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Mini-split disconnect

ICE

ICE

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Staff member
Joined
Jun 23, 2011
Messages
14,253
Location
California
There is usually some sort of discussion at forums about how inspectors treat contractors. A contractor called me today asking if the air handler unit of a mini-split air-conditioner requires a separate disconnect. The manufacturers installation instructions do not require a separate disconnect.
He was given a correction to install the disconnect by an inspector in P…….., Ca. The contractor asked for a code section and he was told to “Figure it out.”

440.1 Scope. The provisions of this article apply to electric Single Phase Rated motor-driven air-conditioning and refrigerating equipment

440.8 Single Machine. An air-conditioning or refrigerating system
 shall be considered to be a single machine under the provisions of 430.87, Exception No. 1, and 430.112, Exception.

The motors shall be permitted to be located remotely from each other.

440.14 Location. Disconnecting means shall be located within sight from, and readily accessible from the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. The disconnecting means shall be permitted to be installed on or within the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment.
The disconnecting means shall not be located on panels that 
are designed to allow access to the air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment or to obscure the equipment nameplate(s)

430.112 Motors Served by Single Disconnecting Means. Each motor shall be provided with an individual disconnecting means.
Exception: A single disconnecting means shall be permitted to serve a group of motors under any one of the conditions of (1), (2), and (3). The single disconnecting means shall be rated in accordance with 430.110(C).
(1)Where a number of motors drive several parts of a single machine or piece of apparatus, such as metal and woodworking machines, cranes, and hoists.
(2)Where a group of motors is under the protection of one set of branch-circuit protective devices as permitted by 430.53( A ).
(3)Where a group of motors is in a single room within sight from the location of the disconnecting means.
 
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In the standard NEC, 440.14 has an exception that allows a lockable breaker like steveray says. I would allow something like this: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Eaton-CH-Circuit-Breaker-Padlocking-Device-CHPLCS/202959540

There is a second exception that also allows a receptacle outlet that is only required to be accessible, not readily accessible. For the indoor portion of a minisplit, that could eliminate the working space requirements since a receptacle can be tested without being exposed to live parts, and it looks a little more normal than a disconnect box.
 
BN4537 said:
NEC, 440.14 has an exception that allows a lockable breaker like steveray says.
Click to expand...
The exception does not fit well with a residential mini-split AC.

Exception No. 1: Where the disconnecting means provided in accordance with 430.102(A) is lockable in accordance with 110.25 and the refrigerating or air-conditioning equipment is essential to an industrial process in a facility with written safety procedures, and where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the equipment, a disconnecting means within sight from the equipment shall not be required.

Exception No. 2: Where an attachment plug and receptacle serve as thedisconnecting means in accordance with 440.13, their location shall beaccessible but shall not be required to be readily accessible.
 
ICE said:
The exception does not fit well with a residential mini-split AC.

Exception No. 1: Where the disconnecting means provided in accordance with 430.102(A) is lockable in accordance with 110.25 and the refrigerating or air-conditioning equipment is essential to an industrial process in a facility with written safety procedures, and where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the equipment, a disconnecting means within sight from the equipment shall not be required.

Exception No. 2: Where an attachment plug and receptacle serve as thedisconnecting means in accordance with 440.13, their location shall beaccessible but shall not be required to be readily accessible.
Click to expand...
Missed that, thought it was the same as other discos for appliances/etc. o_O
 
The font used for Exception # 3 is not Italicized. If it is not Italicized, it is not enforceable.

Please explain how was this uploaded so that the background is blue and I can't copy any of it?
 
ICE said:
The font used for Exception # 3 is not Italicized. If it is not Italicized, it is not enforceable.

Please explain how was this uploaded so that the background is blue and I can't copy any of it?
Click to expand...
How about now?

440.14 Location
Disconnecting means shall be located within sight from, and readily accessible from the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment. The disconnecting means shall be permitted to be installed on or within the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment.
The disconnecting means shall not be located on panels that are designed to allow access to the air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment or to obscure the equipment nameplate(s).
Exception No. 1: Where the disconnecting means provided in accordance with 430.102(A) is lockable in accordance with 110.25 and the refrigerating or air-conditioning equipment is essential to an industrial process in a facility with written safety procedures, and where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the equipment, a disconnecting means within sight from the equipment shall not be required.
Exception No. 2: Where an attachment plug and receptacle serve as the disconnecting means in accordance with 440.13, their location shall be accessible but shall not be required to be readily accessible.
Exception No. 3: Where the interior section of a factory packaged split system is fed solely from the exterior section of the system and the disconnecting means for the exterior section is capable of being locked in the open position, a separate disconnecting means for the interior section shall not be required within sight from that section. The provisions for locking or adding a lock to the disconnecting means shall remain in place with or without the lock installed.
Informational Note No. 1: See Parts VII and IX of Article 430 for additional requirements.
Informational Note No. 2: See 110.26.
 
steveray said:
How about now?
Click to expand...
Well now I can copy and paste but none of it is italicized and it is unenforceable.....

Grok:
2023 NEC Section 440.14 – Location (of Disconnecting Means)
(Exact wording from the 2023 National Electrical Code)
440.14 Location.The disconnecting means required by 440.12 shall be located within sight from and readily accessible from the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment.The disconnecting means shall be permitted to be installed on or within the air-conditioning or refrigerating equipment.The disconnecting means shall comply with the working space requirements in 110.26(A).
Exception No. 1:
Where the disconnecting means provided in accordance with 440.12 is capable of being locked in the open (off) position and the disconnecting means is not located within sight from the equipment, the provisions of 440.12 shall be permitted to be satisfied by one of the following methods:(a) A disconnecting means that is capable of being locked in the open position shall be installed adjacent to the equipment, or
(b) A permanently installed warning sign, with letters at least 13 mm (½ in.) high, shall be placed on the equipment indicating the location of the disconnecting means that is not within sight.
Exception No. 2:
For cord-and-plug-connected equipment, such as room air conditioners, household refrigerators and freezers, drinking water coolers, and beverage dispensers, a separable connector or an attachment plug and receptacle shall be permitted to serve as the disconnecting means. The attachment plug and receptacle serving as the disconnecting means shall not be required to be readily accessible.Informational Note: See Article 100 for the definition of “within sight from.”Key points in plain language (2023 edition):
  • Must be within sight (≤ 50 ft and visible) and readily accessible from the equipment.
  • Can be mounted on or inside the unit itself.
  • Must have proper working space per 110.26(A) (new explicit requirement in 2023).
  • Two exceptions allow remote disconnects under strict lockout and signage conditions.
  • Cord-and-plug equipment is exempt from the “readily accessible” receptacle rule.
This is the current, unchanged text as of November 2025 (2023 NEC is still the latest adopted edition in most U.S. jurisdictions).

Your code may vary.
 
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