coming into side of 3R wireway

[electrofelon]

Do I need to use a weather resistant entry method (RT EMT conn, myers hub...) to enter the side of a 3R wireway? Dont see this spelled out anywhere.

 

[Little Bill]

Do I need to use a weather resistant entry method (RT EMT conn, myers hub...) to enter the side of a 3R wireway? Dont see this spelled out anywhere.

Is this a panel or just a trough or box?

 

[electrofelon]

Is this a panel or just a trough or box?

Just a pull box

 

[infinity]

Just a pull box

IMO the entry needs to be rated for wet locations.

 

[Smart $]

IMO the entry needs to be rated for wet locations.

Agree. The general rule is raceway and cable terminations must maintain (or exceed) the degree of protection provided by the enclosure type.

 

[kwired]

Need to verify, but I believe you can enter with non raintight fittings below live parts or something of that nature. I say this because you do find 3R cabinets and other enclosures with factory KO's that are not all that water tight at the lower end of side walls and in the bottom wall of the enclosures.

 

[infinity]

Need to verify, but I believe you can enter with non raintight fittings below live parts or something of that nature. I say this because you do find 3R cabinets and other enclosures with factory KO's that are not all that water tight at the lower end of side walls and in the bottom wall of the enclosures.

That would apply to equipment listed in Article 312 not pull boxes.

312.2 Damp and Wet Locations. In damp or wet locations,surface-type enclosures within the scope of this articleshall be placed or equipped so as to prevent moistureor water from entering and accumulating within the cabinetor cutout box, and shall be mounted so there is at least6-mm (1⁄4-in.) airspace between the enclosure and the wallor other supporting surface. Enclosures installed in wet locationsshall be weatherproof. For enclosures in wet locations,raceways or cables entering above the level of uninsulatedlive parts shall use fittings listed for wet locations.

 

[electrofelon]

It seems like a grey area to me. As mentioned, we can come into a cabinet or meter enclosure on the side without weather resistant fittings.

 

[Smart $]

It seems like a grey area to me. As mentioned, we can come into a cabinet or meter enclosure on the side without weather resistant fittings.

If the enclosure is in a wet location, how is the raceway not?

 

[electrofelon]

If the enclosure is in a wet location, how is the raceway not?

Well that's an interesting point I hadn't considered. So you are saying that even if the wireway doesn't need a,wet location fitting, the raceway still does?

 

[Carultch]

That would apply to equipment listed in Article 312 not pull boxes.

312.2 Damp and Wet Locations. In damp or wet locations,surface-type enclosures within the scope of this articleshall be placed or equipped so as to prevent moistureor water from entering and accumulating within the cabinetor cutout box, and shall be mounted so there is at least6-mm (1⁄4-in.) airspace between the enclosure and the wallor other supporting surface. Enclosures installed in wet locationsshall be weatherproof. For enclosures in wet locations,raceways or cables entering above the level of uninsulatedlive parts shall use fittings listed for wet locations.

What about when you have a line-up of multiple enclosures?

Consider enclosures A and B.
Enclosure A is 2 ft tall, starting at 4 ft above grade. Enclosure A has 6" empty at the bottom.
Enclosure B is 4 ft tall, and starts at 2 ft above grade. Enclosure B's live parts stretch from 6" at the bottom to 6" from the top.

You connect these two with a nipple, centered at 4'-3" above grade.

According to the logic of only needing waterproofing parts "above the level of uninsulated parts", assuming that this only refers to one piece of equipment at a time, your nipple could be built with no more than a pair of standard locknuts (& a plastic bushing) on Enclosure A, while needing a sealing locknut (or other sealing fitting) in the assembly where it connects to Enclosure B.

 

[kwired]

Well that's an interesting point I hadn't considered. So you are saying that even if the wireway doesn't need a,wet location fitting, the raceway still does?

Many will say you can't use a set screw connector in a bottom wall of an outdoor cabinet even if you used rain tight fittings on the rest of the run. Logic tells me it won't let any more or less water in the raceway then a rain tight fitting will at that location.

 

[Smart $]

Many will say you can't use a set screw connector in a bottom wall of an outdoor cabinet even if you used rain tight fittings on the rest of the run. Logic tells me it won't let any more or less water in the raceway then a rain tight fitting will at that location.

The bottom is a bit different than the side... is it not? :happyyes:

 

[Smart $]

Well that's an interesting point I hadn't considered. So you are saying that even if the wireway doesn't need a,wet location fitting, the raceway still does?

At least on sides exposed to water (penetration). That's why I earlier said...

... The general rule is raceway and cable terminations must maintain (or exceed) the degree of protection provided by the enclosure type.

 

[ActionDave]

There is so much unnecessary hand wringing around outdoor electrical installs I've given up on any hope of fact based rules.

 

[kwired]

The bottom is a bit different than the side... is it not? :happyyes:

Absolutely, you used to be able to run flexible metal conduit out the bottom in outdoor applications, I never did - but it made sense that it was allowed.

 

[electrofelon]

There is so much unnecessary hand wringing around outdoor electrical installs I've given up on any hope of fact based rules.

I agree. I'm not sure what the deal is with all this wx resistant stuff when the conductors are rated for wet and there are other codes requiring raceways to drain, etc... but I also want to pass inspection

 

[electrofelon]

Absolutely, you used to be able to run flexible metal conduit out the bottom in outdoor applications, I never did - but it made sense that it was allowed.

I have always run pvc ta's out the bottom or bottom side ko's outside if I need to.

 

[Ponchik]

Quoted by Infinity,

312.2 Damp and Wet Locations. In damp or wet locations,surface-type enclosures within the scope of this article shall be placed or equipped so as to prevent moisture or water from entering and accumulating within the cabinet or cutout box, and shall be mounted so there is at least6-mm (1⁄4-in.) airspace between the enclosure and the wall or other supporting surface. Enclosures installed in wet locations shall be weatherproof. For enclosures in wet locations,raceways or cables entering above the level of uninsulated live parts shall use fittings listed for wet locations.

IMO, you can argue that your entry into the side of the enclosure is not "Above" the uninsulated live parts. So a weatherproof entry (hub) is not necessary.

Even though it makes sense to put one on. But the code is not about making sense.

 

[infinity]

Quoted by Infinity,

312.2 Damp and Wet Locations. In damp or wet locations,surface-type enclosures within the scope of this article shall be placed or equipped so as to prevent moisture or water from entering and accumulating within the cabinet or cutout box, and shall be mounted so there is at least6-mm (1⁄4-in.) airspace between the enclosure and the wall or other supporting surface. Enclosures installed in wet locations shall be weatherproof. For enclosures in wet locations,raceways or cables entering above the level of uninsulated live parts shall use fittings listed for wet locations.

IMO, you can argue that your entry into the side of the enclosure is not "Above" the uninsulated live parts. So a weatherproof entry (hub) is not necessary.

Even though it makes sense to put one on. But the code is not about making sense.

I agree with your statement for some equipment but not all. The OP is talking about a wireway being used as a pull box, if you look at 312.2 you'll see that it only applies to enclosures under the scope of Article 312. So for example it's common to run out of the bottom or side of a meter enclosure with a standard terminal adapter or SE cable connector which is below the live parts on the inside.

I. Scope and Installation312.1 Scope. This article covers the installation and con-
struction specifications of cabinets, cutout boxes, and meter
socket enclosures.