Labeling fixtures/ballasts with different voltages

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JDBrown

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California
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Electrical Engineer
Typically when we design a lighting system, we use either all 120V or all 277V fixtures. Right now I'm working on a remodel that is going to end up with some 120V and some 277V linear fluorescent fixtures in the same facility. Is there any requirement that we add a voltage label to the interior of the fixture or the ballast? We're probably going to advise the Electrician to add the labels either way, but it would be nice to have some sort of requirement or standard to point to, other than "Because that's how I want it done." Anybody have experience with this?
 
kbsparky said:
Use fixtures with universal ballasts rated for any voltage from 120 to 277. No brainer.
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It's not so much a compatibility issue, it's a (perceived) safety issue -- and the more I think about it, the more I think it's a non-issue. One of the other Engineers is worried about liability -- "What if somebody's working on a light fixture that they THINK is 120V, but it's actually 277V, and they end up getting shocked?"

My response was, "Then they shouldn't have been working on it hot!" Anyway, there's not much that I'm aware of that you can do to get a shock at 277V but not at 120V (although I could be wrong about that, as that's not the sort of thing I go around testing). The 277V shock might be more likely to kill you, but again, I come back to the fact that a shock hazard shouldn't be an issue because you shouldn't be working on it hot.

Anyway, I'm just trying to find out if my fellow Engineer has a valid concern, or if it really is a non-issue.
 
JDBrown said:
It's not so much a compatibility issue, it's a (perceived) safety issue -- and the more I think about it, the more I think it's a non-issue. One of the other Engineers is worried about liability -- "What if somebody's working on a light fixture that they THINK is 120V, but it's actually 277V, and they end up getting shocked?"......
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Speaking as a guy who works on stuff, I agree with you. Lighting that is both 277V and 120V in the same building is not unusual and not that hard to figure out.
 
Code requires a disconnect means at each fixture, that would mitigate the shock hazard. As for system voltage the person working on the system should qualified to do this type of work. The voltage of system should be known when working on the system, the label may be a nice to have but not required.

PJHolguin :cool:


JDBrown said:
It's not so much a compatibility issue, it's a (perceived) safety issue -- and the more I think about it, the more I think it's a non-issue. One of the other Engineers is worried about liability -- "What if somebody's working on a light fixture that they THINK is 120V, but it's actually 277V, and they end up getting shocked?"

My response was, "Then they shouldn't have been working on it hot!" Anyway, there's not much that I'm aware of that you can do to get a shock at 277V but not at 120V (although I could be wrong about that, as that's not the sort of thing I go around testing). The 277V shock might be more likely to kill you, but again, I come back to the fact that a shock hazard shouldn't be an issue because you shouldn't be working on it hot.

Anyway, I'm just trying to find out if my fellow Engineer has a valid concern, or if it really is a non-issue.
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GoldDigger said:
Are you using wire color or other marking method to identify the two different system voltages?

Tapatalk!
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Yes on the new wiring; won't know on the existing until the EC starts opening things up.

I thought of another one yesterday evening. At this facility, each switch is (supposedly) marked with the panel and circuit it's fed from, so that's another way it will already be labeled.

Thanks for the input, guys. I'll stick with my original opinion on this one, and see what Mr. Boss Man says.
 
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