Heat Pump Service Outlet

[asphalt]

I'm the electrical administrator for an HVAC company and have taken a few code classes for the 2014 NEC, but am still not too clear on a few things.

We're required to install a service outlet for outdoor equipment within 25' of the unit. With the new requirement for garage circuits being dedicated to garage outlets only, I assume that I cannot pull the service outlet off the garage circuit anymore. Does this apply to existing circuits as well? Meaning, a house that was wired in the 1990's and has a GFCI protected circuit for the garage, can I come off that circuit to feed an outside service receptacle or does the 2014 code now forbid that?

Also, if we are doing a new install of an outdoor unit, and I am pulling a 240v circuit to the location and an existing outlet is already within 25' of the outdoor unit location, do I need to bring the existing outlet up to current code?

Thanks in advance for any help or info.

 

[mopowr steve]

I'm the electrical administrator for an HVAC company and have taken a few code classes for the 2014 NEC, but am still not too clear on a few things.

We're required to install a service outlet for outdoor equipment within 25' of the unit. With the new requirement for garage circuits being dedicated to garage outlets only, I assume that I cannot pull the service outlet off the garage circuit anymore. Does this apply to existing circuits as well? Meaning, a house that was wired in the 1990's and has a GFCI protected circuit for the garage, can I come off that circuit to feed an outside service receptacle or does the 2014 code now forbid that?

Also, if we are doing a new install of an outdoor unit, and I am pulling a 240v circuit to the location and an existing outlet is already within 25' of the outdoor unit location, do I need to bring the existing outlet up to current code?

Thanks in advance for any help or info.

As I read it, it's a NO to put the exterior service receptacle on the garage circuit.
Ive been using a A/C disconnect from Seimens that has a service GFCI receptacle incorporated under its cover. You'll just have to find another circuit to pick it up from (as long as it it's not a SABC ) or pull home run to it.
And as far as I know any receptacle within 25' qualifies for use as a (receptacle available for service use)

 

[JDB3]

I am not up to the 2014 code yet, but I do not recall that the garage circuit has to remain in the garage, except, perhaps the garage door opener circuit. But, as has been said, a receptacle with 25 feet should meet this requirement, as lonf as it is outside, & on the same plane.

 

[asphalt]

Thankyou for the replies. That is pretty much what I thought, but it's nice to have some confirmation.

 

[kwired]

I'm the electrical administrator for an HVAC company and have taken a few code classes for the 2014 NEC, but am still not too clear on a few things.

We're required to install a service outlet for outdoor equipment within 25' of the unit. With the new requirement for garage circuits being dedicated to garage outlets only, I assume that I cannot pull the service outlet off the garage circuit anymore. Does this apply to existing circuits as well? Meaning, a house that was wired in the 1990's and has a GFCI protected circuit for the garage, can I come off that circuit to feed an outside service receptacle or does the 2014 code now forbid that?

Also, if we are doing a new install of an outdoor unit, and I am pulling a 240v circuit to the location and an existing outlet is already within 25' of the outdoor unit location, do I need to bring the existing outlet up to current code?

Thanks in advance for any help or info.

The NEC doesn't specifically say you must add a receptacle for a new air conditioner/refrigeration unit, nor does it say an existing one needs to be updated if it doesn't meet current codes. You may find local rules that say otherwise though. GFCI protection, proper weatherproof cover, TR, WR, or even non grounding type receptacles are all common issues that could maybe come up that are not necessarily in compliance with current code. Nothing in NEC states that you need to change them if existing, but also consider if you are replacing an existing receptacle for some reason - you may need to update some or all of those mentioned items.

I am not up to the 2014 code yet, but I do not recall that the garage circuit has to remain in the garage, except, perhaps the garage door opener circuit. But, as has been said, a receptacle with 25 feet should meet this requirement, as lonf as it is outside, & on the same plane.

You are correct - before 2014 no restrictions on what is on a circuit with a garage receptacle, but there was a change in 2014, and garage receptacles can not have other outlets on the circuit - maybe garage lighting is an exception would need to double check, but no more hitting an outside outlet near the garage from the interior garage receptacles, which was pretty common practice. I think that electric vehicle charging is part of the reason for the change, and they want more dedication of loads to specific circuits for that reason. I'm not all that certain that this is the right way to go about handling EV's but that is what we have for now in the 2014.