Disconnect wiring ?

[AP514]

Hi all...

I set this disconnect up for my 240 v compressor. Im going to have a inter cooler w/fan set up at some point in the near future( note to self get off your lazy **** and finish it up).

My question is should I have a Ground Block installed in the disconnect or is the Wire NUT ok ?

 

[m.b.0331]

Install a ground lug in the disconnect. If the box itself becomes energized, the ground lug will provide a good path to ground. Right now, the box is not grounded.

 

[AP514]

Well, the garage is steel frame/grounded...and the box is screwed into the Frame..

But good point..........

 

[rockwithjason]

what he said. also scrape the paint off before you bolt the lug in. It's required by code.

 

[AP514]

Thanks for input......

 

[Norcal]

If you still have the bonding screw for the neutral bond it & use it for grounding.

 

[m.b.0331]

Well, the garage is steel frame/grounded...and the box is screwed into the Frame..

But good point..........

I was going to add something about that. Yeah, if the box did become energized, the steel frame might provide a good path to ground, but you can't really rely on that to keep you safe. The ground lug provides a sure fire way, and a proper way, to ground your equipment.

 

[AP514]

Not really sure how the box could get energized but the ground block seems the way to go.....((I guess I could just put another wire (to ground the box) in the wire NUT. Where my solid is connected to the stranded.) I hope ground block is cheap at my local HD.....

 

[m.b.0331]

It is unlikely that the box could become hot, but it could happen. Over time, maybe, a lug holding one of your hot wires (line side, of course) could loosen and a wire could pop out and touch the disconnect, energizing it.

All you really need is a ground lug and a piece of green wire (looks like 10AWG). Install the ground lug, strip out some of your wire and put that end in the lug, tightening it down nicely. Strip out the other end and join it to the two wires in the wire nut. Now the box is grounded. We use these ones at work:

http://www.zoro.com/i/G0279657/?utm...uFOb1KDJrDSN-ten5ImmZhejL1CZQaTVMQaAhCX8P8HAQ

If our ground wire just needs to be 12awg, we use premade grounding pigtails.

You can install the lug a number of ways, some are proper and some are hack...A self tapping screw would work but it's kind of hack. A nut and bolt or a screw in a tapped hole could work too. The goal is to make the lug fit tightly to the box.

 

[AP514]

the box calls for a GTL1..ground lug

 

[m.b.0331]

the box calls for a GTL1..ground lug

I'm not familiar with a GTL1 and a google search brings up this thread and not much else. The example I posted above is the lug we commonly use for these applications, though. It fits wire sizes 4-14. You should be able to find that type at HD.

 

[AP514]

Woops......... TYPO...........

Not GTL1
It is TGL1

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Load-Center-Equipment-Ground-Kit-TGL1P/100208442?quantity=1&str_nbr=6567

 

[m.b.0331]

Ohhh that'll work too!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Interesting that a 240v load has a neutral.

 

[Norcal]

When I use a safety switch w/ a solid neutral like the OP's switch & there is no neutral needed or present, I use the bonding screw to bond the enclosure to the neutral bar & use it to land the equipment grounding conductors, I should have elaborated further in my earlier post, it makes things quite simple, rather then chasing down a grounding lug using what is already there.

 

[Rock knocker]

Interesting that a 240v load has a neutral.

Good catch, switched at that.

Looks like a three-phase disconnect. The neutral could just be wire nutted and not pass thru the knifes

 

[AP514]

Interesting that a 240v load has a neutral.

True, but Im adding a Fan for the intercooler on my compressor..So I needed a Neutral(pulling the 120v from one of the power legs off compressor)
here is the NEW fan got it for $35 on EBAY (plastic capasitor was craked off of the base EZ glue job to repair)
http://www.onlinecomponents.com/ebm-papst-w2e250hj3201.html?p=12104374.

So I wanted to be really safe and put the Neutral on the cut off. (no way no how power is getting to it once the power is cutoff) besides it was an open spot so I used it

 

[Norcal]

While it is permitted to switch the neutral as long as they are switched at the same time as the ungrounded (hot) conductors there is no reason to do so in the OP's case. it has a solid neutral & my previous comments can be disregarded.

I do it when I need a cheap disco for 120V equipment, so I use a 60A non-fusible pullout A/C disco.

 

[AP514]

Ordered the $ 3.50 from HD..wil be here soon..

Also I should have said in my OP that this cut off is going to my compressor. solid to the cutoff and Stranded from there...

Thanks for the input

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

While it is permitted to switch the neutral as long as they are switched at the same time as the ungrounded (hot) conductors there is no reason to do so in the OP's case. it has a solid neutral & my previous comments can be disregarded.

I do it when I need a cheap disco for 120V equipment, so I use a 60A non-fusible pullout A/C disco.

 

[AP514]

Well,quick update installed the Ground bar...Cleaned paint off of box where bar sits