electrical code ? for motor inside garage

[edwardh1]

Dont know which code applies- the southern code if it still exists or the national code.
I have a 1/3 HP well pump inside the garage.
it has on the wall above it an on off switch like a light switch.
and also a disconnect box, the "pull out variety. I am panelling the garage and its surface mounted romex now and I was going to put the romex behind the plywood.
- do I need both the on off swith and a disconnect?
- what height requirements are there for the disconnect and for the switch
thanks

 

[Stuart in MN]

Not sure what the southern code is - are you in the US, and if so what state? Most if not all states use the National Electric Code, but they may be using different versions (the most current is the 2011, but some states are using earlier versions and haven't gotten around to updating yet.) In addition, it's not uncommon for the state to have specific things they add to or delete from the national version.

The NEC says that in commercial garages the area from floor level to 18" above floor level is considered a hazardous area because gasoline fumes could possibly collect in that area. It doesn't say anything about residential garages, but there may well be local codes about it (more often they are worried about open flames, like pilot lights on water heaters.) In any case it's a good idea to locate things that could cause a spark up off the floor in a garage, but I assume that well pump has been there a long time so it may be grandfathered in. If you're relocating the disconnect I'd put it at least 18" above the floor. I'm not sure why they have both a switch and a disconnect; maybe some previous owner liked having the switch since it was easier to turn on and off, but I don't know why you'd want to turn a well pump on and off on a regular basis.