Do I need to provide a convenience receptacle within 25' of a Nema box that has an A/C unit inside of it to keep the equipment inside of the box from overheating. All the equipment in the box is DC including the A/C unit. The reason I am asking is because the boxes are located in not readily accessible areas outside. Anybody that would be working on the equipment in the box would not be using any tools with cords since that would create a safety hazard.
Service Receptacle for A/C Unit
- Thread starter aa1982
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- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
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- Retired Electrical Contractor
I don't believe the code gives an exception for that so IMO the receptacle is required. You can ask the authority having jurisdiction but it is simpler to just add a receptacle
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
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- EC
Interesting, as most people generally only think of a heat pump, central air, or air handler or commercial refrigeration units when applying this rule, but the way it is worded the OP could have a small heater inside his cabinet the only purpose being to prevent condensation and the rule should still apply.
Any equipment with refrigerant compressors generally will need power for servicing if refrigerant ever needs pumped, or to draw vacuum on refrigerant lines for normal servicing, but most other HVAC may never require electric power for common servicing procedures. This statement is just a general statement and has nothing to do with whether the code is right or wrong with its requirement of a receptacle for servicing this equipment.
Something tells me that the cooling equipment in the OP's case would be removed to be serviced(or even just replaced) if it were not working and the receptacle may never be used for such service work.
Any equipment with refrigerant compressors generally will need power for servicing if refrigerant ever needs pumped, or to draw vacuum on refrigerant lines for normal servicing, but most other HVAC may never require electric power for common servicing procedures. This statement is just a general statement and has nothing to do with whether the code is right or wrong with its requirement of a receptacle for servicing this equipment.
Something tells me that the cooling equipment in the OP's case would be removed to be serviced(or even just replaced) if it were not working and the receptacle may never be used for such service work.
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