Changing Disposal and 2014 NEC

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kwired said:
If all you are doing is adding that insta-hot, my local AHJ is not even getting contacted as there is no requirement to even file for a permit on this job.

Will I install additional GFCI or AFCI in that situation? Will have to wait until that job comes up to find out I guess, but the GFCI is a possibility, the AFCI is probably not happening if no one is forcing it, but that is a whole other thread.
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Thank you for that.

Look, the OP is not asking about "insta-hot water dispensers". I'm asking about dealing with a hard wired outlet at the end of a dedicated 120 V residential disposal circuit, with no other outlets, that is one side of a multiwire branch circuit homerun. I am not adding a NEW outlet. I'm modifying an existing outlet from hardwired outlet to receptacle outlet.

When the hard wired outlet (wirenut splice) is modified to a receptacle outlet, the current NEC in effect is invoked. Regardless of whether I pull a permit, or not, my OP question is about what will be accepted by local inspection as Code compliant. . .

When the 2014 NEC is the Code in effect, modifying an existing residential disposal hard wired outlet to a receptacle outlet involves 210.8, 210.12, 406.4, 406.12 and probably a couple more. But these are the main ones.

The modified receptacle outlet is the first outlet on the existing branch circuit . . .
 
al hildenbrand said:
Thank you for that.

Look, the OP is not asking about "insta-hot water dispensers". I'm asking about dealing with a hard wired outlet at the end of a dedicated 120 V residential disposal circuit, with no other outlets, that is one side of a multiwire branch circuit homerun. I am not adding a NEW outlet. I'm modifying an existing outlet from hardwired outlet to receptacle outlet.

When the hard wired outlet (wirenut splice) is modified to a receptacle outlet, the current NEC in effect is invoked. Regardless of whether I pull a permit, or not, my OP question is about what will be accepted by local inspection as Code compliant. . .

When the 2014 NEC is the Code in effect, modifying an existing residential disposal hard wired outlet to a receptacle outlet involves 210.8, 210.12, 406.4, 406.12 and probably a couple more. But these are the main ones.

The modified receptacle outlet is the first outlet on the existing branch circuit . . .
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2014 NEC 210.12(B) says ...where branch-circuit wiring is modified, replaced, or extended, the branch circuit shall be protected by one of the following:....

The exception that follows says: AFCI protection shall not be required where the extension of the existing conductors is not more than 1.8 m (6 ft) and does not include any additional outlets or devices.

I understand you are adding an outlet for the hot water dispenser where there was originally only an outlet for a disposer- one circuit that that had one outlet now has two. Maybe I misunderstood the installation, but even if so I still understand that you have added a device (the receptacle)which would also not meet the exception.

GFCI protection - really depends on if you interpet the 2014 change to include the receptacle outlet under the sink - from what I have read some do some don't and I can see it interpreted either way as it is now written. GFCI is not required if there is no 15 or 20 amp 120 volt receptacle involved.
 
kwired said:
I understand you are adding an outlet for the hot water dispenser where there was originally only an outlet for a disposer- one circuit that that had one outlet now has two.
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Actually, no. The flex was hardwired, so the "outlet" was at the wirenuts at the end of the whip and inside the bottom of the disposal.

The new disposal is cord and plug connector, so the disposal "outlet" becomes a "receptacle outlet". Only the air switch is plugged into the receptacle outlet. Both the disposal AND the insta-hot heater plug into the air switch.


The hardwired outlet is modified to a receptacle outlet. No new outlet is created.
 
And the flex whip gets shortened, so there, arguably, is no extension of the existing conductors.
Tapatalk
 
al hildenbrand said:
And the flex whip gets shortened, so there, arguably, is no extension of the existing conductors.
Tapatalk
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After reading your last post I was going to say you moved the "outlet" closer to the source instead of extending the circuit.

I still believe this is covered by : 2014 NEC 210.12(B) says ...where branch-circuit wiring is modified, replaced, or extended, the branch circuit shall be protected by one of the following:....

But you may want to see what the AHJ has to say as well.
 
kwired said:
But you may want to see what the AHJ has to say as well.
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And there is the question of my OP.

As I look at this new Code, the 2014 expanded GFCI and AFCI requirements for residential dwellings, I find this particular situation of my OP to be in a sweet spot of "gray-ness".

