Deep well pump

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old electron

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I apologize if this has been covered and I missed it, but Does a deep well pump require GFCI protection and under what rule in the NEC would I find this? This is in a residential application.

Old Electron
 
I have moved this thread from the hazardous location forum to the NEC forum so it will get more views. The application that you mentioned in your post would not be a hazardous location.

Chris
 
old electron said:
I apologize if this has been covered and I missed it, but Does a deep well pump require GFCI protection and under what rule in the NEC would I find this? This is in a residential application.

Old Electron
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Does the installation instructions require GFCI protection?

There is no NEC requirement (other than possibly 110.3(B)) that a residential well pump be GFCI protected.

Chris
 
Thanks Chris, I was going to move it myself after I finished responding to another thread.
 
If you have a receptacle in a residential application that is required to be GFCI protected, and you plug the pump into it, then yes.
Otherwise no. Most well pumps are hard wired.
 
tom baker said:
If you have a receptacle in a residential application that is required to be GFCI protected, and you plug the pump into it, then yes.
Otherwise no. Most well pumps are hard wired.
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Agreed, a cord and plug connect sump pump in an unfinished residential basement for example, would require that the receptacle be GFCI protected in accordance with 210.8(A)(5).

Chris
 
old electron said:
I apologize if this has been covered and I missed it, but Does a deep well pump require GFCI protection and under what rule in the NEC would I find this? This is in a residential application.

Old Electron
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Even though it may not be specifically covered but you may glance at other equipment requirements that are similar installation, such as (swimming) pool or marina. The pump is normally submerged and is susceptible to ground faults.

Perhaps not GFCI but GFP.
 
Laszlo, those applications you mention require GFCI due to a person being in the water near the pump. Thats not the case with this pump, assuming its a water supply application.
 
Water is not a conductor. There is no GFCI/GFPE requirement for a down well electric pump. Just make sure there is an equipment grounding conductor with the feeder and bond as required at the sanitary seal. It will be code and manufacturer compliant..
 
Minuteman said:
Correct me if I'm wrong (and I'm sure somebody would), but water isn't conductive, but the minerals and such that are in the water are conductive.
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You are correct water is not conductive, it is the "salts" and minerals in the water. Swimming pools conduct because they have a lot of impurity's in the water.
 
neutral said:
How conductive is water? Why don't the breaker trip when the element blows apart in an electric water heater?
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I have been at one of Mike Holts seminars where this question comes up, he plunges a live plug strip into a picture of water and drinks from it.
Pure water is non conductive. Drinking water would be very low conductivity, depending mainly on the dissolved minerals.
 
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