dcl34769
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I work as a repair tech and space on our trucks is precious. Anyway is t legal to use a 3 way $ in place of a 1pole $ ?
3 way $ as 1pole $
- Thread starter dcl34769
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goldstar
Senior Member
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- New Jersey
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- Electrical Contractor
Re: 3 way $ as 1pole $
Bennie,
I think this a gray area. Logic and $$$ dictate that if we're using a switch to power a 120 volt light or motor from only one location we should use a single pole switch which has "on & off" indicators. However, the exception to 404.7 indicates that vertically operated double throw switches are permitted to be "on" in either position. So, in this case, as long as the switch is installed in its encloisure properly and the handle is "up" in the "on" position for the light or motor we're powering where's the code violation ?
Phil
[ September 15, 2003, 11:13 PM: Message edited by: goldstar ]
Bennie,
I think this a gray area. Logic and $$$ dictate that if we're using a switch to power a 120 volt light or motor from only one location we should use a single pole switch which has "on & off" indicators. However, the exception to 404.7 indicates that vertically operated double throw switches are permitted to be "on" in either position. So, in this case, as long as the switch is installed in its encloisure properly and the handle is "up" in the "on" position for the light or motor we're powering where's the code violation ?
Phil
[ September 15, 2003, 11:13 PM: Message edited by: goldstar ]
G
Guest
Guest
Re: 3 way $ as 1pole $
From a practical context if the on/off markings on switches were in high contrast (black-on-white; white-on-brown; black-on-ivory) it would benefit the end user to some degree to have on/off markings.
Once a switch is wired up and oriented so up is on and down is off there is no practical benefit to the labeling. The markings are not visible to the end user from a distance. You have to get up pretty close to a switch to verify the on/off markings.
Or, am I missing something?
[ September 13, 2003, 12:55 PM: Message edited by: awwt ]
From a practical context if the on/off markings on switches were in high contrast (black-on-white; white-on-brown; black-on-ivory) it would benefit the end user to some degree to have on/off markings.
Once a switch is wired up and oriented so up is on and down is off there is no practical benefit to the labeling. The markings are not visible to the end user from a distance. You have to get up pretty close to a switch to verify the on/off markings.
Or, am I missing something?
[ September 13, 2003, 12:55 PM: Message edited by: awwt ]
Re: 3 way $ as 1pole $
If you are talking dollars, here is an example: a box of 10 3way switches costs around $13.00 -tax a box of 10 single poles cost around $6.00, -tax, if you are using 3 ways in place of single poles, do the math, in a year you are losing alot of money. Try to minimize the different types of material you carry on your service truck, it will be alot easier to keep track of what comes off your truck and what is needed for restock, even if you don't own the business any loss the company takes, its money you lose, rasies, profit sharing, benefits and the like.
If you are talking dollars, here is an example: a box of 10 3way switches costs around $13.00 -tax a box of 10 single poles cost around $6.00, -tax, if you are using 3 ways in place of single poles, do the math, in a year you are losing alot of money. Try to minimize the different types of material you carry on your service truck, it will be alot easier to keep track of what comes off your truck and what is needed for restock, even if you don't own the business any loss the company takes, its money you lose, rasies, profit sharing, benefits and the like.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: 3 way $ as 1pole $
In 1994 when I did SERVICE electrical work I had to use a lot of tricks so I would have enough room to carry all the accoutrement's necessary to avoid going shopping.
To that end I did not carry spools of #14 THHN, only #12 and up. Whenever it called for #14 I just used #12. Now if I had a big job and it warranted it, I would order up some #12, but on my service truck I only carried #12, #10, #2, 3/0, etc. I only carried stranded wire-- no solid (except bare solid).
Also, for bare ground I only carried #4 and #8 solid copper. #8 for bonding, and #4 for grounding. That kept that down.
I did carry SP switches. I'm too Scotch to waste a 3-way in place of an SP!
I carried segmented V-belts that could be assembled in 1" increments. I carried two 36" belts, which meant I could build any belt from a few inches up to 6 feet. The belting was actually better than a made-up belt. Yes, it cost more to build a belt that way-- but I did not have to carry sixty different belts-- only two. Of course this is assuming a "standard" pulley V. I rarely had to go belt shopping. My universal belt took care of it.
There is only so much room on a service truck and you have to shed some normal inventory to make room for things that can do double-duty.
One challenge as pointed out by the OP is to carry double-duty items and still meet the code. The code is priority one.
In 1994 when I did SERVICE electrical work I had to use a lot of tricks so I would have enough room to carry all the accoutrement's necessary to avoid going shopping.
To that end I did not carry spools of #14 THHN, only #12 and up. Whenever it called for #14 I just used #12. Now if I had a big job and it warranted it, I would order up some #12, but on my service truck I only carried #12, #10, #2, 3/0, etc. I only carried stranded wire-- no solid (except bare solid).
Also, for bare ground I only carried #4 and #8 solid copper. #8 for bonding, and #4 for grounding. That kept that down.
I did carry SP switches. I'm too Scotch to waste a 3-way in place of an SP!
I carried segmented V-belts that could be assembled in 1" increments. I carried two 36" belts, which meant I could build any belt from a few inches up to 6 feet. The belting was actually better than a made-up belt. Yes, it cost more to build a belt that way-- but I did not have to carry sixty different belts-- only two. Of course this is assuming a "standard" pulley V. I rarely had to go belt shopping. My universal belt took care of it.
There is only so much room on a service truck and you have to shed some normal inventory to make room for things that can do double-duty.
One challenge as pointed out by the OP is to carry double-duty items and still meet the code. The code is priority one.
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