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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 943 Likes: 2
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Yes, but he probably wouldn’t even need GFCI protection for those 120V outlets if they are mounted over 6’6” above grade. Most of the low-density 120V and 240V heat tapes I deal with usually come with their own factory installed GFCI and/or GFP protection anyway. Sixer is in British Columbia, so subject to the CEC.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 265
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Heating cables need to be GFCI protected in Canada, regardless of how high the receptacle is mounted.
Sixer
"Will it be cheaper if I drill the holes for you?"
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 764
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Sorry, I didn’t even notice your location since this was posted in the General Discussion Area and not Canadian Code Issues forum. MY bad!
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 265
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My original post was not a code issue. It was a general question asking if the planned installation would work, not if GFCI's were required. This is why it was posted in the General Forum - the thread has drifted off-topic a bit.
Sixer
"Will it be cheaper if I drill the holes for you?"
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 174
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My 2 cents worth:
Just make sure your DP breaker has a neutral lug(or pigtail) and it will work just fine.
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 265
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Thanks for your responses everyone. I'll let you know how this turns out.
I should have mentioned that this is for a motel that has a 5-foot overhang on 150 feet of roof and eavestroughs that needs the cables. Roofers will be installing 10 heating cables, with the possibility of adding more if required. We'll be installing a 100 amp 3-phase contactor controlled by a thermostat which in turn will supply a 100 amp 3 phase panel dedicated for the heating cables.
There's quite a bit of work here - which was why I wanted to confirm if it would work beforehand.
Sixer
"Will it be cheaper if I drill the holes for you?"
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,498
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Yes, it would. Take as an example European 3-phase installs which generally protect the entire place with 30mA 4-pole GFIs (the fact that our RCDs are supposed to be merely electromechanical doesn't come into play here), with both symmetric 3 phase loads as well as single phase loads connected phase to phase (some 400V heaters) and phase to neutral.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443 Likes: 3
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The argument is, if the wattage of 2 heating cables in one receptacle are different, will the GFCI trip? One of my employees thinks the load needs to be balanced and the heating cables each need to be on their own single pole GFCI breaker.
Randy, It makes no difference, all the GFCI is monitoring is a current imbalance, between the Line and Neutral conductors in the circuit. GFCI's do not differentiate between sizes of load on the same circuit, they are after all, only a safety device, designed to trip on "earth leakage". Hope the job goes well.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445 Likes: 3
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Sorry I've been away - computer troubles- and haven't been properly watching things here.
Roof de-icing cables do need GFI protection, but it's NOT what you think.
The usual GFI receptacles and breakers are not appropriate. Nor are AFCI breakers. You need a specific type listed for that specific use - and thse are set at 30mA (compared to 5mA for th3e usual ones).
Quite often, the fastest and cheapest way to get this is by also buying the controller from cable maker. Indeed, the controllers have this protection built in, as well as other features (like provision for a 'snow sensor").
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Posts: 57
Joined: August 2003
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