Placement of sump pump recept?

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jjhoward

jjhoward

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Location
Northern NJ
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Owner TJ Electric
I am working on a lake front house with a well pit below the floor of the garage (now converted into a den). Originally, the pit housed only the well head for the water to the house. The GC had a sump installed and asked me to provide power. Installing the receptacle in the pit is possible but there is significant moisture always and the pit may flood to the top during heavy rain. Is there any legal way to route the cord of the sump pump to a wall outlet above the pit? The pit is only 12" from a corner of the room. The pump cord could reach but is it legal to run a cord for an appliance under and through the floor to a wall receptalce? Thanks.
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

Joe,

Instead of trying to get the cord to the power,could you get the power closer to the pump?
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

Originally posted by jjhoward:
Is there any legal way to route the cord of the sump pump to a wall outlet above the pit?
Click to expand...
That's the only way I know to do it. :)

You've put them in the hole?
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

Hi George,
The well head was there. The sump pump is a new addition. Is it legal to run the cord for the sump pump under the floor and then through the floor to use a wall outlet for power?

Ben, yes I can install a wall recept. close to the sump, above the pit.

Joe
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

400.8 Uses Not Permitted.
Unless specifically permitted in 400.7, flexible cords and cables shall not be used for the following:

(1) As a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure

(2) Where run through holes in walls, structural ceilings, suspended ceilings, dropped ceilings, or floors

[ January 10, 2006, 06:36 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

Bob, thank you for the NEC ref.
So...what do I do with this sump pump?
The pit is in this finished room. There is a steel door installed in the subfloor for access. If I install a receptacle in the pit, below the door, it is likely to get wet. There is a wall only 12" away where I can install a wall receptacle, but the cord would then be routed from the pit, under floor to get over the to wall and then up through the floor to the receptacle. I have left a vmail with the local AHJ, but no reply yet. Any ideas would be great.
George, I have to cover some horizontal distance to get to the wall, so it is under the floor.
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

The inspector suggested cutting the cord, splicing it to a length of UF in a "water-proof box" (I don't know of any water-proof boxes, maybe water resistant...). Run the UF up to a switch on the wall.
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

He is asking you to possibly alter a UL listed piece of equipment, and then create another violation by using the cord for fixed wiring as Bob already posted for you in 400.8(1).
Why don't you install the receptacle in the location under the "hatch"?
If the moisture problem is too much for you, install an "inuse" cover.

[ January 10, 2006, 09:16 PM: Message edited by: pierre ]
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

Originally posted by jjhoward:
George, I have to cover some horizontal distance to get to the wall, so it is under the floor.
Click to expand...
Why can't you pop out the top of the pit, travel the 12" in plain sight and plug in?

I'm with Pierre. Install the receptacle in the crawlspace.

Are you concerned about the receptacle being in a wet location, or just subject to the humidity of a damp location?
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

Hello Pierre,
The concern I have with installing an in-use box in the pit, is that it may become submerged. I have seen this pit full of water during heavy rain. The sump pump will be running when the water comes in, but the lay of the land around the house and where the sump is discharging may result in that pit still flooding. Is a code compliant receptacle that is likely to be submerged better than what the inspector has suggested?
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

George, the pit is a pit, not anyplace to crawl. It was there only for the well head, then the sump pump was dropped in it last week. The pit is 2' square and 4' deep. The sides are block that I can shoot lags into to mount a box, but that pit will fill with water during heavy rain.
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

Originally posted by jjhoward:
The pit is 2' square and 4' deep.

The sides are block that I can shoot lags into to mount a box, but that pit will fill with water during heavy rain.
Click to expand...
How about this style pump:
08303033000-190.jpg

Pedestal Sump Pump
This one, from Sears, is 32" high and requires a 12" dia. hole.
This pump has an 8' cord and will move 58 gal/minute (1/3 hp).

A better version is this one:
08330349000-190.jpg

Pretty much same specs as above, but will move 84 gals/minute (1/2 hp).

Both run at 115v, 15A.

I don't understand how the pit would ever FILL with water...the sump's job is to eject the water from the pit BEFORE it over flows???


BTW, I just installed a sump pump at my own house. Pit is 4' deep, with a 1' layer of stone at the bottom (effectively 3' from pump base). I can plug my pump right into an outlet that is mounted on the foundation wall.

EDIT: Added stainless version.

[ January 11, 2006, 12:42 AM: Message edited by: celtic ]
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

I don't understand how the pit would ever FILL with water...the sump's job is to eject the water from the pit BEFORE it over flows???
Click to expand...
The specifics of this site is the problem. Normally, the top of this pit is about 3" above the level of the lake that the house faces. During heavy rain, if the lake level goes up, this pit will fill up in spite of pumping. I guess I shouldn't worry about that scenario. There is nothing I can do about a flood prone site.
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

If the pit overflows the room is going to flood anyway. Sounds like a real odd setup.
 
Re: Placement of sump pump recept?

If the pit overflows the room is going to flood anyway. Sounds like a real odd setup.
Click to expand...
Yup, odd is being kind. When this room was a garage, it wasn't too bad if the floor was flooded. Making this area living space was just dumb. The new owners' plan here is to flip the house ASAP and never look back.
 
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