Sump pump control panel

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cartman

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Hello. 2 ,120V, single phase, 8 amp sump pumps are fed from a control panel that states on the cover "rated for 120/208/240V, 8-15 amps". The owner of the building is replacing the 2 sump pumps with 2 that are now rated 240V, 17.5 amps, single phase and he says that the existing panel will be "just fine" because we are only going over the panels rating 2.5 amps. Doesn't he need a new panel rated for 20 amps (the manufacturers next size panel), and if he connects the 2 motors to the control panel rated to handle 15 amps hasn't he violated any code sections? Thanks. :)
 
Re: Sump pump control panel

he is in violation of the labeling of the equipment. that does not mean it might blow up, create a safety hazard, or not work though.

its quite possible the reason its labeled for a maximum of 15a might have to do with internal OCPDs or wiring sizes.
 
Re: Sump pump control panel

See 110.3(B). consider what happens if the OCPD trips out due to excessive current. Something is going to flood. Most electricians are adverse to working under water, or worse sewage.
 
Re: Sump pump control panel

Well the j-man and I left the job and refused to wire the 2 pumps to the existing panel :cool: . Sounds like we did the right thing as the building owner obviously was not going to pay for a new panel.
 
Re: Sump pump control panel

cartman,
I am just curious,if the new motors were only ,5 A.,would you guys have done the same thing?

frank
 
Re: Sump pump control panel

As Bob said, only motors within 8-15 amps are rated for that particular panel so seeing as how 5 is less than 8 the answer to your question is we would have done the same thing, told the customer he needed a new panel. :)

[ January 06, 2005, 11:29 PM: Message edited by: cartman ]
 
Re: Sump pump control panel

Well my boss told us today another electrical contractor went to the same job and connected the 2 sump pump motors that had a F.L.A. of 17.5 to the control panel that was rated for 8-15 amps. They made $2500.00. How can we compete with other companies that ignore the NEC, and now the customer will probablly use them in the future?
 
Re: Sump pump control panel

sounds like a six story office building in boca raton, the owner refused to upgrade the control panel and the maintainance guys replaced the sump pump with those bought from granger. had a dual pump control and the new pumps were smaller than the original. the sump discharged into a street drain. during the weekend the city was cleaning the street drains and the pumps failed because a check valve in the system broke and they were running continuously. one motor burnt up and the other's contactor coil failed. filled up the basement----too bad the building's main switchgear was in the basement---shut the building down for seven days ---repair cost over $500k!!! we had to replace the fire pump contoller and the sump pump controller---he didn't flinch that the new sump pumps had a new control panel.
 
Re: Sump pump control panel

Thanks for the reply Charlie. Its nice to know that other people are faced with the same challenges. I guess we can just be honest with the customer and leave the final decision up to them. This one was quite a sting as our boss pays us a bonus at the end of every month depending on how much money we bring in.
 
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