Lighting branch circuits with 30A CB in panelboard, Industrial Operating facility.

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Isaiah

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I've got a very large Shop in an operating industrial facility (chemical plant). The subcontractor used 30A CB's for all lighting branch circuits (High-bay LEDs) rather than the 20A CB's normally seen. All are at 120VAC. I cant see any problem with this other than the fact it looks kinda weird. Am I missing something?
 
Isaiah said:
I've got a very large Shop in an operating industrial facility (chemical plant). The subcontractor used 30A CB's for all lighting branch circuits (High-bay LEDs) rather than the 20A CB's normally seen. All are at 120VAC. I cant see any problem with this other than the fact it looks kinda weird. Am I missing something?
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210.23(B) could be a problem.
 
Well, let's make it simple.

210.23(B) 30-Ampere Branch Circuits. A 30-ampere branch circuit shall be permitted to supply....... utilization equipment in any occupancy.
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100-Definitions : Utilization Equipment. Equipment that utilizes electric energy for..... lighting.........
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480sparky said:
Well, let's make it simple.
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I think your " .... " fails to highlight the "lighting units with heavy duty lampholders"

david has a good point albeit I think the wording is likely antiquated and doesn't take into account modern fixtures.
 
augie47 said:
david has a good point albeit I think the wording is likely antiquated and doesn't take into account modern fixtures.
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I agree the wording doesn't take into account modern fixtures. Here is a post from a few years ago basically asking the same thing. As Dennis noted then, "perhaps the NEC will catch up." But I don't see any change in the language from then till now.

http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=167412
 
david luchini said:
I agree the wording doesn't take into account modern fixtures. Here is a post from a few years ago basically asking the same thing. As Dennis noted then, "perhaps the NEC will catch up." But I don't see any change in the language from then till now.

http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=167412
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I think more so than 210.23, max. branch circuit should be per 240.5... or per labeling supplied by the manufacturer.



 
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I agree with David on this one. The types of lighting fixtures that are allowed on a 30 amp circuit do not match the types you plan to install. But let me pose two questions:
  1. Is there anything in the literature from LED fixture manufacturer that sets a voltage requirement?
  2. Why did the subcontractor choose to use 30 amp circuits in the first place (i.e., why not 20's)?

My suggestion is replacing the 30 amp breakers with 20 amp breakers. First you have to verify that the load on each circuit is 16 amps or less, but that should not be a problem with LEDs.
 
david luchini said:
Doesn't bother me at all. Your lighting units do not meet the requirements of 210.23(B) for installation on a 30A branch circuit. It's not complicated.
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I disagree. In fact, you can tap them off of up to a 50A branch circuit if the fixture islisted for such and the conductors supplied by the manufacturer are 12AWG and larger. See 240.5(B)(2)(6).
The only real caveat I see is control of the fixtures; I need to make sure any motion sensors, switches etc are rated for inductive switching at 30A.
Other than that, I say this design is good to go. But I appreciate your input.

 
Isaiah said:
I disagree. In fact, you can tap them off of up to a 50A branch circuit if the fixture islisted for such and the conductors supplied by the manufacturer are 12AWG and larger. See 240.5(B)(2)(6).
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Regarding lighting units, 50A circuits are only permited to supply fixed lighting units with heavy-duty lampholders, same as 30A circuits. So you couldn't tap the LED highbays to a 50A circuit.
 
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