received a call yesterday...homeowner air conditioning unit had stopped working! My license restricts me from performing A/C work, but I went out to verify voltage at unit...fused disconnect at outside unit had correct voltage, but no fuses! Two pieces of copper pipe slipped in place of cartridge fuses! Brought this to homeowners attention! He said A/C tech did this when unit was replaced three years ago! Said it was common! To me, a fused disconnect should have fuses! If not, replace it with a non-fused one!! Told homeowner to call his A/C contractor! Is this common?
copper tubing in disconnect
- Thread starter wildman
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ryan_618
Senior Member
- Location
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: copper tubing in disconnect
If the A/C guy has a license, I would turn him into the agency that governs licensure in a heartbeat!
If the A/C guy has a license, I would turn him into the agency that governs licensure in a heartbeat!
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
Re: copper tubing in disconnect
I don't like the use of the copper tubing for this purpose but as long as the feeder breaker protects the branch what would be wrong with doing this? Its still a disconnecting means and the circuit is still protected.
I don't like the use of the copper tubing for this purpose but as long as the feeder breaker protects the branch what would be wrong with doing this? Its still a disconnecting means and the circuit is still protected.
bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: copper tubing in disconnect
I'm sure it violates the listing of the disconnect, besides, how do you calculate the AIC/AIR rating of copper tubing? During a fault the copper tubbing could possibly blow up, melt, vaporize, or some other bad thing that breakers, switches, and fuses are designed not to do.
I'm sure it violates the listing of the disconnect, besides, how do you calculate the AIC/AIR rating of copper tubing? During a fault the copper tubbing could possibly blow up, melt, vaporize, or some other bad thing that breakers, switches, and fuses are designed not to do.
charlie
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis
Re: copper tubing in disconnect
Is it the correct size? If it is too small, a loose connection could occur inside the fuse clips. Most (all?) of the fuse manufacturers make slugs for fuse holders for corner grounded systems. Why not use a listed component?
Is it the correct size? If it is too small, a loose connection could occur inside the fuse clips. Most (all?) of the fuse manufacturers make slugs for fuse holders for corner grounded systems. Why not use a listed component?
Re: copper tubing in disconnect
sorry for the inconvenience....lunar eclipse was spectacular......I personally would not use copper tubing in a fused disconnected....Is it permitted? I really do not know! I believe by modifying the disconnect, you would void the manufacturers warranty! It is true, in this case, the 30 amp breaker feeding the disconnect will protect the circuit, but at what current rating is the tubing? Most of the disconnects I have seen lately are of the non-fusable kind...in this application! Would not want to "turn someone in" if the application of tubing were indeed permissible! Will drop a few hints to the local AHJ, also A/C contractor and see what pops out!!! wildman
sorry for the inconvenience....lunar eclipse was spectacular......I personally would not use copper tubing in a fused disconnected....Is it permitted? I really do not know! I believe by modifying the disconnect, you would void the manufacturers warranty! It is true, in this case, the 30 amp breaker feeding the disconnect will protect the circuit, but at what current rating is the tubing? Most of the disconnects I have seen lately are of the non-fusable kind...in this application! Would not want to "turn someone in" if the application of tubing were indeed permissible! Will drop a few hints to the local AHJ, also A/C contractor and see what pops out!!! wildman
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
Re: copper tubing in disconnect
I'm not sure what kind of disconnect it is but many can be field modified to remove the fuseblock entirely. like I said before, I am not overjoyed with using copper tubing for this purpose but I would also not get all that worked up about it. in the scheme of things, it seems like a relatively minor thing.Originally posted by charlie:
Is it the correct size? If it is too small, a loose connection could occur inside the fuse clips. Most (all?) of the fuse manufacturers make slugs for fuse holders for corner grounded systems. Why not use a listed component?
problemsolver600
Member
- Location
- South Chicago suburbs
Re: copper tubing in disconnect
It seemed like a minor thing when the New Jersey Port Authority allowed the Not-so-bright Security Agency to skip background checks on personnel (sp)at the airport in New York, kind of an acceptable risk thinking. Since 9/11, I don't think looking the other way is a good thing. It is right or it is wrong. Product modification can buy you a great deal of trouble. It is much better to ask for another opinion, or AHJ oversight, than to let a sloppy atttitude continue. I found a water softener in a crawl space in a new house with no outlet in the crawl space, connected to an extension cord run through a hole drilled in the rim joist and plugged into the garage. Code enforcement checked on the company practices, and put them out of business. I do sleep better.
It seemed like a minor thing when the New Jersey Port Authority allowed the Not-so-bright Security Agency to skip background checks on personnel (sp)at the airport in New York, kind of an acceptable risk thinking. Since 9/11, I don't think looking the other way is a good thing. It is right or it is wrong. Product modification can buy you a great deal of trouble. It is much better to ask for another opinion, or AHJ oversight, than to let a sloppy atttitude continue. I found a water softener in a crawl space in a new house with no outlet in the crawl space, connected to an extension cord run through a hole drilled in the rim joist and plugged into the garage. Code enforcement checked on the company practices, and put them out of business. I do sleep better.
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