Is a UPS considered “utilization equipment?

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publicgood

publicgood

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I’m looking to use TC rated cable in ladder tray directly to a UPS for the feeders...does this fall under 336.10 #7 permitted use condition? Between a cable tray and the utilization equipment or device(s).
 
I personally think so.

The apparatus that is an UPS has an "electronic purpose" of maintaining the output within certain tolerances relative to fluctuations on the supply input.

At times, a UPS also transforms electricity into heat. ;)
 
publicgood said:
I’m looking to use TC rated cable in ladder tray directly to a UPS for the feeders...does this fall under 336.10 #7 permitted use condition? Between a cable tray and the utilization equipment or device(s).
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I would say no because there is a separate definition for a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) in article 100.

A UPS does contain electronics and chemicals (batteries) but should be considered an assembly. There are many other codes that govern a UPS, the NEC has limited scope.

Anyway, the NEC allows up to a 6' transition of TC cable from tray to device as long as it is not subject to physical damage. Seems easy enough to ensure that.
 
jeremy.zinkofsky said:
I would say no because there is a separate definition for a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) in article 100.
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My original thought also.

jeremy.zinkofsky said:
Anyway, the NEC allows up to a 6' transition of TC cable from tray to device as long as it is not subject to physical damage. Seems easy enough to ensure that.
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I saw this and figured same. My beef with #7 is the indication that it would only be allowed in an industrial establishment...
 
jeremy.zinkofsky said:
I would say no because there is a separate definition for a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) in article 100.
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2017 NEC
Article 100 Definitions.
Uninterruptable Power Supply. A power supply used to provide alternating current power to a load to some period of time in the event of a power failure.
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Given the realities of power conditioning that accompanies the purpose of a UPS in a circuit, I don't see how one can exclude the "electronic purpose" that a UPS more generally serves. The actual "power failure" is really only a special single state of the other multitude of power states that require "conditioning".
 
jeremy.zinkofsky said:
I would say no because there is a separate definition for a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) in article 100.

A UPS does contain electronics and chemicals (batteries) but should be considered an assembly. There are many other codes that govern a UPS, the NEC has limited scope.

Anyway, the NEC allows up to a 6' transition of TC cable from tray to device as long as it is not subject to physical damage. Seems easy enough to ensure that.
Click to expand...

336.12(2) points you to 336.10(7), so you should disregard the industrial establishment language.
 
al hildenbrand said:
Given the realities of power conditioning that accompanies the purpose of a UPS in a circuit, I don't see how one can exclude the "electronic purpose" that a UPS more generally serves. The actual "power failure" is really only a special single state of the other multitude of power states that require "conditioning".
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Not sure what that analysis gains you. All components of an electrical system have an "electrical purpose". The NEC is not a design manual and generalizes complex equipment. Sometimes it creates grey area, like how to define a UPS.

Either way, 336.10 (7) allows connections to utilization equipment or devices.
 
jeremy.zinkofsky said:
Not sure what that analysis gains you. All components of an electrical system have an "electrical purpose".
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I didn't mean "electrical", rather "electronic." Were it not for the "work" of the electronics of an UPS, the power conditioning would not occur.

2017 NEC
Article 100 Definitions.
Utilization Equipment. Equipment that utilizes electric energy for electronic, electrochemical, chemical, heating, lighting, or similar purpose.
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Is a UPS considered “utilization equipment?

al hildenbrand said:
Given the realities of power conditioning that accompanies the purpose of a UPS in a circuit, I don't see how one can exclude the "electronic purpose" that a UPS more generally serves. The actual "power failure" is really only a special single state of the other multitude of power states that require "conditioning".
Click to expand...

I hear you. I am not saying it isn’t utilization equipment, but I’m not quite convinced it definitely is either. More discussion.

Is a generator utilization equipment? Is a battery array and associated inverter of a PV array utilization equipment?

If it weren’t for the downstream loads, would one elect to install a UPS standalone not powering anything? When the utility is lost and the UPS powers the load on its own, is it not considered utilization equipment during that brief point in time?

If switchgear contains a controls compartment with control power, since it powers electronic equipment, is it (as a single UL listed component) now considered utilization equipment?

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Utilization Equipment. Equipment that utilizes electric energy for electronic, electromechanical, chemical, heating, lighting, or similar purposes. (CMP-1)
 
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