<![CDATA[Mike Holt's Forum - Low Voltage and Limited Energy]]> http://forums.mikeholt.com/ en Thu, 23 May 2013 19:18:24 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.mikeholt.com/images/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[Mike Holt's Forum - Low Voltage and Limited Energy]]> http://forums.mikeholt.com/ Sprinkler Head Question http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153712&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 00:50:43 GMT I know this is more of a mech/plumbing question, but here goes: Why are sprinkler heads turned up whenever there is no ceiling and down when there... I know this is more of a mech/plumbing question, but here goes:

Why are sprinkler heads turned up whenever there is no ceiling and down when there is? (This is what I have seen in most buildings)

Just an example say you have a room that was used as an office (sprinkler heads down), later on - the ripped out the ceiling and converted it into a storage room (sprinkler heads now up). I just dont understand the whole coverage/spray pattern argument - are they saying that because the head is turned down , it is assumed there is nothing combustable above the ceiling. ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy ElectDesigner http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153712 Need information on Florida licensing or county licensing http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153634&goto=newpost Mon, 20 May 2013 00:35:18 GMT Hello I am looking to get Low Voltage License in Florida or at least in Hillsborough county. I understand experience is needed. I have 10... Hello

I am looking to get Low Voltage License in Florida or at least in Hillsborough county.

I understand experience is needed. I have 10 years experience in network administration. I have done my fair share of running cables for data, voice, and video. I have installed many types of hardware that fall under Low Voltage. I have setup up many new office spaces and very familiar with fire codes and laws for laying cable.

Does my previous network admin experience fulfill the county and/or state county requirements.

Also, who can I contact to help with the application and setup process?

Thanks for any help. ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy wbeard6142 http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153634 411.5(C) Listing bare conductors for lower installation height http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153593&goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 18:32:32 GMT I work for an LED lighting manufacturer and am designing a new product. We would like to utilize a track type system for 24 volts Class 2 use and... I work for an LED lighting manufacturer and am designing a new product. We would like to utilize a track type system for 24 volts Class 2 use and want it to be usable below 7 feet above the finished floor. Does anyone know what UL is looking for in specifically listing a product with exposed conductors for use below 7 ft to comply with 411.5(C)? I have searched UL 1574 and can't find this 7 foot rule mentioned. In 1574 17.1 Exception No. 1 says the conductors need not be inaccessible if under 30 volts and isolated as Class 2 circuits are. The only thing I can guess is the conductors have to be shrouded so the UL articulate probe can't contact them, as they do for line voltage track systems. I've seen other low voltage track systems and they seem to deal with the issue by using higher voltage style shrouded conductors. I would like to utilize conductive ribbon conductors in a partially shrouded track to reduce manufacturing cost. This however won't completely escape the articulate probe. Do we have any other options here?

Doug ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy nc5p http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153593 doorbell http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153477&goto=newpost Mon, 13 May 2013 01:23:24 GMT Here's my problem, I replaced a buzzer style door chime with a regular chime because the client hated the sound. Now when the button is pushed the chime sounds and it's followed by a buzz. What's up with this? The transformer is attached to a jbox and the chime and button were wired in phone wire. I have bypassed the switch and still get the same result. Any idea's ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy Jan http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153477 18W 12V lamp issue http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153412&goto=newpost Fri, 10 May 2013 00:53:44 GMT I could use a little help. I went to a customer’s today to look into his LV Landscape Lighting. These lights were installed mid February of this... I could use a little help. I went to a customer’s today to look into his LV Landscape Lighting. These lights were installed mid February of this year. There are 9 18W, 12V Malibu Tulip style walkway lights, 6 35W Malibu Well lights. There is a 600W transformer, 2 300Ws.
There are 3 of the 18W and 3 of the 35W on one half of the transformer, the rest are on the other half.

