Emergency light fixture

[electrofelon]

But in my case if wall switch shut off then so does the exit light. It has battery backup but it wont come on since it senses utility power is on thru unswitched line. Its a problem but IBC 2018 wont allow this to happen. How can NEC 2017 section 700 allow it? Instruction is saying its complaint with NEC 2017 section 700

See post number 19

 

[Fred B]

I'm not sure where you are going with the product you highlighted in the opening post. That is not for an exit sign light. Most exit signs if not all are self contained and don't require an external driver. I've used the product you've shown and it is designed to allow a product such as a trougher to perform as emergency area lighting in the event of a power outage. Sometimes will install on only every third or fourth fixture to give required minimum lumens for egress purposes.

 

[electrofelon]

I'm not sure where you are going with the product you highlighted in the opening post. That is not for an exit sign light. Most exit signs if not all are self contained and don't require an external driver. I've used the product you've shown and it is designed to allow a product such as a trougher to perform as emergency area lighting in the event of a power outage. Sometimes will install on only every third or fourth fixture to give required minimum lumens for egress purposes.

Yeah I am not really clear on what they are doing here and where that emergency driver gets mounted. Why not just use a battery unit exit?

 

[hhsting]

Yeah I am not really clear on what they are doing here and where that emergency driver gets mounted. Why not just use a battery unit exit?

Exit unit has internal battery. Plans call for all emergency light fixture be wired as shown on post#1 attachment on floor plan. Floor plans has exit light, exit and wall mount battery back bug eye combo

 

[electrofelon]

Exit unit has internal battery. Plans call for all emergency light fixture be wired as shown on post#1 attachment on floor plan. Floor plans has exit light, exit and wall mount battery back bug eye combo

Does anyone understand this?

 

[hhsting]

Does anyone understand this?

Sorry its in electrical drawings ie plans.

Exit sign unit has internal battery. Plans call for all emergency light fixture be wired as shown on post#1 attachment on floor plan. Floor plans has exit light, exit and wall mount battery back bug eye combo

 

[electrofelon]

Sorry its in electrical drawings ie plans.

Exit sign unit has internal battery. Plans call for all emergency light fixture be wired as shown on post#1 attachment on floor plan. Floor plans has exit light, exit and wall mount battery back bug eye combo

I think you are confused. That wiring shown in attachment is probably for when using a regular light as an emergency light. If the exits have built in battery you wont be using that emergency driver. I would say everything is fine, just move on.

 

[Fred B]

Still dont see a need for this driver. The exit light and internal backup have a feed for the bug eye, and can power at any remote distance via class 2 wiring between the exit and bug eye. Installed a lot this way.
2. Those drivers will not fit within a normal enclosure for your bug eyes, design is for within a trougher. If plan specs these drivers for emergency lights, it is not likely for the bug eyes, but to include as area egress as I've indicated having used on other jobs I've done. We exchange the standard LED driver in the trough light with these drivers, or preferably the trough with this driver already installed from factory.
Could be why you can't make sense of your plans and your assumption to switch the exit light.

 

[hhsting]

Assuming if it is for 2x2 emergency recessed light with battery backup then would it not have to be on all the time or not per building code or other codes?

 

[Strathead]

But in my case if wall switch shut off then so does the exit light. It has battery backup but it wont come on since it senses utility power is on thru unswitched line. Its a problem but IBC 2018 wont allow this to happen. How can NEC 2017 section 700 allow it? Instruction is saying its complaint with NEC 2017 section 700

The wiring diagram sent doesn't show the wiring diagram for constant hot, however if you consulted the factory I am sure they would send it to you. In a way that should make sense to you, let me simplify the operation of the emergency inverter. Others have answered this above but I will summarize.

One input requires constant power. This input is used to charge the on board batteries. It is also used to sense that power is available It does this by energizing a relay coil which isolates the batteries from the lamps. When power is missing from this input, the coil contacts close and the lamp runs on batteries. There is often a test switch which will interrupt this power to simulate power loss.

The other input is used to sense whether the light should be on or off during normal operation. If the fixture is switched, then the light switch will turn power on and off which the inverter senses. It will then interrupt the power through the inverter to the lamp, while allowing the other input to stay energized and continue charging the batteries when the switch is off. If the light needs to be on 24 hours a day, then this input still needs to be there. It just doesn't need to be switched

Hope this helps.

 

[Fred B]

Assuming if it is for 2x2 emergency recessed light with battery backup then would it not have to be on all the time or not per building code or other codes?

Egress lighting requirements are for when occupied thus if unoccupied you don't require lighting. As opposed to requirements for emergency egress lighting and exit marking lights that will remain lit or will light regardless of occupancy. If power was to go out even if switched off lighting will illuminate from the battery backup on emergency egress light. A lot of these at a reduced lumen vs full lumen as when fixture is on (ie. 2 of 4 led tubes).
Another consideration sometimes are made for large spaces to allow for minimum full time lighting (unswitched) for incidental turning off of lights and a large office space (multiple occupancy) still occupied to prevent total darkness. Sometimes will use the emergency light (or section of fixture) to be perminant power (unswitched) for this reason.
One example that might help visualize the supply wiring for the switched fixture:
For simplification of illustration utilizing 14/3 NM.
Branch feed into switch location 14/2
Bk from 14/2 splice one feed to Sw and another to Rd of 14/3
Bk of 14/3 to other Sw terminal
Wh of 14/2 simply splice to Wh of 14/3
Then at fixture Rd of 14/3 to emergency driver, Bk of 14/3 to LED driver, Wh to both drivers.
Now you have light functioning from the switch and will still act via Emergency driver in event of outage.
A review of minimum egress lumens would be required to determine the number of these units or split units would be required vs total desired lumens for full illumination.

 

[gh0st]

The switched line is simply to monitor switching status and be controlled as such. The unswitched line is to monitor loss of power. Once loss of power is detected, the fixture will be powered via the integral battery pack... it will usually shunt to 100% if UL924 listed.