Outdoor Rec Height

JamesNLA

Hi all,

Some of you have seen my tankless heater installs. If you remember (or care to search them down) on relocates I install an outdoor GFI Recpt.

My question is, is there a height minimum above the grade that needs to be adheard to. There are no local ammendments reguarding this.

Situation, is I am going to stubb out my plumbing just above the plate atop the footing (crawl vents). Just wondering if the device needs a certain height off the grade.

Thx

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

Sparky Joe

This is 120 dedicated for the heater?
why not hard wire it?

JamesNLA

Yes, line voltage.
Not dedicated (branch)
Need means of disconnect.

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

Sparky Joe

Means of disconnect could be a simple switch instead of a receptacle.
I personally would think it's cheesy to have a permanantly installed water heater connected to a cord and plug sitting on the outside of my house, especially with a silly looking bubble cover(which would be required).

Perhaps my tastes are different

JamesNLA

Well thankyou for your input. Anyone know the answer to the original question?

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

goose134

Well, if you still want to put a receptacle on instead of hard wiring...
I don't think there is a minimum, as long as the conductors are protected from damage. If you're really close to grade maybe try and get a corrosion resistant type. Still, it's a pretty ghetto way to do it.

mdshunk

There is no minimum height, but I have a personal standard of 24". I try to keep it above the typical maximum snowfall. You could compliantly put your receptacle at grade, if you wanted to. This isn't a "convenience" receptacle, per se, so you really don't have to think about making it easy to stoop over and use, since it's mostly just for your water heater. You'll want to remember the bubble cover requirement also, if this thing is exposed to the weather and not under a porch roof. I am aware that some inspectors will make you use a bubble cover even if you are under a porch roof. I guess it rains sideways sometimes? If you're talking about mounting it at the band board height, chances are you're up about a foot anyhow, with some being up to 2 or 3 feet, depending. If you stub out into the back of an LB, a foot or two of conduit isn't normally objectionable. If I could drill up into the exterior wall from below, I'd probably recess one in the wall, and use one of Arlington's retrofit type In Boxes for a super slick install:



http://www.aifittings.com/in_box/DBVR1C-product-new.jpg

JamesNLA

Thanks MD,

Usually I put these recepts in because it's handy for the home owner. I think it would be cheezy beyond belief to put a snap switch in for this application. I can easilly see someone just flipping it on and off to see if it does anything. To each his own.
On this second pic, I did flush it in, because there was a budget for it and I had the wall opened up inside.

As for drilling through the bottom plate....hmmm, I guess I could do that. Usually to stay compeditive in my pricing I like to do as much as I can but still move along quickly. I do have a few 5' bits......I may just do that on this next one. Thx

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

mdshunk

I generally use a 9 inch bit for that. Maybe I don't have a clear picture in my head of the construction type in your area, but I can't imagine why you'd need a 5 foot bit. We're talking with a crawl space or basement below the floor? Maybe not.

JamesNLA

Yes, crawl. Don't really have basements in SoCal.

My drawing is crap, but maybe you get the idea. I was thinking of drilling it from the proposed new location down, verses from underneath. It's usually pretty tight in their, and to get my R-angel in with my arbor on it just gets real tight and sometimes have to go in on an angle. Usually just easier from above.

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

mdshunk

Oh, you were talking from above. I was thinking from inside the crawl. I figured you'd be back in there for other connections anyhow.