Motor Operated Appliance Rated Over 1/8 HP- 2014 vs 2017

[xguard]

I will have an air handler unit in a mechanical room with a 2+ h.p. motor (project in design). The air handler unit will be powered from a panel in the mechanical room that it's located in and I was planning on using the breaker in the panel as the disconnect.

In the 2014 NEC I read 422.31 (C) Motor-Operated Appliances Rated over 1/8 HP as allowing the branch circuit breaker to serve as the disconnecting means if it is within sight from the appliance.

In the 2017 NEC it looks like this language is gone for over 1/8 HP appliances. So 2014 I could have used the branch circuit breaker (for me a breaker in a panel) as the disconnect but for the 2017 code I can not?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

This is from the 2017

(C) Motor-Operated Appliances Rated over 1∕8 Horsepower.
The disconnecting means shall comply with 430.109 and
430.110. For permanently connected motor-operated appliances
with motors rated over 1∕8 hp, the disconnecting means shall
be within sight from the appliance or be capable of being
locked in the open position in compliance with 110.25.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

The 2014 didn't allow a lockable

(C) Motor-Operated Appliances Rated over 1⁄8 Horsepower.
The disconnecting means shall comply with
430.109 and 430.110. For permanently connected motoroperated
appliances with motors rated over 1⁄8 hp, the disconnecting
means shall meet 422.31(C)(1) or (2).

(1) The branch-circuit switch or circuit breaker shall be
permitted to serve as the disconnecting means where
the switch or circuit breaker is within sight from the
appliance.

(2) The disconnecting means shall be installed within sight
of the appliance.

Exception: If an appliance of more than 1⁄8 hp is provided
with a unit switch that complies with 422.34(A), (B), (C), or
(D), the switch or circuit breaker serving as the other disconnecting
means shall be permitted to be out of sight from
the appliance.

 

[xguard]

It looks like the allowance for the branch circuit breaker to be used as the disconnect has been removed. That was my question.

 

[infinity]

Here are the two sections for comparison:

2017:
422.31(C) Motor-Operated Appliances Rated over 1 ∕ 8 Horsepower.
The disconnecting means shall comply with 430.109 and 430.110. For permanently connected motor-operated appliances with motors rated over 1 ∕8 hp, the disconnecting means shall be within sight from the appliance or be capable of being locked in the open position in compliance with 110.25.

Exception: If an appliance of more than 1 ∕ 8 hp is provided with a unit
switch that complies with 422.34(A), (B), (C), or (D), the switch or
circuit breaker serving as the other disconnecting means shall be permit‐
ted to be out of sight from the appliance.

2014:
422.31(C) Motor-Operated Appliances Rated over 1 ⁄ 8 Horsepower.
The disconnecting means shall comply with 430.109 and 430.110. For permanently connected motor-operated appliances with motors rated over 1/8 hp, the disconnecting means shall meet 422.31(C)(1) or (2).
(1) The branch-circuit switch or circuit breaker shall be permitted to serve as the disconnecting means where
the switch or circuit breaker is within sight from the appliance.
(2) The disconnecting means shall be installed within sight of the appliance.

Exception: If an appliance of more than 1 ⁄ 8 hp is provided with a unit switch that complies with 422.34(A), (B), (C), or
(D), the switch or circuit breaker serving as the other disconnecting means shall be permitted to be out of sight from
the appliance

 

[xguard]

I think I get it now. I may have lost my marbles momentarily...again. Thanks!

 

[Dennis Alwon]

It looks like the allowance for the branch circuit breaker to be used as the disconnect has been removed. That was my question.

It wasn't removed.. the 2011 and the 2014 did not allow it but the 2017 and 2020 does allow it as long as there is a breaker lock on it

 

[xguard]

It wasn't removed.. the 2011 and the 2014 did not allow it but the 2017 and 2020 does allow it as long as there is a breaker lock on it

2014:
422.31(C) Motor-Operated Appliances Rated over 1 ⁄ 8 Horsepower.
The disconnecting means shall comply with 430.109 and 430.110. For permanently connected motor-operated appliances with motors rated over 1/8 hp, the disconnecting means shall meet 422.31(C)(1) or (2).
(1) The branch-circuit switch or circuit breaker shall be permitted to serve as the disconnecting means where
the switch or circuit breaker is within sight from the appliance.
(2) The disconnecting means shall be installed within sight of the appliance.

 

[kwired]

It wasn't removed.. the 2011 and the 2014 did not allow it but the 2017 and 2020 does allow it as long as there is a breaker lock on it

Technicalities - before you had to have disconnect within sight of the appliance. Now it can be the branch circuit device but must have lock provisions if not within sight of the appliance. I don't believe you can have a disconnect that is lockable but not within sight of the appliance unless it is the branch circuit device for that appliance.

2014 would not have prohibited a lock on the breaker but you couldn't call that the required disconnecting means if not also within sight of the appliance.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

2014:
422.31(C) Motor-Operated Appliances Rated over 1 ⁄ 8 Horsepower.
The disconnecting means shall comply with 430.109 and 430.110. For permanently connected motor-operated appliances with motors rated over 1/8 hp, the disconnecting means shall meet 422.31(C)(1) or (2).
(1) The branch-circuit switch or circuit breaker shall be permitted to serve as the disconnecting means where
the switch or circuit breaker is within sight from the appliance.
(2) The disconnecting means shall be installed within sight of the appliance.

Read the exception

 

[xguard]

Read the exception

I don't see anything in the exception that doesn't allow the branch circuit breaker to be used as the disconnect as long as it is within sight.

 

[Jraef]

Also, pay attention to the definition of "within sight". Just because a breaker panel is in the same room does not automatically mean it qualifies. The concept behind this is that if someone is about to open the connection box of that motor, they can, from where the equipment is located, look at the Lock-Out point and visually confirm that the disconnect means is Off and locked before proceeding. If they have to bend around a corner or come down from a ladder to see it or it is more than 50ft away, the panel breaker does not qualify, even if it can be locked out (unless it is an industrial facility under engineering supervision with established safety procedures, etc.)

Also, at 2+HP, does it have or need a separate motor starter anyway? Larger motors, even single phase, often need external Overload Protection. If so, even a simple Manual Motor Starter can provide you with a locking means.