Motor outlet

[Ryan Burnett]

Having a debate with someone on an electrical group about which point on the circuit is the outlet for a motor. Everything is in the same room and within sight. Panel, motor starter, motor and disconnect. Which piece of equipment is the outlet for the motor. Breaker serves as controller disconnect.

 

[ActionDave]

I'll go with motor starter.

 

[Ryan Burnett]

I'll go with motor starter.

I think it's the disconnect. Is the motor starter like a light switch? The light switch controls the lighting outlet. So the motor starter is like a switch controlling the motor outlet. Not saying you are wrong. Thoughts?

 

[ptonsparky]

I'll go with disconnect, because they must be HP rated as well.

 

[augie47]

IMO it would be where the motor is connected to the wiring system (J box, etc.)
Outlet. A point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment

 

[Jraef]

IMO it would be where the motor is connected to the wiring system (J box, etc.)
Outlet. A point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment

Yep, the last thing in the chain. If the disconnect goes right to the motor, then it’s the disconnect. If the motor starter load terminals go right to the motor, then it’s the motor starter. If there is a j-box ahead of the motor, it’s the j-box.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Yep, the last thing in the chain. If the disconnect goes right to the motor, then it’s the disconnect. If the motor starter load terminals go right to the motor, then it’s the motor starter. If there is a j-box ahead of the motor, it’s the j-box.

I agree that it is the last thing in the chain, but the last thing in the chain are the connections at the motor termination box. That is where the current leaves the wiring system and supplies the utilitazation equipment. Everything on the line side of the motor termination box is part of the wiring system.

 

[Jraef]

I would count the peckerhead AS part of the utilization equipment.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I would count the peckerhead AS part of the utilization equipment.

I understand, but the wiring system ends in the motor junction box and that is the outlet point. I see that the same for all equipment ...the outlet is the physical location where the electrician connects wires to the equipment.

 

[ptonsparky]

I understand, but the wiring system ends in the motor junction box and that is the outlet point. I see that the same for all equipment ...the outlet is the physical location where the electrician connects wires to the equipment.

So, I don't connect it, but provide everything up to and including the disconnect. The outlet is the disconnect until someone hooks up the motor?

 

[LarryFine]

It's where the branch circuit ends, of course.

 

[TwoBlocked]

I vote for wherever the motor leads are connected to the branch conductors. Usually it is the pecker head, but with long leads it might be a j-box.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

So, I don't connect it, but provide everything up to and including the disconnect. The outlet is the disconnect until someone hooks up the motor?

The physical connection to the equipment is the outlet. A disconnect is never an outlet. There is no outlet if the equipment has not been connected.

 

[kwired]

The outlet is where the premises wiring ends and the utilization equipment begins, sometimes there may be somewhat of an overlap, such as when conducotrs of the premises wiring enter the peckerhead.

Some special purpose motors might have long leads that get enclosed in flexible conduit to a junction box, disconnect, or enclosure containing the motor controller.

If the motor controller or even the disconnect/combination starter are actually part of the utilization equipment then the supply side conductors are the end of the premises wiring.

Bottom line is there is no exact location that is one size fits all here and the answer will vary from one application to another.