Minimum required distance to bottom of AC Disconnect???

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jango

jango

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Is there a minimum requirement for the distance from a deck floor to the bottom of an AC Disconnect? I can't seem to find anything in the code book and I've been asked to keep it as low as possible, about 18" to the bottom from ground/deck floor. Any help would be appreciated...
 
"How Low Can You Go?!?"

Two great minds for but a single thought! Personally, I like to keep them at about 4' off the grade. That way I don't have to lay down in the mud/snow/water to install them, like the thread stickboy linked to. Plus, it makes it nice for the AC tech if he ever needs to work on the unit, he doesn't have to lay down either.

Why are you being asked to keep it so low, though. Asthetics?
 
480sparky said:
"How Low Can You Go?!?"

Two great minds for but a single thought! Personally, I like to keep them at about 4' off the grade. That way I don't have to lay down in the mud/snow/water to install them, like the thread stickboy linked to. Plus, it makes it nice for the AC tech if he ever needs to work on the unit, he doesn't have to lay down either.

Why are you being asked to keep it so low, though. Asthetics?
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Exactly, asthetics!!! I like to go higher just from a servicing standpoint, but with the disconnect at 18" to the bottom from the deck floor, I certainly don't have to lay down to work on it. Just need to be on my knees, which isn't uncomfortable.
 
480sparky said:
"How Low Can You Go?!?"

Two great minds for but a single thought! Personally, I like to keep them at about 4' off the grade. T?
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4' is a little high for me, but I'll tell ya what I do, whatever height the box is to drill into the basement is the height the disco goes... ;)
 
jango said:
Exactly, asthetics!!! I like to go higher just from a servicing standpoint, but with the disconnect at 18" to the bottom from the deck floor, I certainly don't have to lay down to work on it. Just need to be on my knees, which isn't uncomfortable.
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You only need to wire it once anyways... then c-ya!!!
 
Yeah , that little disconnect is butt ugly when compared to that beautiful condenser unit. Give me a break:roll: . That said I mount them about the same height as the top of unit.
 
M. D. said:
Yeah , that little disconnect is butt ugly when compared to that beautiful condenser unit. Give me a break:roll: . That said I mount them about the same height as the top of unit.
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I would have to agree with M.D. on this one.
 
stickboy1375 said:
You only need to wire it once anyways... then c-ya!!!
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That was my thought. Wire it, check for voltage and close the cover. Now it's the AC guys' problem.
 
480sparky said:
They tell me there's a minimum!! :D
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I don't blame you for that-- I never give them a choice and I would probably say there is a minimum if they asked.

If you live in the NE one would have to take the snow accumulation into consideration.

I have used that reasoning here in NC but that was years ago.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
If you live in the NE one would have to take the snow accumulation into consideration.
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Dennis, not sure I follow you, how would the box covered in snow change anything? You could have it 4' and it could still get buried...
 
stickboy1375 said:
Dennis, not sure I follow you, how would the box covered in snow change anything? You could have it 4' and it could still get buried...
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I am just saying that I would keep it up as high as 3' to protect against most snow accumulation. I realize one doesn't have to but if I have to work on it I am not going to lay down in the snow.
 
Snow accumulation isn't really a concern. Around here at times the entire AC unit is buried under snow. If a driving rain isn't a problem than a little snow won't hurt a bit.:rolleyes:
 
cowboyjwc said:
Besides if there's snow on the ground and someone is worried that their AC isn't working, you folks back east are crazier than I thought.:D
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LMAO, Thanks for the good laugh. :grin:
 
cowboyjwc said:
Besides if there's snow on the ground and someone is worried that their AC isn't working, you folks back east are crazier than I thought.:D
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We may be nuts but we also have heat pumps which work in the winter. :smile:
 
my take is that the disconnect still has to be fit for the intended use. So, if you regularly get 2 feet of snow, then wouldn't mounting it below 2' mean that it needs to be listed to be submerged ? lol
 
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