Installing a power pedestal. Anyone familiar with electrical code?

[Finster]

I want shore power for the camper while Im at home. Im about to start installing either a power pedestal, or a box mounted on a post with at 30a outlet and a 20a gfci outlet next to my garage. I cant mount it to the garage itself as I have a sliding fence gate that rests against the garage and travels its entire length. You can read more about the gate here;
http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f68/cantilever-gate-and-gravel-pad-build-lots-of-pics-117631.html
Im thinking it's going to have to be independent of the garage and be mounted in front of the gate on a post or pedestal.


My question is, can I run wire through conduit over top of the concrete the gate is mounted to, from the garage to the pedestal under the gate? Or am I going to have to trench around the cement and bury it?

I obviously want to be code complaint, and I cant seem to find anything regarding running conduit over cement. Only minimum depths that conduit is supposed to be buried. Going under the cement isn't really an option, its 18" thick and anchored to the garage foundation with rebar.

[railroaderone]

Can you come out of the wall just to the left of the concrete? If so you could come out of the wall there into a swept 90 if not a schduled 80 conduit can run across the top of the concrete will have to be fastened down in one place

[Finster]

Originally Posted by railroaderone

Can you come out of the wall just to the left of the concrete? If so you could come out of the wall there into a swept 90 if not a schduled 80 conduit can run across the top of the concrete will have to be fastened down in one place

Well, that's what Im getting at. It doesn't have to be to the left of the concrete. I want it to come out above the concrete and go between the two gate trolleys, under the gate to the pedestal. I have 4" of clearance between the gate panels and the siding on the garage. I should be able to fit a conduit in there. It would be a straight run. My question is, is it code compliant to run it over concrete or does it have to be buried?

[NMWildcat]

Here is my take on these kind of questions: if you are really worried about code, then all your questions can be answered by the local government agency where you drew your permit.

If you are doing it yourself without a permit, and asking these kind of questions, you should rethink and perhaps hire a local licensed contractor to do the work correctly the first time.

[Gonefishing1]

Is it code compliance or not. That depends where you reside each county has different code requirements. Where I am wires have to be buried using underground wire 2 foot deep. If above ground have to be in conduit metal or pvc type.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Here is my take on these kind of questions: if you are really worried about code, then all your questions can be answered by the local government agency where you drew your permit.

If you are doing it yourself without a permit, and asking these kind of questions, you should rethink and perhaps hire a local licensed contractor to do the work correctly the first time.

I agree.
Code is locale dependent.
What is OK here may not be there.
Check with your associated agency.

[railroaderone]

If in conduit and secured it meets the stricter version of the code

[Bama Rambler]

Railroaderone is correct. If it's in conduit and secured it complies with the NEC.

I prefer rigid metal conduit to PVC It's a little harder to work with, but provides more protection against abuse. Especially since you're running on top of concrete.

[wmtire]

Whoever does install the 30 amp outlet, make absolute sure they know it's 120 volts only. We keep a printable pdf file at this link that you can print out and hand to anyone who installs the 30 amp outlet.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...let-27223.html

We've had professionals and amateurs miswire these outlets for 240 volts and really damage RV's.

[Finster]

I'll be doing the work myself. I just ran a new 100a service to the garage last year, so I have plenty of room in the panel. Wiring it is not an issue. Mostly, I just wanted to get my ducks in a row. I can certainly ask the building dept. when I'm there pulling the permit but I'm not going to make it down there until the day I do the work. I need to have materials bought and prepared beforehand. Some of it will need to be ordered. If I lay the conduit over the cement, I'll be using galvanized. If I bury it, I prefer pvc, and I'll need more wire.
If this was a job I was doing at work, I wouldn't think twice about running it right over the cement. But industrial electrical and residential are in two different worlds. Residential requirements are far more strict, and we don't pull permits or have any thing inspected. It's not necessary.

[jtesta1]

Get an electrician.

[inspecelec]

IF you can access the National Electric code, Article 551.80 (B) This explains the feeders to the pedestal must be protected from physical damage.
you can log onto NFPA.org and get free access to NFPA 70 (the electrical code).


Good Luck

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by inspecelec

IF you can access the National Electric code, Article 551.80 (B) This explains the feeders to the pedestal must be protected from physical damage.
you can log onto NFPA.org and get free access to NFPA 70 (the electrical code).


Good Luck

That's all good, but doesn't address any local requirements that usually go beyond NEC.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Be aware that if you are required to pull a permit they often require a physical inspection before you can backfill the trench. I would call code enforcement with your questions. Some require the work be performed or certified by a licensed electrician.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody

Be aware that if you are required to pull a permit they often require a physical inspection before you can backfill the trench. I would call code enforcement with your questions. Some require the work be performed or certified by a licensed electrician.

Around here a homeowner can do his own work, they just have to pull a "Safe Wiring" permit.

Have to do it yourself, can't have "Cousin Bob" or "Nate the Neighbor" do it.

The work get's inspected.


That said I'd wager that only 10% of the work like this done in my County gets either a permit or inspected.

[DRiveWell]

You may want to consider the "trip factor" for any surface mounted conduit.

[Larry-NC]

Silly question: Have you thought about mounting a box on/in the garage wall, ABOVE the sliding gate? You might need a step stool to use it, but it would be a clean, easy install.

Larry

[Mr Towed]

To me it looks like you want to run it where it could possibly be considered a walkway, so that could be an issue, maybe a building code more than an electric code issue. The other issue is that, despite it being in conduit, it could still be considered susceptible to damage, if it is out in the open and could be run over by a vehicle, for instance. If it was running along a fence it might be a different story. I'd be interested to see what you find and to see the finished project.

[mwdilday]

I would bury it and put the pedestal near the plug on the RV. I hate wires laying on the ground.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Here is my take on these kind of questions: if you are really worried about code, then all your questions can be answered by the local government agency where you drew your permit.

If you are doing it yourself without a permit, and asking these kind of questions, you should rethink and perhaps hire a local licensed contractor to do the work correctly the first time.

This post wins the thread! Asking people on the internet electrical code is not very smart!