410.67 Luminaire Tap Conductors

[mfeining]

Can someone please enlighten me?

When wiring a room full of troffers (2x4 drop-ins), can the a wiring method be run from fixture to fixture or does each luminaire need to be terminated in a box?

The basis of my question is:

410.67B seems to allow a wiring method to be be used to connect luminaire to luminaire without a an outlet box as branch circuit conductors as long as temperature limitations are not exceeded.

410.67C is the only place that I am aware of where tap conductors are referred to besides the tap rule in 240. I feel the intent of this section is to limit the length of conductors smaller than the branch circuit conductors to 6 feet. I also surmise they shall be run to an outlet box so they are not inadvertently used as branch circuit conductors which would carry more load than just the individual luminaire being connected with them.

Please advise. Thanks in advance for any helpful responses.

 

[augie47]

You may get a beter answer later, but as best I can tell:
410.67 (2005) I believe is for flush and recessed fixtures and not for "troffers"
On a branch circuit, as long as your circuit conductors are properly rated you can run an approved wiring method between any number of fixtures.
As an example 12/2 MC could be used to wire multiple fixtures without a j box.
If you are using a "fixture whip" with reduced size conductors to supply a fixture then 240.4(D) and 250.118(7) come into play.
240.4 would allow you to use a reduced size fixture wire such as TFFN on a 15 or 20 amp circuit, and 250.118 would allow that whip to be up to 6 ft long and terminate at a fixture.

 

[mfeining]

Hello Gus,
I agree with your 240.4 reference regarding fixture tap conductors. I think the burning question is: what is considered a "tap conductor" and why isn't it in article 100. This would be an excellent proposal if one could clearly define the term.