I posted this question but for some reason I can't get back into my account:
Is it up to code to do a parallel circut with 220V? Is there a limit to number of splices?
Most things I see with 220V have both hot legs going through the switch or relay, current "returns" through the switch. Is it against code to wire one leg directly to the equipment and the other leg is switched as opposed to having both legs switched. It seems useless and a waste of wire to switch both legs.
Basically http://i.imgur.com/vWFyuCu.jpg vs https://i.imgur.com/p00KTlB.png (minus the GFCI as I'm not allowed to have that)
As a bonus question. I assume I need a "motor rated switch" as standard switches can weld due to the high startup current. Is this one legal\safe?
Best Answer
Switching both hots is necessary here as you have a two pole relay
Since you have the switch wired as a bypass switch, you need it to have the same number of poles as the thing you're bypassing. Otherwise, closing the bypass switch wouldn't do anything as the circuit still wouldn't be closed when the relay was open.
If the relay was single pole, your bypass switch could be single pole...
If the relay was a single pole relay that switched one leg/side of the motor circuit, you could use an appropriately rated manual motor controller as a single pole bypass for the relay. Motor controllers do not need to be all-pole devices as long as they aren't serving as disconnecting means, as per 430.84.
But you may need to get one of those two-pole switches no matter what
If you can't see the breaker box from the pump, then you'll need a two-pole switch, separate from your bypass switch, at the pump anyway to serve as a motor/controller disconnecting means satisfying 430.102 and 430.103. (You'd need this even if the bypass switch was not present!)