Junction Boxes and Motor Connections

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fifty60

fifty60

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Can someone point me to a section of code that requires that all motor connections be made inside of a J-box? I do not think that it is anywhere inside of the NEC code book. Is it a requirement of NFPA 79 or UL 508?

Specifically what I am talking about are adding connectors to the short motor leads to bring them back to our control panel. I know I have read somewhere that this has to be done inside of a junction box, but I am not sure where.
 
These are small fractional single phase motors. Would it be sufficient to use
Wago splicing connectors (see below) at the motor leads, and then use corrugated loom to protect the wire running inside of the equipment. All of the motor connections are made inside of the equipment. Would I still need a junction box? I know ideally you would use a junction box, but where/what code would require this?

222.png
 
Inside the equipment the NEC does not apply, so you will not get any guidance from there.
The applicable rules, wherever found, might require a mounted terminal strip or your Wago connectors might be fine.
On general principles hiding the Wagos inside a wire loom seems to be a bad idea. Especially if the wire changes size or color it could make troubleshooting confusing.
:)

Tapatalk!
 
When you say inside do you mean in a guarded area enclosed in the machine or just a motor mounted on the machine. I have seen plenty of machines that run wire in the machine body with open term strips but it has been in a guarded area where the operator can not readily get to. Electric brakes and clutches are good examples.
 
The operator cannot access the motor. A qualified service technician can, with the power removed, and with the use of a tool to open the access cover.
 
fifty60 said:
The operator cannot access the motor. A qualified service technician can, with the power removed, and with the use of a tool to open the access cover.
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Then the NEC would not apply, as GoldDigger said. UL or any other NRTL concerned with listing the entire machine may have an issue with it, but not the NEC.
 
I know somewhere I have read "motor connections must be made inside of a junction box", but I am not sure where I read it. I know CSA inspector are the hardest on this, as they require every splice connection (even non motors) to be made in a junction box. I understand that this stems from their stricter definition of a raceway.

I thought it was NFPA 79 where I read it, but I cannot find it now. Anyone know of any directive that explicitly calls this out?
 
Why would you want to extend all the motor leads back to a cabinet, when you can just feed it with 2 wires like normal and make everything up in the motors j-box ?
 
Is it still a pecker head if you install it yourself? No pecker heads on some of the motors I have, when we have to have something CSA incpected we add our own junction box. These motors only come with leads, that we splice together using wago 222's. Adding the junction box takes up quite a bit of time, do not want to do it if I do not have to.
 
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Little Bill said:
Pecker Head?
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Yes, that's what we call it. I was trying to be politically correct. :)

fifty60 said:
Is it still a pecker head if you install it yourself? No pecker heads on some of the motors I have, when we have to have something CSA incpected we add our own junction box. These motors only come with leads, that we splice together using wago 222's. Adding the junction box takes up quite a bit of time, do not want to do it if I do not have to.
Click to expand...

We install our own j-boxes when the existing one is either damaged, missing, or too small. We've never had a problem with inspections.
 
Are leads from the motors directly connected to the motor windings? Or is there a junction point to
transition? e.g. terminals in the motor housing.


fifty60 said:
Is it still a pecker head if you install it yourself? No pecker heads on some of the motors I have, when we have to have something CSA incpected we add our own junction box. These motors only come with leads, that we splice together using wago 222's. Adding the junction box takes up quite a bit of time, do not want to do it if I do not have to.
Click to expand...
 
I believe they connect directly to the windings. Single phase fractional motors, no pecker head, CSA inspectors require us to add a junction box if no pecker head is present. Wondering where the requirement comes from, or if it is specific to CSA standards alone.
 
In the NEC there is a section requiring a motor junction box, it's just indirect because it is mentioned in the section on grounding of motors, 430.245.

I just don't think this is applicable to a factory built packaged system that has an overall enclosure. I think that falls into what is described in Section XII, "Protection of Live Parts". Specifically;
430.232 Where Required. Exposed live parts of motors
and controllers operating at 50 volts or more between terminals
shall be guarded against accidental contact by enclosure
or by location as follows:
(1) By installation in a room or enclosure that is accessible
only to qualified persons
...
Click to expand...
 
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