Electrician & code - extension cord

My FIL has a well pit with a sump pump. When they go south for the winter they shut off the well. The sump pump is on the same circuit. This means the pit can fill with water (they've had that happen during a power failure). FIL was going to string an extension cord from the house under the deck to the well pit and power the sump pump off of that. Then he could shut off the well and still have power to the sump pump. MIL said "better call an electrician, that's probably not code". I agreed, big time. Electrician came out and said "it'll cost $150-200 to put in a separate line but if I were you, I'd just run an extension cord out there". :roll: :roll: (I don't know what his name was, but I'd bet on "BUBBA")

Bubba?? Since when does National Electric Code
apply to using, or not using, extension cords?
I think the only mention in the NEC about
extension cords is that they should not be used as
substitutes for permanent wiring or concealed.

WHY not just install a properly-rated switch at the pump to turn the pump off while keeping the power on to the sump pump?

Probably a nuisance to shut it off at the pit, but still less of a nuisance than running a cord out there and plugging the pump into it.

Why not just unhook the wires to the pump?

Saw that once. Working on an old house, the upstairs rooms had the little brown lamp cord used as the circuit wire. Two whole rooms that way.

(quoted from post at 12:34:47 11/18/14) Bubba?? Since when does National Electric Code
apply to using, or not using, extension cords?
I think the only mention in the NEC about
extension cords is that they should not be used as
substitutes for permanent wiring or concealed.

Click to expand...

Yep. However the idea of doing a bit of rewiring in the well pit to be able to switch the pump off is the way I would go.

Reminds me of a young couple that were stationed to Italy. They found a small apartment, moved in and received a large bill for electricity at the end of the month. They compared bills of other apartments and found theirs was the highest.

They screwed out some of the fuses to see what went out that they could do without to lower the bill - and they noticed that when they removed one fuse the only streetlight on the block went out! The unhooked the wire to the streetlight and no one ever complained.

I would appreciate an electrician who didn't take advantage of me if he thought I was going to spend money needlessly.

I took a very very quick glance at my old NEC and in 300 Wiring Methods Table of Contents I didn't see much (quick glance mind you, no warranty) regarding extension cord use other then perhaps 90 day "temporary wiring" time limits and verification of the equipment grounding conductors on construction sites.

I didn't notice where it may be strictly forbidden, but don't forget an inductive 120 volt motor load (depends on its HP of course) is more voltage sensitive then the tank water heaters we discussed the other day. The thing is subject to current draw and wire gauge and length of the run, voltage drop may or may not become a factor to look at if extension cords come into play.

That being said, if the wire gauge and all else is okay (assume it is), Id take a look at a method to switch and disconnect and separate the pump and sump pump so you can turn one off. Subject to how hard it is to get to the wiring system, that shouldn't be all that difficult or expensive.

If you choose to use extension cords, not even knowing the current draw and length of run (so no warranty) I would probably use (if adequate) 12 gauge 3 wire and verify a good equipment ground connection.

As I often say, consult local authority, but as I know, they may be right or they may be wrong lol but unfortunately, you're stuck with them as they have the authority to turn your power on or not !!!!

Best wishes

John T

I have to agree. Most Christmas lighting would
not meet codes - if they were actually inspected
as if they were part of the permanent wiring. I
have an extension cord ran across my yard now to a
heated tub to prevent it from freezing until which
time I can bury a underground circuit. Oddly
enough I have had that wire laying in my shop to
bury for nearly 10 years.....still have not gotten
around to it. But, since no local code or
inspection (thankful for that), it works just
fine. Tough part is remembering to pick it it
prior to mowing the grass.

JD, I don't think an extension cord is allowed to be a PERMANENT circuit, either. They are designed for temporary use, (as some posters pointed out, Christmas lights.) Some might say "it works". But I'm more interested in doing it the right way. My FIL's intention is NOT temporary. Once that cord goes in, it'll be there forever.

Never mind the fact that an electrical cord running outside and then under a deck is subject to rodents chewing on it, degradation from UV , trip hazard. Putting a separate sump pump outlet (in conduit) in the pit and punching a hole into the crawl space from the pit and running a wire maybe 20' to the panel is not a major deal. As the electrician said, $150-200. Guess he just didn't want the work.

JMN, Like I posted below I didn't see much in the NEC Section 300 Wiring Methods about extension cord use aside from allowable "Temporary" use couldn't exceed 90 days and cords on construction sites need to have the equipment grounding conductor verified.

As an engineer I would not prefer use of an extension cord "permanently" but instead a permanent Wiring Method and not being there having to guess Id think it would be easier to adapt and modify to allow for separate switching out there so the pump can be off yet the sump pump on. A temporary cord would "work" for Billy Bob and Bubba I betcha but sometimes those temporary fixes remain permanent lol

Best wishes, do it right and per NEC may cost a few hundred or less BUT ISNT A LIFE WORTH THAT?? Your (or his) choice, none of ours

John T