Conduit Above Grade to Mini Split

[SkyFreek60]

I need to run 20A/110V (3x 12Ga THHN - Green, Blk, Wht or Red) from exterior main panel (currently only has a 150A breaker with feeder to house panel) to A/C disconnect for 9k BTU mini Split.

Reason for going from exterior main panel is two fold:

• Access (interior panel built into wall and goes to crawl space)
• Hopefully less strain here than on my house 150A - I would upgrade it to 200A but interior panel is only rated for 150A and feeder line likely is too, so i thought it would be better to feed from the exterior panel, which is rated for 200A. This would be the only other switch out there (until we get a pool) so well under the 6 service d/c rule/code. Interior panel has a spare 20A circuit but seems a bit strained at times.

I could possibly run from this exterior panel two ways:

1. Through wall, Into my crawlspace, then through attached garage and daylight through cement Block near the A/C disconnect.
2. Down the wall and run inder the deck that is about 2ft away, 23ft under the deck (which is <12" off the ground), then when I come out the other side, Up to a height of about 2', around a corner and straight to the A/C disconnect (which runs down hill and is about 3-4' off the ground. I eventually intend to run the deck further to the other side of the electical box too, at which point the 2' I mentioned would be covered too....

Kind of leaning with option 2. It will not really be close to the ground for typical weedeater/trimmer issues but is <8ft, which NEC seems to imply makes it subject to damage. Any Devil's advocates?

It is on the back and far side of my house and the home is grey so I think a tidy install can look OK.

Was planning on using sched 40 until I got into the codes and whatnot. NEC mentions sched 80 being acceptable but can LFNC-B be used in outdoor areas exposed to potential damage? I have seen some labeled as schedule 80 but not all... and that could be a mistake on behalf of Lowes website for all I know.

Trying to figure out my best options. Appreciate any good insight!
-Sky

 

[alfredeneuman]

can LFNC-B be used in outdoor areas exposed to potential damage?

No it can't.
All flexible conduits (and MC and AC cables) are subject to the same "rules against physical damage" as Romex (must be protected against).

 

[Zeke]

@alfredeneuman, isn't there an allowable span for things like pool pumps? I just thought I'd clarify between a 'run' and a 'connection'.

Since you replied to the 1st post, I was wondering about the connection in the panel. Doesn't sound at all like a breaker enabled panel.

 

[SkyFreek60]

Thanks, appreciate it! Was a bit stumped by the code mentioning schedule 80 as OK for this and then seeing Lowes list one of the NM flexible cables as "Southwire 1/2-in x 25-ft Ultratite Non-metallic Schedule 80 Liquid-tight Conduit".

ON top of that, all the schedule 80 in stores is for plumbing purposes and not electrical.... though i have seen people use it incorrectly as such.

I'm gonna have to look a bit more, might be easier and cleaner looking to run it back through the crawl space and on the garage ceiling in regular EMT. My big **** isn't fitting in there but I have a few candidates

What would be the best, reasonably priced alternative for such a location (outdoors / possibly subject to damage - though i really don't believe it will) if I do need to keep it outside?

Most of it would be under the deck and/or run right below the 1x6 lower trim of my house so a 1/2 in line is fairly well protected. Mainly worried about the couple feet at each end of the deck (one end would eventually be taken care of when the deck is extended.

Thanks again!

 

[Zeke]

You can run EMT outside exposed with the correct fittings. Can't bury it or have it in contact with soil and I wouldn't want it in contact with concrete.

 

[alfredeneuman]

isn't there an allowable span for things like pool pumps?

If there is I can't find it in the Code.

 

[Innovate1]

Under the deck seems well protected to me and running on the surface of things is some protection too. Seems like this really gets down to the local AHJ. I have been in places that want sch 80 on, for example, the riser where power comes out of the ground, up the wall, and into a building but others say sch 40 PVC is ok. And for the line from my AC disconnect mounted on the side of my house to the outdoor HVAC unit it is a flexible whip. These are no longer ok?

 

[alfredeneuman]

And for the line from my AC disconnect mounted on the side of my house to the outdoor HVAC unit it is a flexible whip. These are no longer ok?

I can find where it can be run without support:
"Exception No. 2: Where flexibility is necessary after installation, lengths
from the last point where the raceway is securely fastened shall not
exceed the following:
(1) 900 mm (3 ft) for metric designators 16 through 35 (trade sizes
1∕2 through 11∕4)"

but that doesn't mean it doesn't still need protection from physical damage.
As I said before, I can't find the exception.
Maybe someone else can shed some light??