sump pump code

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mbernh001

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I am a safety manager for telecom company and wonder if there is a NEC code that states a homes sump pump must be plugged into to single outlet recepticle? Some installers are plugging our equipment into duplex outlets and was wondering if this OK?
 
mbernh001 said:
I am a safety manager for telecom company and wonder if there is a NEC code that states a homes sump pump must be plugged into to single outlet recepticle? Some installers are plugging our equipment into duplex outlets and was wondering if this OK?
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It's fine depending on where the sump-pump is located, and what year NEC you are going by.
 
stickboy1375 said:
It's fine depending on where the sump-pump is located, and what year NEC you are going by.
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Can you quote an article on this? I don't recall any NEC requirements for a dwelling unit sump pump receptacle. :-?
 
every cord-and-plug sump i've ever worked w/ had two plugs, but one had a recep on the back of it for the other to plug into; i use a duplex, put one in each so the in-use cover will close. yours only have one plug?
 
brantmacga said:
every cord-and-plug sump i've ever worked w/ had two plugs, but one had a recep on the back of it for the other to plug into; i use a duplex, put one in each so the in-use cover will close. yours only have one plug?
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You're kidding, right?
 
brantmacga said:
every cord-and-plug sump i've ever worked w/ had two plugs, but one had a recep on the back of it for the other to plug into; i use a duplex, put one in each so the in-use cover will close. yours only have one plug?
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You might want to read the instructions next time...
 
brantmacga said:
every cord-and-plug sump i've ever worked w/ had two plugs, but one had a recep on the back of it for the other to plug into; i use a duplex, put one in each so the in-use cover will close. yours only have one plug?
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You must be talking about a pump with float switches. If you plug both cords into an energized recep you will short the circuit when the float switch is activated.

It is possible to do what you are saying if you change the config. of the wiring to the recep. I am not sure how legal that is but one could wire the lower half of the recep. hot with the feed then the corresponding neutral terminal would travel to the hot of the upper recep. The float switch would have to be plugged into the bottom and the pump into the top, however what would insure that it gets installed like that the second time. Not a good idea.

I'd love to know what you did because I can't see how it would work. Think about why their are two plugs and one piggy backs into the other.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
You must be talking about a pump with float switches. If you plug both cords into an energized recep you will short the circuit when the float switch is activated.
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No short circuit possible.

The pump would run continuously.
 
iwire said:
No short circuit possible.

The pump would run continuously.
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Bob, if I plug a float switch into a receptacle (120 volts ) and the switch gets activated by rising water, then can you expalin what would happen if a short would not occur.

I agree the pump will run continuously
 
Dennis Alwon said:
Bob, if I plug a float switch into a receptacle (120 volts ) and the switch gets activated by rising water, then can you expalin what would happen if a short would not occur.ly
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Dennis I know you know this, your just having a brain fart. :smile:

The switch is not connected to neutral or ground, it only breaks the hot.
 
iwire said:
Dennis I know you know this, your just having a brain fart. :smile:

The switch is not connected to neutral or ground, it only breaks the hot.
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If you plug the switch into a receptacle one side will be connected to the neutral when the switch is activated. Put 2 wires into a recep with a switch connected to the loose ends. Now stand back and throw the switch.

Is this any different?
 
I'm trying to find a wiring digram of the insides of the piggyback with no luck, Dennis the switch is located inside of the molded cord cap, the hot does not connect to the ground or neutral...
 
If I only had a penny for each time it has happened to me.

I think we are so used to a cord with a plug on it connecting to hot and neutral that we have a hard time thinking of it only being connected to the hot.
 
Boy do I feel

dumb5.png
 
mbernh001 said:
I am a safety manager for telecom company and wonder if there is a NEC code that states a homes sump pump must be plugged into to single outlet recepticle? Some installers are plugging our equipment into duplex outlets and was wondering if this OK?
Click to expand...

Some of your equipment located where?

If this is a Verizon Fios issue - the installers are doing exactly what the Bell Telephone/ New York Telephone/ SNET telephone techs used to do when they needed a power source for their equipment - grabbed it from the closest power source available that they could plug into.
 
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