The issue:
For the last few months there have been no problems, about a week or so ago 8 of the 9 Tulip light bulbs burned out over a two day period. 3 of the 8 new bulbs went out in about three days.

The lights are on at night for about 9 hrs. The bulb package states that the bulbs should last ½ year based on 3 hrs of burn each day. By my calculations, with the amount of time these are on each night they should last about 2 months, this sounds right for the original bulbs, what I can’t see is why the replacements are burning out so quickly.

Any ideas why this is starting to happen?

Here is a photo of a few of the old bulbs.
Attachment 8512
Attached Images
 
]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy 1793 http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153412 Elevator shunt trip http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153405&goto=newpost Thu, 09 May 2013 22:13:23 GMT How does this set up work? Elevator guys states I do not need a fused disconnect with aux contacts for shunt trip as there is already a disconnect... How does this set up work?
Elevator guys states I do not need a fused disconnect with aux contacts for shunt trip as there is already a disconnect inside the elevator controller.
Heats are not required in the shaft due to local codes (no sprinkler heads inside the shaft)
How exactly does the shunt trip get activated? ( it is a 120v shunt) ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy bgelectric http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153405 Elevator firealarm connections http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153404&goto=newpost Thu, 09 May 2013 22:10:48 GMT So I need some help figuring this out. How do the fire hat, priamary recall, alternate recall, and shunt trip modules get tied into the elevator... So I need some help figuring this out.
How do the fire hat, priamary recall, alternate recall, and shunt trip modules get tied into the elevator controls?
Or do they not?
Are there a set of contacts that each of the modules tie into and thats all? ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy bgelectric http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153404 What Circuits are Power-Limited Circuits? http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153387&goto=newpost Thu, 09 May 2013 12:58:42 GMT This is my take: Class 1 power limited, Class 2, and Class 3 remote-control and signaling Class 1 power limited, Class 2, and Class 3 that... This is my take:

Class 1 power limited, Class 2, and Class 3
remote-control and signaling

Class 1 power limited, Class 2, and Class 3
that are not remote-control and signaling

Agree or disagree? ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy al http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153387 Dual Voltage rated LV cable? http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153334&goto=newpost Mon, 06 May 2013 23:35:16 GMT A customertoday askedme what the voltage rating on our landscape cable is. I started saying 30v and he said/questioned 120volts. I said no way, not... A customertoday askedme what the voltage rating on our landscape cable is. I started saying 30v and he said/questioned 120volts. I said no way, not 120. Sure enough the cable said both 30v and 150v! This is from Southwire, the cable we've been selling is from Carrol and that only says 30v's. Aside from feeling like an idiot in front of this guy, why would this cable has a dual rating? ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy mark32 http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153334 <![CDATA[-48 Volt DC wiring In 2" Conduit]]> http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153330&goto=newpost Mon, 06 May 2013 22:18:00 GMT How many #6 DC wires can I fit in a 2" conduit? Do I have to de-rate the conductors in the same fashion I would AC power conductors? ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy wjones@tel-eng.com http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153330 CCTV monitor displaying a different input when no motion http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153323&goto=newpost Mon, 06 May 2013 20:46:14 GMT Hi all, first time poster here.

I'm working on a CCTV system for a client and I'm running into a request I haven't seen before, and I was hoping to get some feedback on the best possible ways to achieve my end goal.

The system will consist of a camera monitoring a hallway. A display will be mounted outside of the hallway. When there is no motion in the hallway, the monitor is to display CNN or some sort of news station. Once motion is detected, the monitor will then switch to live feedback of the hallway.

I'm wondering what the best possible way of doing this is. I know cameras are capable of determining when there is motion. Would there be a way to change inputs on the monitor (probably a flatscreen TV) to the CCTV input when it is recording, and then back to input 2 (cable, dish, etc.) when the camera is not recording? I also thought of possibly controlling this with a seperate occ sensor in the hallway.

Looking for any feedback!

