Walk-in cooler

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smallfish

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Is a disconnect required in sight of the evaportor fans in a walk-in cooler? The refrigeration people insist they don't want one in case someone shuts it off by accident and causes the unit to freeze up. Please list any code reference.
Thanks
 
440.14 location.

You make the call from there.:smile:
 
Index of 08', welp the terms you might think of aren't there

I'd say you have a Fan that has a motor, disconnect means 430.75(A) "All" take note of Exception No. 2. and article itsself bleeds out to other Aricles.

What's the rate on HVAC guys doing Electrical work these days ? :)
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
Tell them it can be locked in the closed position.
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OK, what code Article is that ?

IF you hold to the simple aspect of 440, 430.119 Type, is listed in 440.3 ... where does lock out apply here ?

Article 440.3 Other Articles, why lock out anything like this, and the last sentence, of said article, and so forth.

The OP asked for Code Articles...
 
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cadpoint said:
OK, what code Article is that ?

IF you hold to the simple aspect of 440, 430.119 Type, is listed in 440.3 ... where does lock out apply here ?

Article 440.3 Other Articles, why lock out anything like this, and the last sentence, of said article, and so forth.

The OP asked for Code Articles...
Click to expand...


The NEC is a permissive document...
Show me the code section that prohibits this. ;)
 
cadpoint said:
OK, what code Article is that ?
IF you hold to the simple aspect of 440, 430.119 Type, is listed in 440.3 ... where does lock out apply here ?

Article 440.3 Other Articles, why lock out anything like this, and the last sentence, of said article, and so forth.

The OP asked for Code Articles...
Click to expand...

Those are the hardest to find, the ones that allow something by not restricting it. It is easier to find a "You may not" article because when you find it you stop looking.
 
Why not just put a snap switch mounted to the fan coil unit like you are supposed to. Sometimes one fan of three or four will sieze and you need a disconnect at the location for just common sence. Most of these fan units have localized plug disconnects for service. What idiot is going to go into a freezer and shut the fan coil disconnect has issues.
 
smallfish said:
Is a disconnect required in sight of the evaporator fans in a walk-in cooler? The refrigeration people insist they don't want one in case someone shuts it off by accident and causes the unit to freeze up. Please list any code reference.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Yes, it is required and yes if someone does shut down the fans the coil will freeze up into a solid block. That still does not mean they can choose not to have the disconnect. Many people do not want things that are required by code, life is harsh. :smile:

I am really not sure article 440 applies to the remote evaporator units but even if it does not 430.102(B) would apply.

One way or another, almost all motors require a disconnecting means within sight. I do agree with Pierre, it could be locked on.
 
"Accidents" are not really a big concern, take it from a guy who spent many years in the supermarket business. Many times employees will shut off the fans when they have to work in the cooler or freezer for extended periods. They will forget to turn them back on, and go home at the end of their shift, no one else will notice, or they will think it is on defrost. It is for this reason the major chain I worked for had all the switches removed. The fans could only be turned off at the circuit breaker in the locked electrical room after that.
 
The inspector where im from in tn said the snap sw could not be higher than 6'6" so i had to mount them out in the open not that worried bout the walk in but had to in a beer cave where more public has acces and how do you lock the sw not sure i have seen anything to do that
 
elect78 said:
The inspector where im from in tn said the snap sw could not be higher than 6'6" so i had to mount them out in the open not that worried bout the walk in but had to in a beer cave where more public has acces and how do you lock the sw not sure i have seen anything to do that
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There are lots of methods to lock a switch, one very easy method is to use a water tight cover that has a set of holes drilled in it for a pad lock to be inserted.
 
monkey said:
It is for this reason the major chain I worked for had all the switches removed. The fans could only be turned off at the circuit breaker in the locked electrical room after that.
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And that is a direct NEC violation.

A smart way to handle this and one that is more common is a door switch that is ridged to cut off the fans and refrigeration while the door is open, this can be done directly or through the refrigeration control systems.

One of the large chains we work for goes one step further and has the door switch watched by the control system and if the door stays open longer then 15 - 20 minutes it generates an alarm signal to the main office and the main office calls the stores manger to give them an earful.
 
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