outdoor scoreboard

[pauld]

Had a contactor in wiring for outdoor led scoreboard and ran power from building to scoreboard in PVC conduit. Walked out to scoreboard and noticed no disconnecting means. Knowing that this particular scoreboard has no built in means to disconnect power, would this warrant a callback to the contactor. What nec articles apply in this case?

 

[jumper]

See Part II Article 225 (225.30 to 225.40) for disconnecting means and 250.32 for GES requirements.

 

[iwire]

Assuming this is a single branch circuit and not a feeder I would likely pass by article 225 and go right to article 600.

ARTICLE 600
Electric Signs and Outline Lighting

I. General

600.1 Scope. This article covers the installation of conductors,
equipment, and field wiring for electric signs and outline
lighting, regardless of voltage. All installations and equipment
using neon tubing, such as signs, decorative elements, skeleton
tubing, or art forms, are covered by this article.

600.6 Disconnects. Each sign and outline lighting system,
feeder circuit or branch circuit supplying a sign, outline
lighting system, or skeleton tubing shall be controlled by an
externally operable switch or circuit breaker that opens all
ungrounded conductors and controls no other load. The
switch or circuit breaker shall open all ungrounded conductors
simultaneously on multi-wire branch circuits in accordance
with 210.4(B). Signs and outline lighting systems
located within fountains shall have the disconnect located
in accordance with 680.12.

Exception No. 1: A disconnecting means shall not be required
for an exit directional sign located within a building.

Exception No. 2: A disconnecting means shall not be required
for cord-connected signs with an attachment plug.

(A) Location.

(1) Within Sight of the Sign. The disconnecting means shall
be within sight of the sign or outline lighting system that it
controls. Where the disconnecting means is out of the line of
sight from any section that is able to be energized, the disconnecting
means shall be capable of being locked in the open
position. The provision for locking or adding a lock to the
disconnecting means must remain in place at the switch or
circuit breaker whether the lock is installed or not. Portable
means for adding a lock to the switch or circuit breaker shall
not be permitted.

(2) Within Sight of the Controller. The following shall apply
for signs or outline lighting systems operated by electronic
or electromechanical controllers located external to the sign or
outline lighting system:

(1) The disconnecting means shall be permitted to be located
within sight of the controller or in the same enclosure with
the controller.

(2) The disconnecting means shall disconnect the sign or
outline lighting system and the controller from all ungrounded
supply conductors.

(3) The disconnecting means shall be designed such that
no pole can be operated independently and shall be
capable of being locked in the open position. The provisions
for locking or adding a lock to the disconnecting
means must remain in place at the switch or circuit
breaker whether the lock is installed or not. Portable
means for adding a lock to the switch or circuit breaker
shall not be permitted.

(B) Control Switch Rating. Switches, flashers, and similar
devices controlling transformers and electronic power supplies
shall be rated for controlling inductive loads or have a current
rating not less than twice the current rating of the transformer.

 

[kwired]

Assuming this is a single branch circuit and not a feeder I would likely pass by article 225 and go right to article 600.

Both 225 and 600 require a disconnect. The disconnect required by 225 needs to be suitable for use as service equipment where the disconnect required by 600 could be a simple toggle switch - so the question is which article applies more so than whether or not a disconnect is needed.

 

[iwire]

Both 225 and 600 require a disconnect. The disconnect required by 225 needs to be suitable for use as service equipment where the disconnect required by 600 could be a simple toggle switch - so the question is which article applies more so than whether or not a disconnect is needed.

I think you are stuck with a service rated switch at this time. But that was not the OPs question.



As far as location you can follow 600.

225.32 Location.

Exception No. 4: For poles or similar structures used only
for support of signs installed in accordance with Article
600, the disconnecting means shall be permitted to be located
elsewhere on the premises.

 

[kwired]

I think you are stuck with a service rated switch at this time. But that was not the OPs question.



As far as location you can follow 600.

600.6 still requires a disconnect within sight of the sign as I see it. The exception you mention just relieves us calling this a feeder to a separate structure, if the sign is the only load at the separate structure.

 

[iwire]

600.6 still requires a disconnect within sight of the sign as I see it.

The disconnect can be at the sign or at the controller.

The exception you mention just relieves us calling this a feeder to a separate structure, if the sign is the only load at the separate structure.

I have no idea where you came up with that.

The exception I pointed out removes the 225 requirement for a disconnecting means at a sign.

 

[kwired]

The disconnect can be at the sign or at the controller.

I can agree with that. Am in no way an expert on scoreboards, but the few I have been involved with the controller is within the scoreboard and the operator uses a console that is simply part of a remote control circuit that originates at the scoreboard controller. If that is case disconnect is needed at the scoreboard location. The controller within the scoreboard is not exactly the same thing as a controller for other signs, but today we have all these programmable signs instead of just illuminated signs they are really not much different than the scoreboard. I'd say for those the controller is also in the sign in pretty much all cases.

The exception you mention just relieves us calling this a feeder to a separate structure, if the sign is the only load at the separate structure.

I have no idea where you came up with that.

The exception I pointed out removes the 225 requirement for a disconnecting means at a sign.

Just another way of looking at it that accomplishes the same thing. If you are relieved from calling it a feeder to a separate structure then aren't you also relieved from needing a disconnect meeting other 225 requirements at the separate structure. The sign may still need a disconnect but only has to comply with art 600 and not 225.

 

[paul]

Did it pass inspection? If so, bring up the issue with your AHJ.