[ktownskier]

Okay,
We are refinancing and the appraiser said that the furnace in our garage wasn't legal as the electrical connection wasn't in a junction box. Well he was right, I wasn't to keen on it myself, but it was working and I kept meaning to fix it.

Essentially, the black and white wire from furnace power supply were run out the side of it and then connected to an A/C power cord that was plugged into a power strip. If it works, click on the link below to get to a picture of it.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jVsLj41suhIun-DtyNCOYSt49cxHbKMI2pvY5GOgAAU/edit?usp=sharing

My question is, how do I make it legal? Can I put a junction box on the side of the furnace and put a plug attachment into it or should I put a BX/MC connection on it and then hardwire it to a switch and then into a junction box?

Thanks, Ktownskier

 

[Colbyt]

The proper way to do it is to run the romex to switch box and make the connection inside the box. This provides the disconnect close to the furnace per code.


Where does the the other end of that romex go?


My disconnects are on the wall. I am not aware of any reason the boc could not be attached to the furnace.


I am fairly sure a grounding is required so it should be 3 wires to the furnace.


Romex to switch box > romex to internal j-box.


All my furnaces have a j-box inside the unit for connecting to furnace. I don't see one in your pic but it it is not the best pic.


BTW that gas connection would not be legal here.

 

[ktownskier]

Here is a somewhat better picture, I did cut off the plug hoping that the FHA appraiser would accept that as an alternative to doing it correctly. I said that I needed to contact an electrician/HVAC contractor to get a handle on the correct solution to the problem.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMMMu004oOhSlsSCNuE-G7mq7Y11LOewgthhLqim6XIDEjuFxyZW3xCVnOD8iKhiA/photo/AF1QipM5_SW0fYkAN4UWSovIE7Q-RHjJ531e-fLGvIYE?key=RUE0eDhDdXRZejFobS1SSzdPOWRpamV3RGkxNDln

As for the gas connection, thank God he didn't make a comment about that. And, yes, I will make a correct black pipe connection out of the furnace, with a drip tube, and then connect the CSST to it. With proper support.

The prior owner got this furnace from somewhere and hung it in the garage to provide some heat. Not sure if it came from this house, as he had converted it from GFA to radiant underfloor heat. But, it is a downflow furnace, so it could have been.

 

[MTN REMODEL LLC]

Ktowner.....Caveat I am not an electrician

But I think that furnace has to be hardwired and not on an appliance chord.

And I suspect that the wiring has to be protected as a function of it's location.

A BX whip is the normal manner coming from a switched J box.

 

[roughneck]

The gas line is illegal as well.

 

[ktownskier]

The gas line is illegal as well.

Yeah, I already acknowledged that.

As for the gas connection, thank God he didn't make a comment about that. And, yes, I will make a correct black pipe connection out of the furnace, with a drip tube, and then connect the CSST to it. With proper support.

The hilarious thing about some of this is that the Prior Owner was allegedly a licensed plumber. And, from my understanding, most plumbers tend to understand how to do gas connections. Perhaps not electrical, but definitely gas, and water, and drain and vent.

Some of his work in the house left a lot to be desired. The drain below the kitchen sink actually had duct tape holding some of it together. :vs_mad:

 

[More Power!]

I am not an electrician, but I believe you'll find you'll have to supply a branch circuit to supply only that furnace and you'll have to put a nearby disconnect switch on it, not mounted to the furnace. I believe a BX whip will be required, at a minimum, between the furnace and the box containing the switch.

Found this posted in another forum:

Rule 26-806 - Heating equipment rated 117 kW and less (see Appendix B)
(1) Except as permitted by Subrule (3), all electric power for the heating unit and associated equipment operating in connection with it shall be obtained from a single branch circuit that shall be used for no other purpose.
(2) For the purpose of this Rule, circulating pumps and similar equipment need not be considered as associated equipment, provided that such equipment is not essential for the safe operation of the heating unit.
(3) Subrule (1) does not apply to a water heater using a gaseous fuel.
(4) The branch circuit shall be permitted to be tapped as necessary to supply the various pieces of associated equipment, but there shall be no overcurrent protection supplied in the tap to any piece of associated equipment the operation of which is essential to the proper operation of the heating unit, unless the control equipment is of such a nature that the heating unit will be shut down if the associated equipment fails to function due to the operation of the overcurrent device.
(5) Suitable disconnecting means shall be provided for the branch circuit.
(6) The disconnecting means shall be permitted to be a branch circuit breaker at the distribution panelboard, provided that the panelboard is located between the furnace and the point of entry to the area where the furnace is located.
(7) Where a separate switch is required due to the unsuitable location of the branch circuit breaker, it shall
(a) not be located on the furnace nor in a location that can be reached only by passing close to the furnace; and
(b) be marked to indicate the equipment it controls.

 

[ktownskier]

I found this, I have always called it a furnace fuse switch. I was thinking of using it, along with BX. And a J-Box mounted on the wall.

First, I would run the BX from a known junction point to a new j-box where I would mount the switch. Then I would run the BX up to the furnace where I would make a connection to a box on the inside of the furnace where the wires from the furnace would run.

I will get to the CSST gas line soon, I promise.

 

[roughneck]

Should just need a switch and box with one of these.

 

[ktownskier]

I can actually put the switch on the furnace. I found this on Spruce.com. I remember it being on furnaces I have had in older homes.

And frankly, It would make more sense as the wires would come into the j-box on the furnace, and the J-box would be grounded to the furnace.

Personally, I would have replaced the aging, rusting old furnace in the picture ages ago as it no more than 70% efficient, if that. Or, about the same efficiency as the one in my garage. But at least mine isn't rusting out.

 

[More Power!]

I can actually put the switch on the furnace. I found this on Spruce.com. I remember it being on furnaces I have had in older homes.

You may be right. I inadvertently posted Canadian code requirements, above. (I thought that code number looked odd.)

Here's what NEC has to say about it: Furnace disconnect requirements: An exercise in looking up electrical code

Sorry about that. (I'll amend my prior post to note it's Canadian code. [Or not. Looks like the forum gives one limited time to edit posts.])

 

[roughneck]

You may be right. I inadvertently posted Canadian code requirements, above. (I thought that code number looked odd.)

Here's what NEC has to say about it: Furnace disconnect requirements: An exercise in looking up electrical code

Sorry about that. (I'll amend my prior post to note it's Canadian code. [Or not. Looks like the forum gives one limited time to edit posts.])

A moderator can help you with an edit. Just hit the report button and indicate what you need a hand with.

 

[ktownskier]

Dang, I love this community.

We can argue like banshees on CBR:devil3:, yet come together like "bros" (what is the female term for bros?:vs_cool and help each other out on problems.

Thank you everyone for your advice!!:biggrin2:

Ktown

 

[beenthere]

Actually, SJO cord with a plug on it, and plugged into a recept is legal. The UF cable wasn't.