2 different panels

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hardworkingstiff

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Wilmington, NC
The short story is on an underground diesel re-piping job, I had to make some controller modifications/replacements. Power for the 2 submerged pumps come from a panel in a remote building. The customer wanted the old indicator lights to light up when each pump was turned on. I told him I could do this with some relays and stay code compliant. He did not want to spend the extra money. The start-up tech for the new equipment decided to comply with the owners request w/out installing the control relays. The tech wired the 20-watt (120-volt) indicator lights with one leg of the pump power coming off of the load side of the starter and the neutral from the control power. The problem is the control power is coming through a separate conduit from a completely different electrical panel that is 300' from the panel that serves the pumps. IMO, this is a violation of 300.3(B).

Now the question. Does it really matter? It's a 20-watt light.
 
Its the control service to point of use why not a solo conduit.
Why would you want to combine LV circuits to some other service?
Theres no serperation of service as described in 300.3
(B), it is a service to the device... I must be missing something....:)
 
cadpoint said:
Its the control service to point of use why not a solo conduit.
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Fueling point and manual control of the pump is about 500' out on a pier from the tank/pump location. The conduit and wires were existing.
Why would you want to combine LV circuits to some other service?
Click to expand...
Conduit and wire were existing.
Theres no serperation of service as described in 300.3
(B), it is a service to the device... I must be missing something....:)
Click to expand...
I'm not sure what you are saying here.
 
You could also add auxiliary N/O contacts to the starters to switch the lights. They can't be that expensive.
 
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Combined services at the end of the pier not in OP : )
My first thought is still no, no to be combined.
I thought there is an apron coverage required when despensing services like this.
Seperate service for applicaton and seperate conduit!

His wire at the minimun has to eqaul your rated wire!

You might check the Fire marshall

I ain't seen the end of the pier in a long time...

here's a nice thought on piers
Dock and Pier Construction In Coastal Communities

http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/assist/cas/docks/index.htm
 
ultramegabob said:
I know its only a lightbub, but wouldnt that cause an imbalanced load in both panels?
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Yes it would, but since it is only 20-watts, I'm asking the question as to whether less than 1/5th of an amp would really be a problem?

I'm trying to decide if I want to raise a stink about what the tech did, or just let it go and note the violation on my final invoice to my customer (the tech works for my customer).
 
your not the one who did it, and its not your building, If you want to keep the guy as a customer and not piss them off, just make a note in your paperwork about it, something along the lines of "found indicator light being fed with power and neutral from seperate panels that is a potential hazzard to personel and or equipment, and made customer aware of issue" to "C.Y.A."
 
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