Disconnect question...?

[Tim Fitzgerald]

I am installing a tankless water heater...running 6 ga romex. my panel is 30 ft straight line distance to where the heater will be, my question is how close to the appliance does the disconnect have to be and how high off the ground.

The heater will be app 10 foot off the ground..., and Im assuming that I cant mount the disconnect that high...?.

Heater will sit above closed ceiling to bathroom below and I believe the disconnect would look a bit strange mounted inside the bathroom which is very small to begin with....I just cant picture the setup scenario and code etc...help pls..

 

[Aceman]

Use a breaker lockout instead.

 

[Tim Fitzgerald]

Aceman..., could you give me a quick explaination of how that is used..., Im new to this and have never heard of one of those

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Id put the disconnect next to the water heater where youll be working,Id use a non fused disconnect.

 

[Tim Fitzgerald]

So can the disconnect be mounted 9 ft off the ground...? Also isnt it suppossed to be within arms reach of the device it disconnects...?

 

[Aceman]

Aceman..., could you give me a quick explaination of how that is used..., Im new to this and have never heard of one of those

You remove the panel cover and install the lockout right onto the top of the breaker. Then you reinstall the panel cover.

Now, if you were to shut off the breaker the hole in the lockout would give you a spot to hang a lockout tagout device keeping the breaker in a locked(open) position not allowing anyone else to turn it on.

Or, you could follow zmax's advice as well and use a disconnect, either method is fine. I just don't see the need for local disconnects in a residential setting when a breaker lockout satisfies code and keeps the wiring simpler.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Its supposed to be within line of site of the eqt its servicing,If its right next to the water heater you cant get any better than that in my book.
I say to use a non fused disconnect so you don't have to chase blown fuses/tripped breakers in remote location.

 

[alfredeneuman]

The disconnect would need to no more than 6'7" (2 meters) from the floor to the center of the switch lever in it's highest position to be Code compliant.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

The disconnect would need to no more than 6'7" (2 meters) from the floor to the center of the switch lever in it's highest position to be Code compliant.

For a main breaker in a panel,Im not sure if they could enforce that for a service disconnect for an overhead water heater.
Ive put plenty of overhead disconnects in for equipt inside dropped ceilings on commercial buildings over the years without being dinged by an inspector.

 

[alfredeneuman]

For a main breaker in a panel,Im not sure if they could enforce that for a service disconnect for an overhead water heater.
Ive put plenty of overhead disconnects in for equipt inside dropped ceilings on commercial buildings over the years without being dinged by an inspector.

I've done it as well. It doesn't make it right.

Technically it's prohibited by Code, especially above dropped 2X4 grid ceilings.
The 24" doesn't meet the requirement for having a 30" horizontal workspace in front of the disconnect in the case of a dropped ceiling

Some, but not all, inspectors overlook this.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Theyd have to tag 3/4 of the commercial jobs in Omaha with water heaters/furnaces/air handlers mounted above dropped ceilings with ssy's/ssu's mounted on the side of them.
Its being used as disconnect for servicing the equipment only,its not main overcurrent protection for the equipment.

 

[alfredeneuman]

If it doesn't contain fuses..... I could see that, but if it's fusible it doesn't have the workspace required to change the fuses

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

The furnaces/airhandlers always have a fused ssy/ssu on them,its a code issue.
For the water heaters I always just use a pull out non fused disconnect like I recommended.