Thanks,

-Steve ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy StevieJ612 http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153323 Cat 6E cable certifier.... suggestions? http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153304&goto=newpost Mon, 06 May 2013 05:56:09 GMT i have had it. i just spent sunday evening certifying 100 nodes of 6E with a steam powered JDSU POS. this thing is so slow..... to write to... i have had it.

i just spent sunday evening certifying 100
nodes of 6E with a steam powered JDSU POS.

this thing is so slow..... to write to the flash memory,
if your file contains more than 10 cable records, it takes
so long to save, you want to slit your wrists.

on cable record is 41 seconds to save test results....
add 15 seconds for each additional cable... do the math... :rant:

a level eleventeen POS this thing is.

that brings me to my request for those of you who do CAT stuff....
what flavor of cable certifier do you like?

i'd like to be able to do 6E, and fiber.... and when the protocol for cat 7
comes out, it'd be nice if i didn't have to throw the thing away for a new one.

i'm partial to fluke stuff, but god, some of it's expensive. strike that...
all of it's expensive, but this JDSU pride and joy just took 5 hours to do
an hours worth of work.

suggestions? thanks...... ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy Fulthrotl http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153304 Add fire alarm, do not connect sprinkler system? http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153244&goto=newpost Thu, 02 May 2013 20:25:59 GMT I cannot find a reason to not add a flow switch in this situation: Existing mercantile single story type II construction. Appears to be built... I cannot find a reason to not add a flow switch in this situation:

Existing mercantile single story type II construction. Appears to be built late 60's early 70's. More than 50% is being Renovated. Existing, complete sprinkler system. It had a water motor gong and line voltage bell tripped off the retard chamber via pressure switch. Both have been disabled. Shotgun riser, yard PIV is the only shut off. AHJ requies a fire alarm for renovation. Sprinkler company submits and gets approval to raise 25% of the heads to make the ceiling height uniform, nothing else. No flows or tampers. AHJ has very specific sprinker requirements, those were adopted in 2001. They do not separate new/existing work, flows etc are required to be connected to a FA.

I point out this is a problem. Customer's construction team said, submit drawings with required alarm components, no sprinkler. Strenuous objections are documented. I submit those plans, with a call out showing the riser room, indicating no existing or planned connection.


We get the to ahead on those plans....the AHJ is not illiterate, quite savvy actually. Other small items were required in their 'approval' letter. They do not stamp plans approved, they only approve completed installations. We are used to this and know exact what they want here, it's not unreasonable.

No final inspections have been made, 2 cursory walk throughs had been made by the AHJ's office. Nothing has been said yet.

We're operating on the premise this is going to cause some heartache when we get inspected. I'm not concerned for me, we're not going to hide anything.


Taking into account IBC NFPA 1 and life safety code 2009 editions are adopted and te FA is required, how can you not require an interconnection? ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy nhfire77 http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153244 Please help me find the Code for bundling wires. http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153242&goto=newpost Thu, 02 May 2013 19:39:35 GMT I am working with a panel builder and I need to find the code or standard that has an issue with bundling 120VAC power for motors (1hp @ 16 A) with... I am working with a panel builder and I need to find the code or standard that has an issue with bundling 120VAC power for motors (1hp @ 16 A) with 24Vdc control wires. Personnally, it is a bad idea but I have to come up with a code or a standard violation for him to make 2 runs.

Burchie ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy burchie http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153242 Fiberoptic for Beginners? http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153195&goto=newpost Wed, 01 May 2013 13:16:46 GMT Hello,

A customer would like for me to run and terminate a 400' line of fiberoptic cable for him in his plant. Is this something that takes months of experience to do or is it something that I can pick up easily? I took a fiberoptic course about 15 - years ago and about 4 - years ago I cleaved and terminated a swimming pool fiberoptic cable but I have never done network fiberoptic cabling.

Thanks, ]]> Low Voltage and Limited Energy Ravenvalor http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=153195