Code Compliant Way To Put Well Pump Circuit On Plug and Receptacle.

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Ravenvalor

Ravenvalor

Senior Member
Location
Piedmont region of NC
Hello,

I have a customer who wants to put his well pump circuit on a plug and receptacle so that he can plug it into his solar generator in the event of a power outage. Other than putting an interlock kit on the electrical panel and installing a power inlet box is there a code compliant way to put a plug and receptacle on a well circuit? This would also include the pressure tank. I am not seeing anywhere in the code that forbids this but I can foresee a lot of nuisance tripping of the GFCI receptacle. He has a 240-volt well pump but that outlet would have to be GFCI thanks to the new code.

Thank you for all of the guidance.
 
LarryFine

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
I think you can, like a furnace, but I would strongly prefer the interlock, which also allows for more loads.
 
mtnelect

mtnelect

HVAC & Electrical Contractor
Location
Southern California
Occupation
Contractor, C10 & C20 - Semi Retired
I see this many times on this forum ... Miss-application of using cords for connecting equipment. This attachment is from NEC 1919, certain code references might have been changed since then.
 

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  • Electrical Wiring - Furnaces .pdf
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PaulMmn

PaulMmn

Senior Member
Location
Union, KY, USA
Occupation
EIT - Engineer in Training, Lafayette College
Wouldn't it be simple enough to run a 3 prong outlet from the electrical panel and another from the PV, and put a plug on the end of the well pump? Plug into whichever power is available.
 
W

winnie

Senior Member
Location
Springfield, MA, USA
Occupation
Electric motor research
PaulMmn said:
Wouldn't it be simple enough to run a 3 prong outlet from the electrical panel and another from the PV, and put a plug on the end of the well pump? Plug into whichever power is available.
Click to expand...

That is what is proposed in the OP. The problem is that under current code the receptacle for the well pump would be required to be GFCI protected, and since the well pump is VFD based there is a strong chance of nuisance tripping.

There is also the code issue that if the 'pump' is actually a pump circuit, and this would make the cord part of the fixed wiring of the structure. This can be solved by using an 'inlet'.

-Jon
 
acrwc10

acrwc10

Master Code Professional
Location
CA
Occupation
Building inspector
LarryFine said:
I think you can, like a furnace, but I would strongly prefer the interlock, which also allows for more loads.
Click to expand...
I don't believe a Furnace qualifies as a cord connected appliance under the requirements of 400.10(A) specifically (6) & (8)
 
PaulMmn

PaulMmn

Senior Member
Location
Union, KY, USA
Occupation
EIT - Engineer in Training, Lafayette College
winnie said:
That is what is proposed in the OP. The problem is that under current code the receptacle for the well pump would be required to be GFCI protected, and since the well pump is VFD based there is a strong chance of nuisance tripping.

There is also the code issue that if the 'pump' is actually a pump circuit, and this would make the cord part of the fixed wiring of the structure. This can be solved by using an 'inlet'.

-Jon
Click to expand...
He was also talking about an interlock kit on the main panel... and I didn't see any mention of a VFD on the pump. My dad's house submersible pump just has a 240v circuit-- nothing special.
 
W

winnie

Senior Member
Location
Springfield, MA, USA
Occupation
Electric motor research
PaulMmn said:
He was also talking about an interlock kit on the main panel... and I didn't see any mention of a VFD on the pump. My dad's house submersible pump just has a 240v circuit-- nothing special.
Click to expand...

You are correct. I don't know why I thought he'd said VFD. Perhaps I was triggering on the idea of nuisance tripping.

A well pump on a hard wired 240V circuit does not require a GFCI, but I believe the OP is correct: add a plug and receptacle to power the well pump, and if that receptacle is in an unfinished basement or outdoors, and you are in GFCI land.

-Jon
 
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