Flexible Cords, High-bay lighting, and amperages

[DougM]

Gentlemen - I have searched this forum already and saw nothing, so I thought I'd post the question.

1) In a retrofit situation, say I'm replacing a 400W Metal Halide high-bay with a new 4-lamp T5 high-bay, or even an LED equivalent. Can the new fixture be supplied with an 18 AWG SO cord? Say the branch circuit is 20A, 277V. There is a junction box nearby that the existing fixture is wired to, either with a plug/receptacle or is hard-wired.

I'm having a kind of back-and forth with a colleague and would like some other input.

Thank you in advance.

 

[plumb bob]

I would say yes on the cord (based on 400.7) and no on the 18awg (table 400.5). Maybe you could use the 18awg cord with an in-line fuse holder (based on 240.10) but I'll defer to a more experienced member.

 

[DougM]

I also should have added that an 18 AWG SO cord is an option on high-bays from some manufacturers, so that's where I'm getting the cord size from.

 

[renosteinke]

NEC specifically allows listed luminaires to have such small cords, as part of a listed assembly. Think "fixture whip." You can even go up to a 50-amp breaker on the circuit on such an assembly.

While I suspect the code panel was thinking of things like the 'Reloc" system (MC whips), if the fixture came with a cord, I'd say there's enough wiggle room to make this idea allowed.

 

[DougM]

But if it's not a listed assembly, and the new fixture does not have the cord factory-installed?