Butt Splice Leads in a ceiling fan down rod

[timbomko]

The factory leads are too short. Is it an acceptable practice to But Splice Leads in a ceiling fan down rod?

 

[Krusscher]

Gonna need more info in your profile. We are not allowed to give advice to DIY projects for safety reasons.

 

[Little Bill]

The factory leads are too short. Is it an acceptable practice to But Splice Leads in a ceiling fan down rod?

We lost a lot of member's profile with the change in the Forum, would you please update your profile to include your occupation and general location?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

The factory leads are too short. Is it an acceptable practice to But Splice Leads in a ceiling fan down rod?

It isn't compliant.

 

[hillbilly1]

It isn't compliant.

But is done all the time! LOL!

 

[infinity]

Code compliant or not unless you special order a fan with extra long conductors butt splicing is the only solution for when the conductors are too short. As hillbilly states it's done all of the time because it's the only real viable solution.

 

[Little Bill]

It isn't compliant.

Just curious, what would you cite as the violation? Maybe not accessible?

 

[Joethemechanic]

I hate those things, I find way too many that are the problem when I'm troubleshooting. If it was mine, I'd solder ind heat shrink

 

[Krusscher]

I hate those things, I find way too many that are the problem when I'm troubleshooting. If it was mine, I'd solder ind heat shrink

never had an issue with butt splices as long as they are done right and not in a location they shouldn't be.

 

[LarryFine]

I can't find any manufacturer's instructions for lengthening the wires.

 

[Joethemechanic]

as long as they are done right and not in a location they shouldn't be.

Most of the time they look like they were crimped with vise grips or linemans.

It's just one of those things, when I open up a control panel and see them, I know I'm in for a nightmare of undoing butchery. It's like when you go to work on the mechanical side of things and you find gobs of silicone seal, you know you are going to find hackwork

 

[tthh]

I hate those things, I find way too many that are the problem when I'm troubleshooting. If it was mine, I'd solder ind heat shrink

this is what I have done in those cases as well

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Guys, I never said it wasn't done all the time. I have done it also but there seemed to be a question as to whether or not the original poster was an electrician so I just left it at that.

 

[Fred B]

Other than conditions of 410.56(D) for luminaires,
"410.56(D) Splices and Taps.
No unnecessary splices or taps shall be made within or on a luminaire.".

Can you make an argument around this allowance? IDK.
Every other reference point to 300.15 that indicates splice are to be made in an enclosure.

300.15(A) Wiring Methods with Interior Access.
A box or conduit body shall not be required for each splice, junction, switch, pull, termination, or outlet points in wiring methods with removable covers, such as wireways, multioutlet assemblies, auxiliary gutters, and surface raceways. The covers shall be accessible after installation.

Don't see splices inside the drop tube as meeting that requirement.
Reference from 2017NEC

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Just curious, what would you cite as the violation? Maybe not accessible?

300.15

Rmc 344.56 Splices and Taps. Splices and taps shall be made in
accordance with 300.15.

300.15 Boxes, Conduit Bodies, or Fittings — Where Required.
A box shall be installed at each outlet and switch point for
concealed knob-and-tube wiring.
Fittings and connectors shall be used only with the specific
wiring methods for which they are designed and listed.
Where the wiring method is conduit, tubing, Type AC cable,
Type MC cable, Type MI cable, nonmetallic-sheathed cable, or
other cables, a box or conduit body shall be installed at each
conductor splice point, outlet point, switch point, junction
point, termination point, or pull point, unless otherwise
permitted in 300.15(A) through (L).

 

[Little Bill]

300.15

Rmc 344.56 Splices and Taps. Splices and taps shall be made in
accordance with 300.15.

I wouldn't think a downrod would be considered RMC.

 

[Krusscher]

I wouldn't think a downrod would be considered RMC.

I don't think that rule would even allow it in rmc right?

 

[Joethemechanic]

What if you just took the fan light apart and installed longer leads?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I wouldn't think a downrod would be considered RMC.

Well the rod is a conduit of some sort so 300.15 alone deals with that.

@Joethemechanic sure you could do that but then someone would say you are messing with the UL label. Personally I would rather see staggered butt splices in the pipe

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I had one fan that we had a 4' down rod. The wires were within 2" of the end of the pipe... you would think they would make it reach a pretty common size