410.130(G)(1)

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chris kennedy

chris kennedy

Senior Member
Location
Miami Fla.
Occupation
60 yr old tool twisting electrician
Had an interesting situation with an inspector Thursday. I have 100 some odd 2×2 layins using T5 plug in lamps. He asked to see one of the 410.130 disconnecting means in one. These luminaires came whipped so I never opened one.
Opened one up and looked in shock as there was no ballast disco means. When was the last time any of us has seen a florescent that didn't have a manufacture install disco means???

Then it hit me. Got the book out, showed him the art, he calls the chief and they decide no disco is required. The following is the lamp in question. Why no disco?

4VC27_AS01
 
kwired

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
That section uses the words "double ended" when describing the lamp/luminaire type.

IMO it is a judgement call as to what that may mean though. There is still two ends to the arc tube of the lamp, they just happen to be on the same end of the complete assembly in this case.
 
luckylerado

luckylerado

Senior Member
Location
Lake of the Ozarks
kwired said:
That section uses the words "double ended" when describing the lamp/luminaire type.

IMO it is a judgement call as to what that may mean though. There is still two ends to the arc tube of the lamp, they just happen to be on the same end of the complete assembly in this case.
Click to expand...

That is what I would have argued had they pressed it.
 
J

JFletcher

Senior Member
Location
Williamsburg, VA
wag, but U-bulbs or these 2/4 pin fluorescents, are unlikely to arc upon removal from a hot fixture against the metal frame, unlike the way bi-pin 4' and mono-pin 8' are. yeah, you're not supposed to change them live, but given shutting down an entire room/hallway and doing it in the dark, or yanking the ballast cover and unclipping the factory disco, the avg maintenance man will change them hot.
 
ActionDave

ActionDave

Chief Moderator
Staff member
Location
Durango, CO, 10 h 20 min from the winged horses.
Occupation
Licensed Electrician
JFletcher said:
wag, but U-bulbs or these 2/4 pin fluorescents, are unlikely to arc upon removal from a hot fixture against the metal frame, unlike the way bi-pin 4' and mono-pin 8' are. yeah, you're not supposed to change them live, but given shutting down an entire room/hallway and doing it in the dark, or yanking the ballast cover and unclipping the factory disco, the avg maintenance man will change them hot.
Click to expand...
Not so sure about that. You are allowed to use the factory installed disconnects to change a ballast without switching off the fixture and you have to pull the lamps on most 4' fixtures to get the ballast cover off.

You don't have to have disconnects on CFL ballasts on can lights either and those can be much harder to work on than trouffers.
 
kwired

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
At the time the disconnect rule was added to NEC we didn't have all the LED luminaires we have today, 4 foot straight lamp fixtures (both t12 and t8) were dominant in what was out there and that rule was mostly targeted at those. I believe a major factor was the number of electrocutions and other injuries that had been occurring by people performing hot ballast changes in those luminaires. Maybe wasn't as many electrocutions/injuries on 120 volts supplies, probably many non reported incidents but with 277 volts there likely was more incidents that ended up in either death or a more serious outcome for the worker.

If people follow 70E or other safety requirements suitable to OSHA, this code rule shouldn't be necessary - but is maybe good design anyway.
 
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