In 2011 the NEC changed the word ?lamp? to light source in article 410.16 regarding the type of luminaire allowed in clothes closets. What does ?light source? mean and what does ?light source? mean specifically in regard to LED?s. The closet in question has a luminaire that takes two pin lamp with a hard plastic shell. The shell is part of the lamp but the light source is the diode, not the shell so the source is covered by the shell. Plainly if this was an incandescent lamp it would not be allowed. So what is meant by ?Light Source? and is this install code compliant?
luminaire allowed in clothes closet
- Thread starter wyboy
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al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
So, the luminaire has a replaceable "light source"? What is the nature of that. That is, is the two pin interface proprietary to the manufacturer, and, more to the point, is the ONLY light source LED?
I ask, thinking about plain old Edison based porcelain keyless lampholders that can accept any light source with an Edison screw shell base, that is, LED, CFL, incandescent or anything else. In that case, the basic porcelain keyless has to be considered incandescent, regardless of the lamp that is installed in it.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
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- Retired Electrical Contractor
I am having a hard time understanding what the fixture looks like. I think the change from lamp to light source was to accommodate LEDs etc since many of them would not be considered a lamp. Basically I think the meaning is the same.
IMO, the LED lamp or source must be completely enclosed. If the bulb is a diode based with a shell then IMO it would need to be enclosed just as an incandescent would be. You wouldn't say the filament on an incandescent was the light source so the glass part is a shell....
I may not be correct but that is how I see it
IMO, the LED lamp or source must be completely enclosed. If the bulb is a diode based with a shell then IMO it would need to be enclosed just as an incandescent would be. You wouldn't say the filament on an incandescent was the light source so the glass part is a shell....
I may not be correct but that is how I see it
mwm1752
Senior Member
- Location
- Aspen, Colo
here was a time, and still may be, the MR 16 had an exposed lamp - break the glass and you would have access to the filament, they changed some manufacturing to add another lens in front of the lamp, IMO this is consider a cover for the light scource as if you break the cover the filament is not exposed.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
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- EC
Is it possible to replace that "two pin light source" with a different "light source" type that fits the same socket?
I think the wording change was to accommodate LED's that are not readily replaceable with another "light source" type, but a lamp socket that accepts multiple light source type components could very easily be converted to an improper type with little effort.
Most luminaires sold as LED's are not able to readily replace the light source, but there are LED replacement "lamps" that fit into other light source type luminaires, this doesn't automatically change them to a different light source type of luminaire.
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