Elevator lighting

[User Name]

Hey guys, working on an install of an elevator, it's just from the first/main floor to the basement of a business, 2 levels, nothing crazy. So, I know the code requires the lighting for the car to be on a separate circuit. And the light currently plugs into a regular outlet on the car. So I was going to feed a seperate circuit to that light via the traveling cable, and hook it to a GFCI breaker. But then I read 620.22 (A) Car Lighting receptacles....it states "required lighting shall not be connected to the load side of a ground-fault circuit interupter." And it kind of baffles me, an outlet in confined space, steel frame elevator shaft, NOT on a GFCI?

So if I back up a page to 620.6 (A) Pits, Hoistways, and on Cars, it says "Each 125v receptacle installed in pits, in hoistways, on the cars of elevators...shall be on a ground-fault circuit interputer. But they threw in something about wind turbine elevators and I'm not sure if this code is talking strictly about wind turbines or what.

Anyway I'm kind of caught in a rock and a hard place as my gut is saying that traveling cable is prone to get damaged someday, the chances of some one using that outlet for other than a light are slim, but I'd like to see the best protection on that. I think maybe they don't want it GFCI protected to keep it from tripping randomly and then lights out. I'd almost like to see it on a GFCI but with some kind of battery backup emergency light......

What do you guys think? GFCI or no?

 

[roger]

Please update your profile to include a more accurate location. In my experience the EC does not have anything to do with the traveling cable(s), we provide the circuits to the machine room and the Elevator contractor takes it from there

 

[User Name]

I've got to supply the power to the machinery, just a basic hydraulic pump unit, and power for the lighting. Just trying to figure out the safest and up to code way of doing the lighting circuit.

 

[PD1972]

I am going to assume that this is a retrofit/modernization of an existing elevator. Do not use the existing installation for reference; base your work off the requirements of the new elevator. Having said that, in all of my recent projects involving elevators, the EC was only responsible for providing a cab light branch circuit to the elevator machine room, elevator machinery space, or disconnect closet (if it's an MRL elevator). The cab light branch circuit would be terminated in a 240V, heavy duty fusible disconnect switch with 15A fuses. Do not use a GFCI breaker. Everything downstream of this disconnect switch is the responsibility of the elevator contractor.

I would be extremely surprised if you have to do any work involving running traveling cables, working inside the elevator, or worrying about elevator cab light emergency batteries. There is usually an elevator site preparation checklist provided by the elevator manufacturer that outlines everything that needs to be in place prior to the elevator contractors arriving. That should probably provide additional information.

 

[User Name]

Ah yeah, I found in the manual it says to use fused disconnects, missed the fused part, but no problem easy to swap out. I found it in the code that both the motor and lighting circuit need to be fused disconnects. I'll not GFCI the lights, honestly where the outlet is for them, you'd really have to go through some work to get at it once this is buttoned up. I haven't done anything with elevators in probably over 10 years, but now I think I've got this under control now thanks!