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AC disconnect service outlet

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mrVanagon

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Jul 21, 2015
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Belleville, IL, USA
Hello all,

I have a small business installing and servicing low-voltage landscape lighting systems. A friend of mine wants me to help install a new system at his house. The logical spot for a transformer is near the AC compressor on the side of the house but there are no outlets near by. The AC disconnect box has a 20A GFCI in it but that is clearly not meant to have a device plugged into it all the time as the cover cannot close with something plugged in. The easiest thing to do is to drop a short conduit from a KO on the bottom of the disconnect and mount an outdoor box just below the disconnect with an outlet and in-use cover then mount the transformer next to that.

Would this be compliant with code or can that service outlet not also power other down-stream outlets. I've read about the requirements for a service outlet within 25' of the AC but I haven't seen anything about using that outlet as a source for other devices.

Thanks for any input.
 
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walta

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Dutzow Missouri
Just to be 100% clear unless you happen to be a licensed electrician in the town where your friend lives it would be a code violation to move or modify the outlet in any way.

Seems to me if you are going to be in the low-voltage landscape lighting systems business most every job you look at we have a similar problem of no outlet where you want/ need it. You need to draw a bright line in your mind that you do not work on 120-volt circuits. If you let yourself do even the smallest 120 volt work it will become a slippery slope and it will become the norm for every job to do illegal electrical work. What happens if somehow someone gets a shock from a 120-volt circuit you messed with? There is no insurance policy to cover you for doing unlicensed electrician.

As a professional low-voltage landscape lighting installer you should be aware that connecting your system to any extension cord is a code violation.

As a professional low-voltage landscape lighting installer I have to ask have you purchased business liability insurance?

If your friend decided to install second GFIC outlet with a cover for your lights that would be great but I think it would be foolish to do unlicensed electrical work in exchange for money.

As I recall the requirement was that there must be a GFIC outlet within 25 feet of the AC unit. Would it be possible to get the appropriate cover installed?



Walta
 
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wyliesdiesels

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Modesto, CA
walta said:
Just to be 100% clear unless you happen to be a licensed electrician in the town where your friend lives it would be a code violation to move or modify the outlet in any way.

Seems to me if you are going to be in the low-voltage landscape lighting systems business most every job you look at we have a similar problem of no outlet where you want/ need it. You need to draw a bright line in your mind that you do not work on 120-volt circuits. If you let yourself do even the smallest 120 volt work it will become a slippery slope and it will become the norm for every job to do illegal electrical work. What happens if somehow someone gets a shock from a 120-volt circuit you messed with? There is no insurance policy to cover you for doing unlicensed electrician.

As a professional low-voltage landscape lighting installer you should be aware that connecting your system to any extension cord is a code violation.

As a professional low-voltage landscape lighting installer I have to ask have you purchased business liability insurance?

If your friend decided to install second GFIC outlet with a cover for your lights that would be great but I think it would be foolish to do unlicensed electrical work in exchange for money.

As I recall the requirement was that there must be a GFIC outlet within 25 feet of the AC unit. Would it be possible to get the appropriate cover installed?

Walta
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ummm you are aware that many states allow licensed contractors to do ancillary work outside their license?
 
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mrVanagon

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Thanks for the input all, especially the code clarification. For anyone concerned, I have a legitimate business, am fully insured and also understand the license requirements in my work area. Any work that requires permits or licensing that I don't have will be done by someone else before my work starts. It is almost always possible to place a transformer next to an existing outlet. In the rare cases that it is not, the client is required to work that out on their own.
 
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nadogail

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Because Codes and Permitting Requirements vary by location you may or may not be able to avoid any interaction with your local Authority having jurisdiction.
 
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Wrench97

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mrVanagon

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Belleville, IL, USA
That makes sense but the current outlet is inside the disconnect box so changing the cover isn't really possible. I think the quickest way to get an outlet with an in-use cover is to tap off the disconnect and add an outlet box beneath it.
 
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nadogail

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mike93lx

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The outlet near my a/c's is on a circuit with a bunch of other outlets, which I bet is more common than one built into the disconnect. It's just an exterior outlet placed near the a/c's.

I'd go out the side rather than down. Just in case any water gets in the disconnect, it wont drain right to the new outlet
 
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