110v outlet at well housing?


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Old 01-06-23, 05:22 PM
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110v outlet at well housing?

I would like to add a 110v outlet in our well house to power a heat cable, to keep the water pipe (that is above ground at the well) from freezing in cold weather.

Currently there is a 220v (8/3? Romex) line running through a 3/4" flexible conduit buried between the house and well. The pressure switch is in the basement .... otherwise I would piggyback a 110v connection off of one leg of the 220v line.

I'm thinking of pulling two 12 gauge THHN wires (hot/neutral) through the conduit between the house and well, and piggyback the ground off of the 220v ground. And connect the THHN wires to a 15A GFCI breaker. The well is 100' from the house and 130' from the breaker box.

I think I have included all relevant information. Would this plan meet current building codes?
 
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Old 01-07-23, 05:45 AM
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You are only allowed to have one circuit to a separate building or structure (With the exception of a 3 way lighting circuit) so your plan does not meet code. The better option would be to install a small 120/240 volt sub panel at the well house so you can split off the feeder from the house to separate loads.

Currently what size breaker is feeding the well house? What size and how many wires are in the conduit currently? Is there any other loads at the well house other than the well pump itself? If so, what are they?
 
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Old 01-07-23, 06:30 AM
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If the OP is under the 2020 NEC it allows multiple power feeds to a structure when meeting certain requirements. 2020 NEC 225.30(B)
 
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Old 01-07-23, 06:33 AM
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You are already have a code violation, Romex can’t be buried, even in conduit, I doubt that you will be able to pull more conductors in that conduit.
Geo🇺🇸
 
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Old 01-07-23, 07:01 AM
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Since the OP questioned the wire as romex I was suspecting it maybe UF.
 
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Old 01-07-23, 07:44 AM
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The way it's plumbed now he can't install a subpanel in the well house because the 240v is switched on/off inside the house by the pressure switch. It could be made to work by relocating the pressure switch to the well house. That way the existing wiring could be used to feed a subpanel and then one circuit to feed the pressure switch & pump and one for the heat tape.
 
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Old 01-07-23, 09:52 AM
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If the OP is under the 2020 NEC it allows multiple power feeds to a structure when meeting certain requirements. 2020 NEC 225.30(B)
Sure but each feed is required to have its own disconnect and be grouped in the same area. It seems to me that it would be easier to just have one feeder to a sub-panel at the well house.

The way it's plumbed now he can't install a subpanel in the well house because the 240v is switched on/off inside the house by the pressure switch
​​​​​​​If it is a well house I would assume the pressure tank and switch would be located at the well house.
 
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Old 01-07-23, 10:37 AM
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I think the well house is not heated since the OP is trying to add heat tape to prevent the well water line from freezing, so I'd think that location for the pressure tank is not suitable due to freezing.
 
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