410.130 (G) Disconnecting means

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qcroanoke

qcroanoke

Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
Location
Roanoke, VA.
Occupation
Sorta retired........
In our shelters we switch our flourescent fixtures with 2 switches
so that up to half of them can be turned off to comply with energy
codes.
My question is:
Does 410.103 (G) exception#5 exempt us from this requirement?
Thanks,
 
raider1 said:
I agree with haskindm, as long as the switches are locally accessible for the area the lights are in.

Chris
Click to expand...
That's what I thought.
But,isn't the neutral just as dangerous in a flourescent light circuit?
I've had my world rocked by a flourescent neutral and if safety is what is driving that new rule I would think they would want to open the neutral too.
JMO
 
qcroanoke said:
That's what I thought.
But,isn't the neutral just as dangerous in a flourescent light circuit?
I've had my world rocked by a flourescent neutral and if safety is what is driving that new rule I would think they would want to open the neutral too.
JMO
Click to expand...

If the fixtures are being fed with a multiwire branch circuit then the neutral is required to be disconnected with the ungrounded conductors and Exception #5 would not apply.

The neutral on a 2 wire branch circuit for a flourescent lighting load would not be a shock hazard if the ungrounded conductor was disconnected to the fixture. In multiwire branch circuits a danger exists if only the ungrounded conductor is disconnected.

Chris
 
raider1 said:
If the fixtures are being fed with a multiwire branch circuit then the neutral is required to be disconnected with the ungrounded conductors and Exception #5 would not apply.

The neutral on a 2 wire branch circuit for a flourescent lighting load would not be a shock hazard if the ungrounded conductor was disconnected to the fixture. In multiwire branch circuits a danger exists if only the ungrounded conductor is disconnected.

Chris
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Ok, hear me out on this, The light fixtures down stream of the light I'm working on are on the other switch but share the same neutral and circuit.
(Not a multi wire circuit)
If I have to open the neutral to remove the ballast from the circuit hasn't that created a hazard? Don't I now have fixtures looking for a neutral?
And if I happened to grab the neutral going to those fixtures aren't they going to look for ground through me? I know,I know. Only if I'm grounded.
But how many maintainance men and handy men change a ballast on an aluminum ladder? What if there is bare skin touching the ceiling grid?
Please understand I'm only playing the devil's advocate here.
Mike
P.s. please excuse my grammar and punctuation.
English was never my strong subject.
 
qcroanoke said:
If I have to open the neutral to remove the ballast from the circuit hasn't that created a hazard? Don't I now have fixtures looking for a neutral?
And if I happened to grab the neutral going to those fixtures aren't they going to look for ground through me? I know,I know. Only if I'm grounded.
Click to expand...
The answer to each question is the same: Only if you do it with the circuit energized, and at least one switch on.

You should be able to disconnect a ballast wire from a connection without opening the connection, I would think.
 
410.130(G) Disconnecting means

410.130(G) Disconnecting means

Absolutely it is a hazard if not wired as per 300.13(B) meaning you use a pigtail so you dont break the splice of a common neutral. Which is why I think this code chang is an accident waiting to happen. An open common neutral is potentially more dangerous than the supply conductors not only to you but also to the equipment it is no longer connected to if both circuit breakers on turned on.And if you get between a common neutral you will understand why it should not be switched
 
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