It seems to me, that after a period of adjustment to the new Law-of-the-land that enforcement will become more uniform, but right now, I'm asking, "What will your local inspector say about a blank face GFCI in series with an AFCI receptacle at the end of a residential disposer circuit that used to be hardwired and is now a receptacle outlet?"
 
Shortened the circuit? I disagree the disposer is still in the same location. Moved the location of the "outlet" - yes. Now the unanswered question is whether or not this is considered a new outlet? And if we added the insta-hot heater didn't we technically add an additional outlet for it? If we didn't add an outlet how can it receive power?
 
kwired said:
. . . Now the unanswered question is whether or not this is considered a new outlet? And if we added the insta-hot heater didn't we technically add an additional outlet for it? If we didn't add an outlet how can it receive power?
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To answer this, consider: If I plug a five-receptacle outlet strip into a receptacle outlet, have five new outlets been created? My answer: No. The receptacle outlet is the end of the Premises Wiring (System) and the five-receptacle outlet strip and its cord and plug are part of the utilization equipment.

In my OP example, the air switch is analogous to the outlet strip.
 
al hildenbrand said:
To answer this, consider: If I plug a five-receptacle outlet strip into a receptacle outlet, have five new outlets been created? My answer: No. The receptacle outlet is the end of the Premises Wiring (System) and the five-receptacle outlet strip and its cord and plug are part of the utilization equipment.

In my OP example, the air switch is analogous to the outlet strip.
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I agree, but didn't you add a receptacle outlet that is considered a part of the premises wiring to plug your air switch controller that may or may not be considered premises wiring into?
 
kwired said:
I agree, but didn't you add a receptacle outlet that is considered a part of the premises wiring to plug your air switch controller that may or may not be considered premises wiring into?
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There already was an outlet, the hardwired whip connection to the Disposal, and it was modified by altering it into a receptacle outlet (also an outlet). Nothing is "added", i.e., new, that is part of the Premises Wiring (System). No "new" outlet is created.

To me, this is the heart of the term "modification."
 
al hildenbrand said:
There already was an outlet, the hardwired whip connection to the Disposal, and it was modified by altering it into a receptacle outlet. Nothing is "added", i.e., new, that is part of the Premises Wiring (System). No "new" outlet is created.

To me, this is the heart of the term "modification."
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Did I understand correctly that an instant water heater was also added - which would be an additional "outlet" wouldn't it?

Otherwise if still not clear, what does the AHJ have to say? Or this appears to be a question for future application of 2014 NEC - so the question may be what will the AHJ have to say when that time comes?

Again as I said earlier where I live such an install usually wouldn't get inspected or require a permit, unless it was part of a bigger project that did require a permit, so with the stance I have on AFCI's it likely isn't getting one if no one is enforcing it, the GFCI requirement is a little questionable as well though, not fully certain what I would do for that part.
 
kwired said:
Did I understand correctly that an instant water heater was also added - which would be an additional "outlet" wouldn't it?
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The air switch has a one receptacle that is "normally" energized, and another receptacle that is energized only when the momentary air switch is operated. When the momentary air switch is operated the "normally" energized receptacle is disconnected.

At any instant in time, there is only one load on the disposal circuit, either the instant water heater or the disposal motor.
 
Because there is never more than a single load on the Disposal Branch Circuit receptacle outlet at any time, only one receptacle outlet is required.
 
kwired said:
. . . as I said earlier where I live such an install usually wouldn't get inspected or require a permit, unless it was part of a bigger project that did require a permit,. . .
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OK. So, consider your inspector's perspective when this is part of a permitted job. . .

Now, I'm with you in my reluctance to inflict AFCIs upon my customers. . . BUT, when the Code is invoked for installation compliance by your local AHJ, what is THEIR call for my OP scenario?

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al hildenbrand said:
OK. So, consider your inspector's perspective when this is part of a permitted job. . .

Now, I'm with you in my reluctance to inflict AFCIs upon my customers. . . BUT, when the Code is invoked for installation compliance by your local AHJ, what is THEIR call for my OP scenario?

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Most likely inspector here would say be that you changed the premises wiring, in doing so you moved the "outlet location", and/or added an additional device, and therefore the AFCI protection would be needed, and most likely GFCI protection is needed as well.
 
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