tapping into a/c breaker box

[scaseley]

can a radon mitigator tap into exterior a/c breaker box for 15amp supply to gfci outlet that runs a radon fan?

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by scaseley

can a radon mitigator tap into exterior a/c breaker box for 15amp supply to gfci outlet that runs a radon fan?

No not allowed

[Greg Fretwell]

Are you talking about the condenser disconect?
How are they protecting that from overcurrent and what are they using for a neutral? OTOH if they are just talking the HVAC service outlet (15 or 20a 120v) it should be fine.

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

In Canada many home owners shut of the Air Conditioner at the panel in the winter .
This would also shut of the power to the radon mitigator.

[Speedy Petey]

I personally don't think what "could" happen enters into it. Besides, the poster is in the US.

IMO the question is WAY too vague.
If this is a 240v pull out for a condenser, then it absolutely cannot be done.
If this is a small panel with breakers it certainly can be done.
If this is a 120v feed for an air handler it most likely can be done.

There is too little information to answer this accurately.

[ekartal6]

I thought the a/c should have it's own dedicated circuit and that nothing should tap into it. Where did I mess this up?

Erol

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by ekartal6

I thought the a/c should have it's own dedicated circuit and that nothing should tap into it. Where did I mess this up?

Erol

Thats the way it is In Canada . AC only nothing else .

[Paul W. Abernathy]

If the question is...can you TAP into the disconnect for the AC unit outside...NOPE.....as Greg stated where will your neutral come from..so that one is easy.....in regards to that question...

However, if they are speaking of as peter stated the outside service ( within 25' ) receptacle then it would probably be fine.......

Erol...yes the outside AC unit is dedicated and probably 240V anyway so running the 120V Radon Fan is not going to happen....legally anyway.....so we wont go into how it can be done illegally...

Chances are again as peter stated...if it is an outside AC unit...chances are 240V and not gonna happen.....so erase that option...

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by ekartal6

I thought the a/c should have it's own dedicated circuit and that nothing should tap into it. Where did I mess this up?

Erol

I think your thought is solid yet, Erol, I didn't see anyone condoning tapping into the AC circuit.

[Speedy Petey]

Originally Posted by ekartal6

I thought the a/c should have it's own dedicated circuit and that nothing should tap into it. Where did I mess this up?

This is most certainly NOT written in stone. At least as far as the NEC is concerned. It all depends on the individual appliaction.

[Michael W. Gault]

In addition to the Condenser 240v feed via disconnect, there's also a requirement to have another receptacle in the vicinity for 'servicing' the HVAC...

I think if its tapped into the servicing receptacle then constant power to the fan would be available w/o affect on the 240v to the Unit itself...

Or I could be suffering heat exhaustion

[Paul W. Abernathy]

peter I think the only written in stone part is.....I don't know any electricians who would not probably run a dedicated line to the outside units.....just easier to do so and what you would see most of the time.

Also I can't recall seeing ( but then again I am only 37 remember ) any 120V outside AC units....guess the houses I wire are all large..

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Yes mike...within 25' of the units.......if this is the one he is asking about tapping into..then probably fine......

Now they need to understand IF they actually DID find a way to TAP into the AC Disconnect.....they are running a wire from it to a fan ...and the smaller conductors would not be PROPERLY protected.....since the OCPD is sized to the AC unit only....

Just make sure they dont try it and use one of the legs and the EGC as the neutral.......oh we have seen THAT before have we not........oh so wrong.....Love that saying...well it all goes back to the same location anyway paul...yeah..ok...I hear ya.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by Speedy Petey

This is most certainly NOT written in stone. At least as far as the NEC is concerned. It all depends on the individual appliaction.

In any event one would need to run a 4 wire feed, wouldn't they?

[Paul W. Abernathy]

Originally Posted by lkage

In any event one would need to run a 4 wire feed, wouldn't they?

Nope....we run (3) wires to the AC units all the time.....no Neutral needed....so (2) ungrounded conductors and (1) EGC is all that is needed....its not a sub-panel...