emergency lighting disconnecting means

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grandpa

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Do fluorescent fixtures powered by emergency ballasts require and local disconnecting means for fixture ballast repalcement. We have taken over a store utilizing these and there is no way to replace fixture ballasts without working them hot, which is very difficult.
 
mcclary's electrical

mcclary's electrical

Senior Member
Location
VA
grandpa said:
Do fluorescent fixtures powered by emergency ballasts require and local disconnecting means for fixture ballast repalcement. We have taken over a store utilizing these and there is no way to replace fixture ballasts without working them hot, which is very difficult.
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Welcome to the forum, if they were installed under 05' or 08' yes, they would be required to have the disco
 
J

JLEECME

Member
410.130 (G) exception 2: A disconnecting means shall NOT be required for emergency illumination required in 700.16.
 
raider1

raider1

Senior Member
Staff member
Location
Logan, Utah
Actually 410.130(G)(1) Exception #2 (2008)would permit you to not have a luminaire disconnecting means for emergency lighting in accordance with 700.16.

Chris
 
mcclary's electrical

mcclary's electrical

Senior Member
Location
VA
raider1 said:
Actually 410.130(G)(1) Exception #2 (2008)would permit you to not have a luminaire disconnecting means for emergency lighting in accordance with 700.16.

Chris
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I wonder why this is Chris? I usually put one in the e-light also,to avoid what the op is speaking of? What is the reasoning?
 
mcclary's electrical

mcclary's electrical

Senior Member
Location
VA
raider1 said:
My guess would be that the addition of a disconnecting means in an emergency lighting system could add an additional failure point in that system.

Chris
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Well I feel that way about every single one of those Orange disconnects, internally , they seem to be constructed no different than the common backstab, and I'm curious how well they'll hold up twenty years from now.
 
G

grandpa

Member
grandpa

grandpa

Thanks guys. It is interesting the code allows this. With back up power constant, you cannot change a ballast with no power present. Very difficult and dangerous on recessed cans with small j-boxes to work in.
 
G

grandpa

Member
grandpa

grandpa

Well, turning off the breaker doesn't work as the emergency ballasts automatically take over. That's the issue. Without a disconnecting means, it's always hot.
 
B

Bernard1599

Senior Member
Location
Maryland
grandpa said:
Well, turning off the breaker doesn't work as the emergency ballasts automatically take over. That's the issue. Without a disconnecting means, it's always hot.
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The emergency fluorescent ballast that I am familiar with is the Bodine. The ballast's charging indicator light is mounted on a separate box with all of the wires from emergency ballast in this box. There is an inverter connection that is similar to a wago that is between the red and white emg. ballast's wiring that disconnects the emg ballast from the fixture.

Hope this helps.
 
jumper

jumper

Senior Member
Location
3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
grandpa said:
Well, turning off the breaker doesn't work as the emergency ballasts automatically take over. That's the issue. Without a disconnecting means, it's always hot.
Click to expand...

Most of the ones I have worked with are like the ones Bernard talked about. There is usually two leads off the ballast or battery that you can disconnect and kill the output.

Here is a link to the Bodine brand that he talked about. The leads are marked inverter.

http://www.bodine.com/downloads/install/B50.inst.(elc).75000037.pdf
 
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