2 circuit light track

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rsoto

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If I specify 2 circuit, 3-wire light track, for use in an interior lighting application, does the code require that the overcurrent protective device feeding this length of track, be a 2 pole circuit breaker, or at the very least (2) single pole breakers with an approved handle tie? I guess I'm asking if a run of 2 circuit light track is considered a multiwire branch circuit by the NEC.

If I need to specify a 2 pole circuit breaker to protect this run of track, can I still specify (2) single pole toggle switches (or other single pole control device) to control each circuit separately? The whole point of having 2 circuit track is so that one can control one circuit of track independently from the other circuit.
 
rsoto said:
If I specify 2 circuit, 3-wire light track, for use in an interior lighting application, does the code require that the overcurrent protective device feeding this length of track, be a 2 pole circuit breaker, or at the very least (2) single pole breakers with an approved handle tie? I guess I'm asking if a run of 2 circuit light track is considered a multiwire branch circuit by the NEC.
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Forgetting about the track for a moment the circuit supplying will have to be a multiwire branch circuit and will have to have a common disconnecting means.

As far as the track itself actually being an NEC multiwire branch circuit I think we could argue that for many days. :)

If I need to specify a 2 pole circuit breaker to protect this run of track, can I still specify (2) single pole toggle switches (or other single pole control device) to control each circuit separately? The whole point of having 2 circuit track is so that one can control one circuit of track independently from the other circuit.
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Absolutely, you can control them independently.
 
Don't they make two circuit track with a separate neutral connections? That would eliminate the MWBC and the handle tie thing completely.
 
rsoto said:
If I specify 2 circuit, 3-wire light track, for use in an interior lighting application, does the code require that the overcurrent protective device feeding this length of track, be a 2 pole circuit breaker, or at the very least (2) single pole breakers with an approved handle tie? I guess I'm asking if a run of 2 circuit light track is considered a multiwire branch circuit by the NEC.

If I need to specify a 2 pole circuit breaker to protect this run of track, can I still specify (2) single pole toggle switches (or other single pole control device) to control each circuit separately? The whole point of having 2 circuit track is so that one can control one circuit of track independently from the other circuit.
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If the load on the two circuit track is permissible then only one circuit can feed a 2 circuit track. A 2 circuit track is a bit of a misnomer since it can be fed with one circuit and 2 switches.
 
infinity said:
Why?
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IMO if it is 3+G conductor track the only legal option would be a single MWBC.

If you can get '2-neutral' track like you described above you could feed it with two 2-wire or 1 MWBC.

I have never seen 2-neutral track but it would not surprise me if it exists due to dimming systems that require separate neutrals. :)
 
infinity said:
Why?
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What I am saying is if the load on the circuit is not greater than what is allowed, then only one circuit can feed the track-- You would have 2 switches fed from one circuit feeding the 2-circuit track-- 2 circuit does not necessarily mean 2 circuits are needed just 2 switch legs.
 
2 circuit light track

Thank you all for your replies.

There does exist 2 circuit 2 neutral tracks. It's a 5-wire track that has 2 line busses, 2 neutral busses & 1 ground bus. It's used mostly in commercial lighting applications where dimming of each of the 2 circuits is required.

I liked the answer about feeding the 2 circuit track with only one branch circuit. I could still control each of the 2 track lighting circuits independently, but I could feed the entire track run from only one branch circuit, & take 2 switch legs up the the track. It eliminates the multi-wire branch circuit conundrum.

Thanks for all who replied.
 
rsoto said:
Thank you all for your replies.

There does exist 2 circuit 2 neutral tracks. It's a 5-wire track that has 2 line busses, 2 neutral busses & 1 ground bus. It's used mostly in commercial lighting applications where dimming of each of the 2 circuits is required.

I liked the answer about feeding the 2 circuit track with only one branch circuit. I could still control each of the 2 track lighting circuits independently, but I could feed the entire track run from only one branch circuit, & take 2 switch legs up the the track. It eliminates the multi-wire branch circuit conundrum.

Thanks for all who replied.
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That is exactly what I was saying. :thumbsup:
 
rsoto said:
Thank you all for your replies.

There does exist 2 circuit 2 neutral tracks. It's a 5-wire track that has 2 line busses, 2 neutral busses & 1 ground bus. It's used mostly in commercial lighting applications where dimming of each of the 2 circuits is required.

I liked the answer about feeding the 2 circuit track with only one branch circuit. I could still control each of the 2 track lighting circuits independently, but I could feed the entire track run from only one branch circuit, & take 2 switch legs up the the track. It eliminates the multi-wire branch circuit conundrum.

Thanks for all who replied.
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I thought that I had installed something like that in a store installation. :happyyes:
 
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