cord-connected HID lighting

[infinity]

How is "or has a luminaire (fixture) assembly with a strain relief and canopy" a cap?

Al,

The HID fixtures in the OP, do not come with a strain relief and canopy.

This is a fixture with a canopy and strain relief:

 

[al hildenbrand]

Trevor,

A flat j-box coverplate with a strain relief cord connector locknutted into the ?" KO in the coverplate is an assembly, and, when used on the end of a luminaire's cord, is part of the larger luminaire assembly and serves the purpose of a canopy. The Code citation:

a luminaire (fixture) assembly with a strain relief and canopy

does not specify who creates the assembly nor what constitutes the limits of what a canopy can be.

"Assembly" is in the NECH 353 times and "canopy" 15 times. Neither term is defined. The "luminaire assembly" is not restricted to what you suggest in the photo in your last post, that is, put together by a manufacturer, only. Also, note that an adjective such as "domed" is conspicuously absent in the Code citation.

 

[smithacetech]

A flat j-box coverplate with a strain relief cord connector locknutted into the ?" KO in the coverplate is an assembly, and, when used on the end of a luminaire's cord, is part of the larger luminaire assembly and serves the purpose of a canopy. The Code citation:does not specify who creates the assembly nor what constitutes the limits of what a canopy can be.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[benaround]

I can say that if I was going to the gang box for a 4in. sq. cover that I've

never accidently picked up a fixture canopy and try to use it.

 

[jamesguy10]

Trevor, i have those exact lights in my kitchen

 

[iwire]

Bob,

How does a hard wired cord connected fixture comply with 410.30(C)(1)(2)(c)?

Trevor sorry for the slow response, I have been busy.

OK to answer your question.....I am not sure any longer.

My thought now is I can hardwire any fixture with cord....except an HID which must have a cord cap. :roll:

As I said, I really do not feel very confident on this issue.

 

[infinity]

I'm unconvinced that field a assembled flat 1900 cover is a canopy. It's a flat 1900 cover.

And regarding undefined words in the NEC there are thousands. A canopy is just one of them.

 

[al hildenbrand]

Trevor,

410.12 tells us to cover the outlet box and tells us that the canopy, along with similar devices, can be the cover.

Not all covers are canopies.

Interestingly, I can use a luminaire canopy, without a luminaire, to cover the outlet box.

When I assemble and hang an HID luminaire by adding a cord and 1900 flat plate with ?" KO and cord connector, the 1900 flat plate, screwed to the 1900 j-box is BOTH coverplate and canopy.

You have to show me the Code the prohibits a 1900 flat plate from being a canopy.

 

[smithacetech]

I have a ton of existing high bay HID fixtures on an industrial job site that are connected by cords, some are hardwired & some are plugged in. The HID fixtures I have been putting in are connected by factory installed twistlock plugs & plugged into a female cord end which is hardwired to a jbox with a strain relief connector.
I question this install after reading this post & 410.30(C)(1)(1) because even though the female cord end is located directly above, the jbox,"outlet", is usually not.
The reason why it is installed this way is because in order to provide proper light coverage the fixtures are at various levels & offset from the conduit &/or boxes, because of ducts & other such things. (Typical of an industrial or even commercial installation.) This also allows the fixture to be disconnected, for a lamp change or whatever, without having to reach the 20' high jbox.

Anyone want to comment on this install method I posted earlier?

 

[haskindm]

Any equipment, including fixtures, canopies, cords, etc. may only be installed if it is acceptable to the AHJ. We can argue forever about how this section of the code should be interpreted. The fact remains that it is poorly written and subject to interpretation. The only opinion that matters is the opinion of the AHJ. Both sides can be justified based on the ambiguous wording in the code. You will probably need to live with whatever the AHJ in your jurisdiction decides.

 

[al hildenbrand]

smithacetech,

From the way you describe the female cord cap hanging down above the HID luminaire, I imagine that the cord, between the female cord cap and the offset j-box, is held over the HID luminaire by an attachment to the building surface.

If so, then 400.8(4) kicks in.

 

[iwire]

Any equipment, including fixtures, canopies, cords, etc. may only be installed if it is acceptable to the AHJ.

Well if we want to go down this road we should also point out that the inspector coming out to look at the work is rarely the 'AHJ'.

The AHJ is usually the governmental body that adopts the NEC.

Inspectors are generally only inspectors.

 

[smithacetech]

smithacetech,

From the way you describe the female cord cap hanging down above the HID luminaire, I imagine that the cord, between the female cord cap and the offset j-box, is held over the HID luminaire by an attachment to the building surface.

If so, then 400.8(4) kicks in.

The cord is attached to the allthread hanging the fixture, then loops to the jbox, which is usually no more than 1 foot or so away from the drop point, but still not "directly" above the fixture.

Well if we want to go down this road we should also point out that the inspector coming out to look at the work is rarely the 'AHJ'.

The AHJ is usually the governmental body that adopts the NEC.

Inspectors are generally only inspectors.

But isnt the inspector a direct representative for the AHJ, & may field qualify an installation?

 

[RUWired]

If 410.30 (C)1 requires an attachment plug, then 400.7a commentary should be revised.

Flexible cords are permitted to be hard-wired into a junction box if the cord is used for the following:
1. Luminaires and fixtures mentioned in 400.7(A)
2. Supplies to pendant pushbutton stations for cranes
3. Portable lamp (droplight) connections

I realize that commentaries are not enforceable.I personally think that they should have cord caps because of the many cords i've seen where the jacket slid down and only the insulation is in the connector.(romex connector).