First time poster with a question

[Carl Moore]

I have very limited information on this issues and I?m by no means electrical savvy, any help on this issue is greatly appreciated.

We have a project that will be taking place soon which will require the use of a data logger to monitor electrical circuits within an electrical panel. The plan is to run the data logger output (ribbon cable, data/com) through a punch out in the panel and secure the cable at the punch out with a rubber grommet. This would be a temporary install.

1. Is this set-up sufficient, no conduit, just grommet and cable?
2. Will the ribbon cable need to be in conduit?
3. Any code references greatly appreciated.
4. Any other safety precautions needed?

Thanks,

Carl

 

[iceworm]

... We have a project that will be taking place soon which will require the use of a data logger to monitor electrical circuits within an electrical panel. The plan is to run the data logger output (ribbon cable, data/com) through a punch out in the panel and secure the cable at the punch out with a rubber grommet. This would be a temporary install. ...

I do a lot of this. Generally the install depends on:
1. How long will the temporary data logger be in place?. In particular, is the testing time short enough there will always be someone in attendence? Or it the time days, weeks, months ..., long enough that the install is left unattended?

2. Second is access by unquallified personell. If the install is in an area open to all, that is significantly different than closed access.

3. SCC at exposed wiring. The protection of the test conductors is dependent of the available SSC, in particular the arc flash boundry must be determined.

I have very limited information on this issues and I?m by no means electrical savvy, any help on this issue is greatly appreciated. ...

I'm looking at this job from my side of your monitor. I have no clue as to what the job entails. You have people standing next to you that do know. Start with your top-hands, electrician, instrument tech, engineer. If you don't have any of those then you are at the mercy of whoever was hired to do the tests. If you do have top-hands but don't trust them - you're fubared.

...
1. Is this set-up sufficient, no conduit, just grommet and cable?
2. Will the ribbon cable need to be in conduit?
3. Any code references greatly appreciated.
4. Any other safety precautions needed?

To answer your questions:
1. Don't know
2. Probably not
3. NFPA 70 art 590 Temporary Installations
NFPA 70E
4. Probably

ice

 

[jaylectricity]

Good luck to you on your project, but this forum is not for you.

 

[jim dungar]

I have very limited information on this issues and I?m by no means electrical savvy, any help on this issue is greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the forum.
While we do not provide 'how-to' instructions to non-electricians, we do answer questions related to electrical safety, as well as general 'why' questions.

 

[tom baker]

I would look at, and be concerned with, the connections to the power bus. The power bus can have thousands of amperes of fault current. How is your ribbon cable protected against a short or overcurrent.
To explain, a basic NEC rule is a conductor is always protected at is ampacity. IE a 20 amp breaker will allow a 12 gage conductor. If the ribbon cable has little alligator clips, where is the overcurrent protection?
Brian John does a lot of this type work. Its a long weekend, see if he picks up the thread.
Thanks for asking, I don't see this as a DIY question. Many electricians do this type of work so I want to see some of the answers.