Electric pool heater disconnect

[FLE123]

I'm installing an electric pool heater that uses 2- 240v/50a circuits.
I understand 680.13 to say that I need a disconnect that will simultaneously disconnect all (4) ungrounded conductors.
4-pole disconnect? Or can I use 2 separate 2-pole disconnects?
Thanks for the help.

 

[solarelectricpros]

I would use two seperate 2 pulls - one for each heater unit

 

[JFletcher]

What code cycle are you on? And could you post the exact language of that section please? Thank you

 

[LarryFine]

Relevant, from the 2014 NEC:

680.12 Maintenance Disconnecting Means. One or more means to simultaneously disconnect all ungrounded conductors shall be provided for all utilization equipment other than lighting. Each means shall be readily accessible and within sight from its equipment ...

Hmm. I see your question. How can more than one means allow you to "simultaneously disconnect" all ungrounded conductors? Sub-panel with main? Almost seems like a poor modification to an earlier article.

 

[JFletcher]

Relevant, from the 2014 NEC:


Hmm. I see your question. How can more than one means allow you to "simultaneously disconnect" all ungrounded conductors? Sub-panel with main? Almost seems like a poor modification to an earlier article.

680.9 limits electric pool water heaters to 60 amp circuits... What about a handle tie across the two 2 pole 50a breakers in a readily accessible subpanel within sight of the pool, greater than 5 foot from the water's edge?

I asked about 680.13 because the 2008 NEC does not have that code section... Apparently neither does the 2014?

To the original poster, as I read article 680, two separate disconnects would not be up to code. A single 4 pole disconnect would be, though I have never attempted to see if such an animal exists or what its cost is... I would go with a subpanel at the pool with two 50 amp GFCI Breakers handle tied together.

That or an appropriately-sized feeder to a 100 + amp disconnect that meets the above requirements going to a subpanel with two 50 amp Breakers

 

[Dennis Alwon]

You can also run a feeder to a main breaker panel and then feed the 2 loads from that. The main would be the disconnect

 

[SceneryDriver]

I'm installing an electric pool heater that uses 2- 240v/50a circuits.
I understand 680.13 to say that I need a disconnect that will simultaneously disconnect all (4) ungrounded conductors.
4-pole disconnect? Or can I use 2 separate 2-pole disconnects?
Thanks for the help.

Square D makes 4-pole disconnects:

https://www.zoro.com/square-d-safety-switch-600vacdc-4pst-60-amps-ac-hu462awk/i/G6580402/?q=HU462

They're pricey, but they do exist. Probably best to contact your Schneider house to see if they can get you better pricing. A 125A subpanel with a main breaker, located within sight of the heater is probably cheaper though. The Square D disco is NEMA 1; is this an outdoor application? I'm almost positive I've seen these in NEMA 3R / NEMA4 enclosures as well.

Baco Controls also sells 60A 3P disconnect switches that you can add additional poles to. I just did that, actually; I needed to shut off four poles simultaneously for a control panel I recently designed. They're DIN rail mounted, and you'd need to fab an enclosure. Still probably less than half the cost if the Square D disco I linked to above.


SceneryDriver

 

[FLE123]

Square D makes 4-pole disconnects:

https://www.zoro.com/square-d-safety-switch-600vacdc-4pst-60-amps-ac-hu462awk/i/G6580402/?q=HU462

They're pricey, but they do exist. Probably best to contact your Schneider house to see if they can get you better pricing. A 125A subpanel with a main breaker, located within sight of the heater is probably cheaper though. The Square D disco is NEMA 1; is this an outdoor application? I'm almost positive I've seen these in NEMA 3R / NEMA4 enclosures as well.

Baco Controls also sells 60A 3P disconnect switches that you can add additional poles to. I just did that, actually; I needed to shut off four poles simultaneously for a control panel I recently designed. They're DIN rail mounted, and you'd need to fab an enclosure. Still probably less than half the cost if the Square D disco I linked to above.


SceneryDriver

I saw that part and yes it's pricey. I thought about a 4-pole motor disconnect in a type 3R panel but this is getting a little involved for a pool heater. I think I'll go with the subpanel K.I.S.S.