I am installing a water trough in a feed lot on a concrete walkway. It only has power for the heaters. There are no local codes. This is in the county. I have been looking in the NEC and had only found reference to this in a foot note. It reference’s to the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) EP342.2-1995, Safety for Electrically Heated Livestock Waterers. I do not have a copy of this. I am told there is not any rebar or wire in the concrete. It is being fed with an 8/3 UF cable and the farthest one is about 800’ from the electrical panel. I was going to be driving a ground rod at the waterer but did not know if a GFCI device is needed on this. I will have some at 240 V and some at 120 V. The load is 4 - 250 W heaters.
Water trough in an agricultural feed lot.
- Thread starter mheyse
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petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- engineer
I am not sure it is a code issue. Article 547 applies to things inside or adjacent to an ag building. It may be you are not in or adjacent to an ag building.
If article 547 applies to this case, you may need to install some kind equipotential plane. I don't see how just driving a ground rod would comply.
IMO, it might be a good idea to use GFCI protection but you might also want some kind of feedback to tell you if it is tripped. That would add to your cost and ag is often about doing the cheapest thing.
If article 547 applies to this case, you may need to install some kind equipotential plane. I don't see how just driving a ground rod would comply.
IMO, it might be a good idea to use GFCI protection but you might also want some kind of feedback to tell you if it is tripped. That would add to your cost and ag is often about doing the cheapest thing.
You may find useful info here:
Cow
Senior Member
- Location
- Eastern Oregon
- Occupation
- Electrician
We do a lot of equipotential plane work for ag.
Over here, the concrete around the trough would have wire mesh or rebar in a grid installed in it. Then at a minimum, a #8 bare CU attached to the mesh or rebar would come out of the concrete and connect to the EGC feeding the heater. That said, I also know of a lot of water troughs with heaters and no equipotential planes installed. They do not have livestock falling over dead. I also know most folks aren't going to want to install an equipotential plane after the concrete is poured either.
You and your customer are going to have to make some choices.
Over here, the concrete around the trough would have wire mesh or rebar in a grid installed in it. Then at a minimum, a #8 bare CU attached to the mesh or rebar would come out of the concrete and connect to the EGC feeding the heater. That said, I also know of a lot of water troughs with heaters and no equipotential planes installed. They do not have livestock falling over dead. I also know most folks aren't going to want to install an equipotential plane after the concrete is poured either.
You and your customer are going to have to make some choices.
That was a great help. Thank you.
My plan was to at least have a gfci on the circuit. Thanks for your input.
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