Feed-Through Luminaires

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

We had this discussion on another forum the other day.

If a luminaire is marked for feed through conductors, that means you can splice conductors for another outlet, or another circuit, in that box, correct?

Some people feel that means you can pull an unspliced conductor through the box, but you cannot splice it.

I feel the box can be used like any other J-box.

 

[infinity]

What kind of fixture are you referring to? If it has a junction box I agree with you. If the fixtures are being used as a raceway 410.64 would apply.

410.64 Luminaires as Raceways.
Luminaires shall not be used as a raceway for circuit conductors unless they comply with 410.64(A), (B), or (C).
410.64(A) Listed. Luminaires listed and marked for use as a raceway shall be permitted to be used as a raceway.
410.64(B) Through-Wiring. Luminaires identified for through-wiring, as permitted by 410.21, shall be permitted to be used as a raceway.
410.64(C) Luminaires Connected Together. Luminaires designed for end-to-end connection to form a continuous assembly, or luminaires connected together by recognized wiring methods, shall be permitted to contain the conductors of a 2-wire branch circuit, or one multiwire branch circuit, supplying the connected luminaires and shall not be required to be listed as a raceway. One additional 2-wire branch circuit separately supplying one or more of the connected luminaires shall also be permitted. Informational Note: See Article 100 for the definition of Multiwire Branch Circuit.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

Yea we were talking about can lights specifically. With the integral junction box.

One opinion was that 410.64 referred to “luminaires used as a raceway”, and as splices are not allowed in a raceway, they would not be allowed in a box attached to a luminaire. Only a unspliced cable would be allowed.

I have never heard of or seen that interpretation, and I think any inspector would have a hard time justifying that call.

The whole point of a feed through luminaire is to use the integral box as a junction box. IMO.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

If the wiring method is nm cable how would you pass thru the junction box. I have not read anything in the box that says unspliced wires only for thru wiring.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I guess if you were to take the wording here to heart then you cannot splice in a raceway. So if the junction box is a raceway then you wouldn't be able to splice the wires to the can...lol

(B) Through-Wiring. Luminaires identified for through wiring,
as permitted by 410.21, shall be permitted to be used as
a raceway.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Mike Holt has a graphic showing fluorescents but it shouldn't be different

 

[infinity]

Yea we were talking about can lights specifically. With the integral junction box.

That would not be being used as a raceway.

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

That would not be being used as a raceway.

Correct.

But I think what they were trying to say is that the box is permitted as a raceway, (when so marked) but not as a junction box.

I’ve never heard of that before, and I don’t think that’s the intention of the Code article.