390.6

[paul]

I was wiring up a bunch of Walker floor duct recepts today and was wondering what the intent of 390.6 is. Anyone know why they want you to loop wire the devices and not splice and what safety benefit this gives us?

 

[benaround]

Re: 390.6

Paul,

Are you talking about splicing in the Walker Duct?

If so,Then the next person to push a fish tape in the duct could hook it inside a wire nut.

 

[LarryFine]

Re: 390.6

Originally posted by paul:
I was wiring up a bunch of Walker floor duct recepts today and was wondering what the intent of 390.6 is. Anyone know why they want you to loop wire the devices and not splice and what safety benefit this gives us?

Because, if a device is removed, the length of conductors between the last device and this one, and those between this one and the next one, are supposed to be removed and replaced with new, unbroken lengths.

It's difficult enough to remove and replace conductors without having to contend with joints in the wires. Plus, water can collect in in-floor duct raceways and wireways.

 

[iwire]

Re: 390.6

Most times 390.6 is not an issue.

If you install a 'dog house' for an outlet you do not have to loop wire it as the doghouse is a junction box.

I have never installed devices directly in walker duct.

390.6 Splices and Taps.
Splices and taps shall be made only in junction boxes.

For the purposes of this section, so-called loop wiring (continuous, unbroken conductor connecting the individual outlets) shall not be considered to be a splice or tap.

 

[paul]

Re: 390.6

We are installing these, so it does have to be loop wired. The other side of the floor will get doghouses, or tombstones as we call them.

 

[iwire]

Re: 390.6

Paul I looked at the pdf and am still not sure that loop wiring is required.

The outlet will not be in the duct or raceway, the outlet will be contained in the attaching ring.

Not that loop wiring is a big deal, I just do not believe it is required unless the outlet is actually in the duct which with walker duct I do not believe is possible.

I have worked with 'Robertson' floor systems that the outlet is actually in the raceway.

 

[paul]

Re: 390.6

I guess it would be determined if the preset is considered a junction box, since the code says that splices and taps can be made only in junction boxes. But still, to me, as long as it's accessible, what is the harm of splicing?