Outdoor receptacle support - ECN Electrical Forums

Does an outdoor recptacle for commericial application, city streetscape, require any special mounting requirements. Can a GFCI in a weathproof box be supported 4" above grade by the two 2" pvc schedule 80 conduits that contain the branch circuit wiring? Does the NEC require device to be mounted to an independent board or pipe.

Bobwk:
The NEC does not allow a box to be supported only by conduits in most circumstances. I do not have the article handy at the moment.
THe box should be supported independently. We use strut,(stainless or epoxy paint coated) or a substantial (4x4) wood post.

Based on our experiences, landscapers, and the general public seem to "attack" GP receptacles, therefore we assure a minimal amount of callbacks by providing a substantial means of support.

BTW, there are some commercially available mounting methods that I saw in either EC Mag, or EC&M by Arlington, you may want to chekc them out.

My 2 cents,
John

Quote

2002 NEC

314.23 Supports.

(F) Raceway Supported Enclosures, with Devices, Luminaires (Fixtures), or Lampholders.
An enclosure that contains a device(s) or supports a luminaire(s) [fixture(s)], lampholder, or other equipment and is supported by entering raceways shall not exceed 1650 cm3 (100 in.3) in size. It shall have threaded entries or have hubs identified for the purpose. It shall be supported by two or more conduits threaded wrenchtight into the enclosure or hubs. Each conduit shall be secured within 450 mm (18 in.) of the enclosure.

PVC is referred to in the code as Rigid Nonmetallic Conduit, so if you use two RNCs with male adapters into threaded hubs, you may well meet the code, but landscapers aim for stuff like this, IMO it will break, I would suggest using IMC or RMC for this.

Or do as hotline said and add a seperate support.

Just another opinion. [Linked Image]

Bob,
I think that you could reject the use of PVC conduit to support the box because you are not screwing the conduit into the box. You are screwing the male adapter which is connected to the conduit into the box. The section clearly requires that the conduit be screwed into the box.
Don

Don, good point, one that I missed. [Linked Image]

I would not want to see RNC used this way, and am glad it can be rejected.

Thanks, Bob

Here's the Arlington Industries Gard-N-Post that HotLine1 mentioned.
http://www.aifittings.com/whnew43.htm

Iwire:
As I mentioned..."in most cases", I took that route as to not open the proverbial can of worms.
As resqcapt pointed out, PVC doesn't fly (same for EMT),it's rigid or intermediate, two conduit entry. etc.

And BTW, BOBWK....you said "two 2" PVC into the box..." something don't sound right there either????

John

It appears to me that RNC shall not be used for the proposed installation.

See 352.10(H), 352.12(B), 352.12(C).