Washer Receptacle Raceway

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StitzieJ

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Harrisburg, PA
I am working on my EPEC training (I work for an electrical distributor), and I need some help with this one job asking for Surface Mounted Raceway for Washer Receptacles. Here's the info I know...

1) I know washers are hooked up to water lines on one or each end of the receptacle, so I think a GFCI receptacle is going to have to be installed for all of these in a washer specific box.

2) Each washer runs on 20A, Single-Pole power.

3) The one factor that confuses me the most is that while these washers are in groups of 10, each washer has its own power line (they each have their own circuit) but SHARE a common ground (all of these are #8AWG).

I'm just trying to figure out, from a wiring standpoint, how I am going to find a raceway that is surface mounted that has the room to house 11 #8AWG wires AND have the space to have washer receptacle housings attached. Also, what kind of pieces or tools would I need to run a single ground wire to all of these.

Anyone know any good resources or manufacturers that could make something that meets this kind of specification? Thanks!
 
should clarify I am obviously not going to put the water lines IN the raceway, that's a disaster waiting to happen. I am speaking of those housing boxes that have little holes to run water lines from the bottom and have a hole for the receptacle in the back. The water lines are obviously separate from the raceway. I know that the classical 'washer receptacles' don't have an outlet IN the same box, just a separate hole for power supply, but since this is surface mounted raceway, I am trying to find an 'all-in-one' solution here. I know they make them, but they are rare.
 
StitzieJ said:
I am working on my EPEC training (I work for an electrical distributor), and I need some help with this one job asking for Surface Mounted Raceway for Washer Receptacles. Here's the info I know...

1) I know washers are hooked up to water lines on one or each end of the receptacle, so I think a GFCI receptacle is going to have to be installed for all of these in a washer specific box.

2) Each washer runs on 20A, Single-Pole power.

3) The one factor that confuses me the most is that while these washers are in groups of 10, each washer has its own power line (they each have their own circuit) but SHARE a common ground (all of these are #8AWG).

I'm just trying to figure out, from a wiring standpoint, how I am going to find a raceway that is surface mounted that has the room to house 11 #8AWG wires AND have the space to have washer receptacle housings attached. Also, what kind of pieces or tools would I need to run a single ground wire to all of these.

Anyone know any good resources or manufacturers that could make something that meets this kind of specification? Thanks!
Click to expand...
You work for a electrical distributor, this shouldn't be that hard. ;)

You said surface raceway - 4 inch RMC is plenty big enough to hold 11 #8's though it doesn't fit many outlet boxes available.

Though you should be able to get them all in an 1.25" raceway - that should fit into 4-11/16 boxes with raised covers for receptacles.

I am a little confused though and see you possibly having 10 "hots" and one "neutral" in this raceway- better go back to the design drawing board if that is the case as that won't meet code.

Proper use and selection of conductors for multiwire branch circuits could mean you only need 10 AWG

Split into two raceways and you can possibly only need 12 AWG and only need 1/2 inch raceways. Significant cost difference in materials there compared to 1-1/4 and 8 AWG conductors, even with two raceways being run.
 
Noticed you mentioned those wall boxes for water/drain and a place for electrical - such units probably don't have room for passing through all the circuits you have. Either put junction boxes in your main run and route single circuit to each washer box or just don't use the electric outlet space on the washer boxes.

GFCI is not required on these circuits unless there is a condition mentioned in 210.8. Since you have groups of 10 washers we sort of assume this is a laundromat or at least on site laundry at a apartment, dormitory, etc. Most common item that may force GFCI protection is if receptacle is within 6 feet of a sink. The fact the washer is connected to water does not make GFCI required.
 
StitzieJ said:
I am working on my EPEC training (I work for an electrical distributor), and I need some help with this one job asking for Surface Mounted Raceway for Washer Receptacles. Here's the info I know...

1) I know washers are hooked up to water lines on one or each end of the receptacle, so I think a GFCI receptacle is going to have to be installed for all of these in a washer specific box.

2) Each washer runs on 20A, Single-Pole power.

3) The one factor that confuses me the most is that while these washers are in groups of 10, each washer has its own power line (they each have their own circuit) but SHARE a common ground (all of these are #8AWG).

I'm just trying to figure out, from a wiring standpoint, how I am going to find a raceway that is surface mounted that has the room to house 11 #8AWG wires AND have the space to have washer receptacle housings attached. Also, what kind of pieces or tools would I need to run a single ground wire to all of these.

Anyone know any good resources or manufacturers that could make something that meets this kind of specification? Thanks!
Click to expand...

You can easily find a wiremold product that will work for your application, you would be surprised how many conductors these surface raceways can hold. The manufacturer should have a table that will tell you the max conductors allowed in each product respectively. As stated above, LeGrand is a good place to start. Go to their website, browse the products available and look for "technical specifications" hyperlinks to download product data.

As for what you a calling a common ground, are you talking about the equipment grounding conductor or EGC? It will have a green colored insulation and is defined as "The conductive path(s) that provides a ground-fault current path and connects normally non-current-carrying metal parts of equipment together and to the system grounded conductor or to the grounding electrode conductor, or both. If you are, then it is appropriate and required to connect all of the green conductors together.

The EGC is different from the system grounded conductor or Neutral, which will have a white colored insulation. Each circuit should have it's own neutral which will only be connected together at the source panel. They should not be connected together at the receptacle location.

It seems a bit confusing at first glance because the neutral is grounded but at the same time is not considered a ground wire. The neutral is called a grounded conductor because it is connected to the ground wire but only at a single point in the system which is typically at the electric service entrance panelboard.
 
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