steve

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Well--- I have never seen a well pump where the manufacturer required GFCI protection.

 

[foqnc]

Thanks again for the extra replies guys, I going to print his out and go show him.