GFCI Protection for 240V outlets

[leonr]

Does the NEC require GFCI protection for 240V outlets in an inaccessible but wet location? A Village wants to install 240V LED Holiday lights on existing light poles, and the circuits are 240V. The outlet would be installed at a height of 19' with an inuse cover.

 

[charlie b]

We generally think of GFCI protection as being required only for 125 volt rated systems, and for receptacles rated 15 or 20 amps. But I think 590.6(B)(1) comes into play in your installation. So my answer is somewhere between a "definite maybe" and a "provisional yes." This issue has been debated here before. I think that if your outlet is there on a temporary basis, then you are into 590.6. But if the outlet will be a permanent installation (i.e., conduit and boxes and all that article 300 might require), and it is only the holiday lights that are there on a temporary basis, then perhaps 590.6 may not be not a player. Tough call.

 

[leonr]

Thank you for the insight. The outlets are permanent, and I have no reason to assume any risk, therefore I will proceed with in line GFCI protection. Also, the decorations will be installed by non-electricians.

 

[hurk27]

Thank you for the insight. The outlets are permanent, and I have no reason to assume any risk, therefore I will proceed with in line GFCI protection. Also, the decorations will be installed by non-electricians.

Portable plug in GFCI cord sets are allowed by 590.6(A)(2) but we all know that the first time they trip from rain they will be disconnected, I would make sure the pole has an EGC run to each pole, as we know many times this is not done especially if the poles are installed and wired by the utility, keep in mine that if someone gets hurt you could wind up in court even if you follow the code, you might win in the end but it can be a hassle.

Also if these poles are supplied by the utility and are unmetered (flat rate billing) make sure the town has approval from the utility for the installation of these receptacles as they would increase the amount of wattage usage and the utility might want to adjust for it, otherwise it can be considered theft even if the town owns the poles if they are flat rate billed then you are not allowed to add loads to them, we had this happen in a subdivision when one of our guys added some lights to a entry sign off the street lighting circuit but no one contacted the utility to add the wattage into the billing, it was a legal mess.

As for receptacles on flat rate billing its a no no, it has to have a metered service for receptacles as anyone could plug in loads and there would be no accountability.

Not to scare ya just some food for thought when getting into these kind of jobs.