controller confusion 430 .101 &102.

[Tibz78]

I'm a little confused on how far away I can place a motor controller from the motor.
I know the disconnecting means has to be within sight of controller but it doesn't state how far the controller can be from motor.
The problem is the location of the controller has no clearance for maintenance and if someone needs to check the coil voltage or contacts there is no room. I tried to attach photos, hopefully you can view them.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

There is no limit, other than excessive costs and voltage drop, on the distance that the controller can be from the motor. If the controller disconnect is not within sight from the motor, in most cases, an additional disconnect will be required at the motor (within sight from the motor).
The existing installation is a 110.25(A) violation as you do not have code required work space.

 

[Tibz78]

The disconnects and controllers will be within the 25' range and well within sight of the motors. The other thing is this is all original wiring and is on a moulded circuit breaker. I was going to nipple off the side of the panel to the motor controller and pipe into the trough, change over to liquid tight to the motor. I don't like the idea of using the old breaker as my means of disconnect, I think a better application would be to use a disconnect that can be locked out.