The owner wants me to install electrical equipment in a small underground vault. There is no drain and no sump for a sump pump. The only place I can find that addresses floor drains is 450.46 for a vault containing more than 100kVA of transformer capacity and 680.11. Is there anywhere that requires a drain?
drain in eletrical vault
- Thread starter wyboy
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stickboy1375
Senior Member
- Location
- Litchfield, CT
Common sense?
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
The electrical equipment has to be rated for the enviroment. Not sure what state you are in, but here a vault is damp or wet, so NEMA 4X, PVC is best. Also does this electrical equipment require working space? Then it could be a large vault with 6-6" min headroom.
I have done a lot of concrete vaults. And gone back and wired for sump pumps. I like the precast concrete vaults with a small sump for the pump. I have also seen a lot of pumps fail, they last about ten years.
I have done a lot of concrete vaults. And gone back and wired for sump pumps. I like the precast concrete vaults with a small sump for the pump. I have also seen a lot of pumps fail, they last about ten years.
beanland
Senior Member
- Location
- Vancouver, WA
Failure guaranteed
Failure guaranteed
Electric utilities seldom install sump pumps in vaults because they are guaranteed to fail. Everything in their vault is rated for submersible use. If the equipment is not submersible rated, it should not be in a vault. However, you can prolong the life of some devices by pumping the water. Locate the sump pump where it is easily removed and use flexible cable and hose to allow lifting the pump out without entering the vault. Locate the disconnect where it is accessible or, if remote, make sure it is lockable.
Failure guaranteed
Electric utilities seldom install sump pumps in vaults because they are guaranteed to fail. Everything in their vault is rated for submersible use. If the equipment is not submersible rated, it should not be in a vault. However, you can prolong the life of some devices by pumping the water. Locate the sump pump where it is easily removed and use flexible cable and hose to allow lifting the pump out without entering the vault. Locate the disconnect where it is accessible or, if remote, make sure it is lockable.
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