Agricultural Water Well Service

[Minuteman]

I have a new Farm well house that I am supplying power to. The Co-op poco just installed a new power pole and meter, and I am running service underground from the meter about 20' to a 8' x 8' portable building. In 220.102 (B) and T220.102 & T220.103 I find calculations for Farm services. The well pump is my only load, other than a heat tape, light, and convenience outlet. I plan on installing a 100 panel and install #3 copper in 1 1/4" PVC. Am I missing anything?

 

[JacksonburgFarmer]

You pretty "well" got it. Oh yeah...inside the pump house, I would use EMT, and Probobaly Rigid emerging from the ground....Rats and mice will like the warm building, and pvc emerging from the ground usually gets busted, schedual 80 or not.....remember, farmers will find a way to screw anything up. You HAVE to build it to last, or it simply wont.....trust me I know.....I am a farmer also..... (PVC would work inside the pump house, but, I think exposed PVC looks like holly hammered dog crap {usually} the only time for exposed PVC is in hog barns....ask me how I know)......GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Minuteman]

I have worked maybe 5 jobs in this rural jurisdiction my entire career. I passed the service today, but failed the well house wiring. The inside of the portable building was insulated and then covered with OSB by the HO before I arrived. I surface installed NM from the panel to a 1900 with a RS duplex cover, back out to a 1900 with a RS switch cover, up to a Oct and keyless. Even used stinking green wire nuts as I heard that this AHJ requires 'em.

Reason for failure: NM and outlet need to be GFI.

I had no idea that I could not install exposed NM in a 6' x 8' shed (I said 8' x 8' earlier, but miss spoke.) And why is a GFI required?

 

[JohnJ0906]

Reason for failure: NM and outlet need to be GFI.

I had no idea that I could not install exposed NM in a 6' x 8' shed (I said 8' x 8' earlier, but miss spoke.)

334.10(3) It has to be concealed.

And why is a GFI required?

Possibly 210.8(A)(2) - I would consider a well house an "accessory building", but do the farm buildings have to obey the rules for Dwelling Units?
Possibly also 547.5(G)

I don't suppose the inspector cited a NEC article?

 

[JacksonburgFarmer]

EMT EMT EMT EMT EMT! Have you ever been in a running well house??? They sweat, it will be wet in there....recep should be GFI....GOOD LUCK...

 

[Minuteman]

EMT EMT EMT EMT EMT! Have you ever been in a running well house??? They sweat, it will be wet in there....recep should be GFI....GOOD LUCK...

That's my point. Yes, I have seen well houses. I have seen some that the wiring was installed by Pa and Ma might have the wash hangin' on the NM.

Thanks, corrections will be made today.

 

[Minuteman]

Well, things did not go so well for the HO of the well, but I got a change order from it! When the rural Co-Op PoCo guy arrived today to set the meter, he tuned it down because I had not installed a 100 amp fusible disconnect after the meter. It is their policy that a disco has to be there to protect PoCo's equipment, should the out building get damaged. The HO put up a fuss because they required the disco even though I had passed the service inspection. Whatever

The apprentice with me today replaced all the NM with M/C while I cut the disco in. So, I was going back anyway.

FWIW, I had closely followed the surface with the NM like 334.15(A), and I felt that a 6' x 8' building with a 66" center height was pretty much protected from physical damage (B). I guess the inspector saw it other wise.

 

[Cow]

The apprentice with me today replaced all the NM with M/C while I cut the disco in. So, I was going back anyway.

FWIW, I had closely followed the surface with the NM like 334.15(A), and I felt that a 6' x 8' building with a 66" center height was pretty much protected from physical damage (B). I guess the inspector saw it other wise.

So now instead of violating 334.15(B), he might stick you for 330.12(1)?

Personally, I always run emt in wellhouses if it's exposed, it usually only takes all of 20' of pipe. Bam, it's done, with no worries. I don't have time to be screwing around with romex and mc, and possibly getting flagged because the inspectors interpretation of "physical damage" is different than mine.

 

[Minuteman]

Yeah, but I already asked him on the phone and he said that M/C was fine. By the way, he did not give a reference as to why he failed the NM, just that it did. JacksonburgFarmer might be right about the damp location thing.

 

[JacksonburgFarmer]

I usually coat my EMT w/ cold galvanize paint AFTER I fabricate it BEFORE I install it....gives a little extra protection from rust....makes it look nicer longer.....MC would be ok.....ROMEX SUCKS!!!! Granted there is a time and a place.... but Well houses stay warm (somewhat) in the winter, and rodents find their way in to stay out of the weather....we all know how little furry critters like to chew on stuff.....See why romex sucks???? EMT works well.....MC will keep the mice off, but I LIKE PIPE:grin: