SIMPLE electrical job. Cost via electrician? chg direct-wire to plug & socket

[RBM]

>

That maybe true in Canada, but it doesn't meet 422.16 of the Nec, in the U.S., at least not for your garden variety central heating system.

[Horace Greeley]

Check with your local electrical inspector.

If done properly, ours said it was legal and safe to do the plug and cord setup.

His only recommendation was to use a 12 gauge appliance cord set, proper strain relief (not romex clamp) and a high-quality 20 amp receptacle.

[RBM]

That really makes no sense. Typical oil burner/ furnace is fed with a 15 amp circuit. It's either code compliant or it's not, regardless of size or ampacity of cord and receptacle.

[clare]

20 amp twist locks are a lot more common than 15 amp twist locks.

[RBM]

... and that has what to do with anything code related?

[mike]

I went thru the same process. Prevailing opinion is that devices permanently attached to the structure must be permanently wired. Heating system seems to be permanently attached. Reading the NEC, it appears that's what it says.

So, I went down to the permit office and talked with the inspector. He said, "no problem; putting a socket in the box and plug on the wire will pass my inspection".

[RBM]

The Nec requires that it be designed to be unattached , and removed for servicing, for a cord and plug to be used. Not too many central heating systems that meet that criteria.

[clare]

Nothing - but it has an awfull lot to do with why one might use a 20 amp cord/plug. As far as the code:

422.16 Flexible Cords. (A) General. Flexible cord shall be permitted (1) for the connection of appliances to facilitate their frequent interchange or to prevent the transmission of noise or vibration

If you have a "compliant coupling" on the ductwork to eliminate vibration, the flexible cord is allowed under the code for the same reason.. Immaterial that the rigid gas line passes vibration to the house. No inspector can say FOR SURE that the cord is not there for vibration reasons - and if it is allowed for that purpose there is no SAFETY reason for denying it - hense the overlooking of the "infraction" by so many inspectors.

[clare]

That's only the "B" part. There IS another allowed reason.

422.16 Flexible Cords. (A) General. Flexible cord shall be permitted (1) for the connection of appliances to facilitate their frequent interchange or to prevent the transmission of noise or vibration

A power failure every year or less can be considered "frequent interchange". - if you don't wish to make a case for anti-vibration (and you do not have a "compliant connection" or whatever you call the fabric connector on the duct hood.

[RBM]

I don't think too many inspectors would consider a typical oil burner as producing noise or vibration as a reason to use a flexible cord. Second, you left out half of the article. The half where it clarifies the use of cords on appliances. If you're going to try and twist and tweak the code, at least furnish all the information

[RBM]

Boy, you are one master of misinterpretation. It's referring to interchanging the appliance. You don't replace your boiler because of frequent power failures. I would love to see you try and run your silly arguments by an electrical inspector. They'd laugh you right out of the business.

[clare]

No twisting at all You forgot - it is one OR the other. If one can be made to apply/fit the other doesn't mean a hill of beans.

[clare]

They get inspected and passed all the time. And not just in Ontario, or Canada.

[bud--]

And you determined that from your Ouija board?

You and Evan generalize what is (allegedly) true where you are to the universe.

I agree with RBM.

To take a slightly different approach, use of cords is covered in article 410. Uses permitted is in 410.7-A. Possibly relevant sections are: "(6) Connection of utilization equipment to facilitate frequent interchange. (7) Prevention of the transmission of noise or vibration. (8) Appliances where the fastening means and mechanical connections are specifically designed to permit ready removal for maintenance...."

Sections 6 and 8 are not relevant to boilers in the US. You may have to often replace your boilers (6) or remove them for maintenance in Canada (7) but it does not happen in the US.

Any competent electrician in the US (don't know about Canada where electricians "molest" the wiring) can connect a boiler and avoid the transmission of vibration. There are numerous flexible wiring methods and our boilers are massive enough not to vibrate.

But if we imported a Canadian boiler that had enough vibration problem that a flexible cord was need we couldn't connect it with a plug. Plugs are covered in 410.7-B. Plugs are not permitted for (7) above.

That is consistent with the more limited 422.16 and with what RBM said.

Incidentally, if a receptacle was allowed it wouldn't be a duplex receptacle which you suggested.

You could also read the comments of gfretwell who basically says it is (a minor) wrong but he would do it anyway. (Is it any wonder our youth are in trouble. Where are the role models...)

[Horace Greeley]

You want your furnace crapping out because of a cheap piece of junk outlet that barely holds the plug in place?

Yes, the cheap 50 cent outlets you find at McLowes are code compliant but they're still junk. You won't find one in my house.

[Bernt Berger]

I spoke with an insurance underwriter, their position is:

1. During a power outage, they prefer that you take reasonable steps to keep your pipes from freezing and causing thousands in damage to your home.
2. They would rather have you run your gas or oil furnace off of an extension cord and a genset than use one of those portable kerosene or propane heaters.

[krw]

Your furnace is plugged into an outlet? Never seen that.

The $.50 outlets (are they that expensive now?) aren't all that bad for places where there are few insertion cycles. Kitchens, hallways, and the like where they're used a lot, should have spec or even hospital grade outlets.

[RBM]

You miss the point entirely.A typical residential central heating system is fed with a 15 amp circuit. Despite the Nec violation in connecting the appliance with cord and plug, it is also a Nec violation to install a 20 amp outlet on a 15 amp circuit. It has nothing to do with the quality of the receptacle itself, or the cord for that matter. There are extremely high quality 15 amp receptacles, and hard service cords rated for 15 amp as well. Any electrical inspector would know this.

[RBM]

Absolutely, and this string is about how to do just that, properly, not just in an emergency situation where you would just disconnect the boiler from it's normal power supply and connect it to a cord and plug for generator power.

[clare]

Google it like I did. It is being done and passed in Pennsylvania for sure.

You are generalizing about something you apparently don't know any more about than I do.

Correct. Code DOES say a "dedicated" outlet - which in it's strictest interpretation is a single outlet. Again - I DID later say I recommended a 20 amp twist-lock - and every one of THOSE I have run across recently IS a single outlet.

There is no safety or logical resaon NOT to. I suspect it is a carry-over from some reason that USED to exist.