Pumps and service switch(es) question.

[Mike007]

Here is the scenario. A boiler is being installed in a garage. 3 circulators and a transformer will be installed in an adjacent crawl space. There are three 14-2 BX to work with running from the boiler to the crawl space. The boiler gets it's power from a service switch next to the boiler.

Here's where my question comes in. 2 of the pumps come on at the same time for heat and the third is for domestic hot water. The pumps get their power from a control board in the boiler. So killing the power to the boiler will kill all the power.

The 2 heat circulators that come on at the same time will be powered by 1 BX and the domestic hot water circulator will get power from the other. I would like to use the third BX for a service switch in the crawl space that will break power at the boiler which will shut everything down.

I'm being advised that each circulator and the transformer will need it's own service switch for a total of 4 switches. It just doesn't make sense to me. Am I wrong?

 

[Mustang51js]

I've never had more than one service switch for a boiler. Usually with multiple pumps there a control box that controls up to 4 pumps I think, with one power source. But it depends on the draw of the pumps.

 

[Bondo]

Here is the scenario. A boiler is being installed in a garage. 3 circulators and a transformer will be installed in an adjacent crawl space. There are three 14-2 BX to work with running from the boiler to the crawl space. The boiler gets it's power from a service switch next to the boiler.

Here's where my question comes in. 2 of the pumps come on at the same time for heat and the third is for domestic hot water. The pumps get their power from a control board in the boiler. So killing the power to the boiler will kill all the power.

The 2 heat circulators that come on at the same time will be powered by 1 BX and the domestic hot water circulator will get power from the other. I would like to use the third BX for a service switch in the crawl space that will break power at the boiler which will shut everything down.

I'm being advised that each circulator and the transformer will need it's own service switch for a total of 4 switches. It just doesn't make sense to me. Am I wrong?

Ayuh,.... Run the Hot leg from that switch, into the crawl space to yer next switch, 'n back out to the boiler,....

That way, if Either switch is turned off, the boiler is Off,...

 

[Mike007]

Ayuh,.... Run the Hot leg from that switch, into the crawl space to yer next switch, 'n back out to the boiler,....

That way, if Either switch is turned off, the boiler is Off,...

That was my plan. The local inspector wants 4 switches. I'd like to know what the NEC dictates in this scenario. If my plan of 1 switch is code compliant, that's what I will do.

 

[Bondo]

That was my plan. The local inspector wants 4 switches. I'd like to know what the NEC dictates in this scenario. If my plan of 1 switch is code compliant, that's what I will do.

Ayuh,.... Can't help ya there,....

Last boiler I installed(in my rental house) had to have an easy to reach switch assessable from the tenants areas, with the red cover on it,.....
'n I put another in the boiler room(one floor down), just above the boiler, to be able to shut it down for service, without runnin' up stairs,...

Whether ya need 1 switch, or 10, yer still puttin' the switches into the hot leg of the boiler's power feed,...

 

[ctfjr]

Will the inspector allow you to wire the pumps by plug-in? If so you could just put duplex outlets (powered by the wires from the boiler) out there & just unplug the pump(s) you want to work on.

 

[Mike007]

Bueller? None our resident NEC experts/electricians care to make a comment on this?

 

[Wirepuller]

How much of a pain in the *** will it be to wire it like he wants it? Nothing in the code book I can interpret says he's correct. If it's going to be a pain in the *** ask him to site an article. He can't enforce what's not there. If it's easily doable just **** it up. I've played these games before and some times I swallow my pride and wallet to just get the job done.

 

[brewchief]

I would think him wanting all the switches is due to the boiler being out of sight of the pumps, if you switch the boiler power off to replace a pump someone could come along and turn it back on without you being able to see them.

This sounds like a good place to use a couple of the little switch plate deals that allow one to lockout the switch.

 

[Mike007]

I would think him wanting all the switches is due to the boiler being out of sight of the pumps, if you switch the boiler power off to replace a pump someone could come along and turn it back on without you being able to see them.

This sounds like a good place to use a couple of the little switch plate deals that allow one to lockout the switch.

The single switch in the crawl space will not be able to be bypassed by the other switch.

How much of a pain in the *** will it be to wire it like he wants it? Nothing in the code book I can interpret says he's correct. If it's going to be a pain in the *** ask him to site an article. He can't enforce what's not there. If it's easily doable just **** it up. I've played these games before and some times I swallow my pride and wallet to just get the job done.

I rarely do what the inspectors want with out a code citation. Certain local inspectors made me "That guy" after many years of the futility of doing what they want despite there being no code violations. I spoke to my electrician who has an inspectors license, and he believes I am code compliant with one switch. So that's what I'm going to do. Thanks for the input.