Above ground pool heater again...

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NYHigh

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Ok, you guys answered my question about the continuous load factor on the heater for this pool, but i am confused again about a few other question I have regarding this if someone can help.

1) After reading the nameplate it says (38a circuit ampacity), (Min. fuse 40a) and (Max fuse 60a). After my calculations it seems a 50a fuse would be fine. Is this ok?

2)The reason I'm asking, is because in class, the instructor told us when it comes to A/C condenser equipment, you should always fuse it at the max because the continuous load factors are already taken into consideration just for A/C condensor equipment. Is this correct? If not, how should condenser equipment be handled?

3)According to the code, do you need a disconnect switch for an above ground pool or is just a GFCI protected circuit fine?

4)Accoring to the code, should above ground pools require these circuits be ran in PVC (ENT)?
 
NYHigh said:
1) After reading the nameplate it says (38a circuit ampacity), (Min. fuse 40a) and (Max fuse 60a). After my calculations it seems a 50a fuse would be fine. Is this ok?
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I believe they used art. 422.11(E)(3) to come up with the 60 amps max OCP but 50 amps should be fine.

2)The reason I'm asking, is because in class, the instructor told us when it comes to A/C condenser equipment, you should always fuse it at the max because the continuous load factors are already taken into consideration just for A/C condensor equipment. Is this correct? If not, how should condenser equipment be handled?
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I usually do fuse ac at the max because as the unit gets older it may take more current to run thus I am hopefully avoiding problems in the future but I will stress that it is not necessary. I did an install years ago where the min OCP was used on a new unit and it was tripping so we went to the highest and had no problems. For how long? Who knows?

3)According to the code, do you need a disconnect switch for an above ground pool or is just a GFCI protected circuit fine?
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If you mean at the motor than a disconnect is required.

4)Accoring to the code, should above ground pools require these circuits be ran in PVC (ENT)?
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What circuits-- the heater or the pool pumps or other?
 
4)Accoring to the code, should above ground pools require these circuits be ran in PVC (ENT)?
Click to expand...
I guess this would depend on how close to the pool the wiring is. Is it underground? Check art. 680.10
 
You really need to read all of NEC 680. The answers to your questions are scattered all about and you haven't told us enough to give a complete answer. Dennis pointed you to one applicable area (680.10), but 680.21 applies, if you have lights, then a bunch of things come into play with conduit and insulated grounds coming into play again. I answered your pool pump circuit question in your other post, and yes it must all be in conduit with an insulated copper ground unless this pool is above ground and holds less than 42" of water.

The circuit breaker for the heat pump is alloed to be anywhere between min and max breaker ratings (or between MCA and max if no min was specified). Sometimes the max breaker size will be an uncommon size (e.g. 35A). In gereral, as long as you're 5 amps above MCA with the breaker rating, you should be fine. I think a 50A breaker is plenty for your heat pump, although 60A is allowed. You could look at the 50A as providing a little more protection to the unit should something fail, or look at is as a liability that will nuisance trip. If the breaker is in a hot enclosure (or in a place where it will get hot sun on it all day long), then maybe you would want to go all the way to the max rating. Your wire, however, only needs to be sized per MCA regardless of what size breaker you end up with.
 
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