Internal OCPD in Pylon Signs?

[tortuga]

Greetings all, we have a project involving re-feeding a large sign like you typically see for a gas station along the highway.

The sign contractor requested 3 120V circuits for the internal lights and displays in the sign, 2X30's and a 20, flown overhead.
If a sign is a 'structure' per 225.30 I cant see how it would be legal to feed a sign with more than one branch circuit or feeder.
I could just use a 60A feeder and tap rules, but that would lead to OCPD's inside the sign way up in the top upper section.
It seems like 240.10 may allow these OCPD's to be inside the sign if there is a disconnect within sight of the sign on the building that feeds it per 600.6(A)(2)?
600.6(A)(1) Exception No 2 mentions "internal panelboards" in a sign.
Is this something that is commonly done?
We usually do signs with a underground feeder and have a lockable panel near or at the base of the sign,
So this request is odd to me.
Thanks in advance .

 

[hbiss]

I agree. Would it be possible to bring the overhead feeder down to a lockable panel at the base (as you mention) then three circuits back up to the sign? For the electrical, the sign contractor has to take direction from you, not just say this is the way we want it. If they have to make modifications to the sign, so be it.

-Hal

 

[tortuga]

I agree. Would it be possible to bring the overhead feeder down to a lockable panel at the base (as you mention) then three circuits back up to the sign? For the electrical, the sign contractor has to take direction from you, not just say this is the way we want it. If they have to make modifications to the sign, so be it.

-Hal

Thanks for the reply Hal, Ill have them do that. I tend to get bamboozled at meetings with people telling me 'we do it that way all the time'.

 

[LarryFine]

If you have 3ph on site, provide a single 4-wire branch circuit.

 

[PaulMmn]

Thanks for the reply Hal, Ill have them do that. I tend to get bamboozled at meetings with people telling me 'we do it that way all the time'.

At work, in the computer world, when we ask users why something happens the way it does, the answer is "We've always done it that way." Convincing them that there's a better way is one of life's little 'pleasures.'