Neatness required by NEC?

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

PeteHJ

Member
I recently ran across an installation of a splice box in a nema 3r enclosure.

The uploaded photo shows the installation (a 12" extension was added the box in the photo). Does anybody see any code violations?
 
Thats gotta be the coolest picture I have seen in a while here. Where is the picture of the extension on that?
 
not me

not me

I honestly don't see anything that would violate the code. haha, It looks like your everyday pull box around here, saw plenty of boxes like this around the charlotte area when I worked for the local utility company.

Bet you had a fun time working this back to get the cover back on huh. :)

This is a good picture, I'll share this with the class. Thanks for sharing!!
 
I'm guessin at the sizes, but I don't believe it complies with 314.28. It may be overfilled as well.
 
PeteHJ said:
I recently ran across an installation of a splice box in a nema 3r enclosure.

The uploaded photo shows the installation (a 12" extension was added the box in the photo). Does anybody see any code violations?
Click to expand...

Are those couplings on the sealtite connectors on the 2nd and 3rd conduits from the top because the sealtite was cut to short?
 
jusme123 said:
Are those couplings on the sealtite connectors on the 2nd and 3rd conduits from the top because the sealtite was cut to short?
Click to expand...

My take on this is that it was done due to the fittings are too large in diameter to fit between conduits #1 and #4. Should have used Meyers Hubs on a larger enclosure.

I've never heard of an extension for a NEMA 3R enclosure.
 
Last edited:
I don't have a picture of the extension. I just wanted to get opinions on the workmanship of the contractor.
 
PeteHJ said:
I don't have a picture of the extension. I just wanted to get opinions on the workmanship of the contractor.
Click to expand...

I don't think that was a serious comment :) - the box is very obviously undersized, and the wires look like a tangled mess.

Someone else said this, but I have to repeat it: That is unbelievable.

Per 314.28, I believe the box should have a minimum depth of 6 times the largest raceway, plus the sum of the other raceways in that row. If you have four 4" conduits coming into the back, the box should be a minimum of (6*4 +4+4+4) inches deep, or a minimum 36" deep. It would also have to be 36" wide, and there would have to be a minimum of 24" between any two conduits that enclose the same conductor.

Edit: Oops - there are 6 conduits in a row, not 4, and I'm not sure exactly what size they are, so my calculations are off a bit.
 
I forwarded this picture to my instructor and this is what he emailed me back -

Right Angle Pull Box Requirements:

"The distance between the side where the conduit enters and the opposite
side shouldn?t be less than six times the diameter of the largest conduit
entering the box. When more than one conduit enters a pull box, the
length of the sides of the pull box must be increased by at least the sum
of the diameters of the additional conduit. Also, the distance between
conduits that contain the same wire must be at least six times the
diameter of the larger conduit."

He also adds that the "distance" is measured in a straight line from entry point to exit points.



I'll ask him which table the information is from...
 
Last edited:
The pull box shown in the figure has two 3-inch conduits and four
2-inch conduits entering it. Because the same number and size of
conduits are entering each side, the sidesAand B will be the same length.
According to the rules of the preceding paragraph, the length of sides A
and B can’t be less than six times the largest conduit diameter plus the
diameters of each smaller conduit.

6 ? 3 inches = 18 inches

2 inches + 2 inches = 4 inches

Total = 18 inches + 4 inches, or 22 inches

The distance C between the centers of the two nearest 2-inch conduits
can’t be less than 6 ? 2 inches = 12 inches.

If the pull box is square and the two conduits are the same distance from
the corner, the distance D must be no less than 0.707 ? 12 inches = 8.484 inches, or approximately 8 1/2 inches."

My instructor says this is directly related to "Table 5" of the NEC for wires over 8 gauge.
 
Last edited:
steve66 said:
I don't think that was a serious comment :) - the box is very obviously undersized, and the wires look like a tangled mess.

Someone else said this, but I have to repeat it: That is unbelievable.
Click to expand...
This post made my day! You just got to shake your head and then smile with the thought of someone trying to put the cover on. Darwin Awards comes to mind.
 
lunalilo said:
The pull box shown in the figure has two 3-inch conduits and four
2-inch conduits entering it. Because the same number and size of
conduits are entering each side, the sidesAand B will be the same length.
According to the rules of the preceding paragraph, the length of sides A
and B can’t be less than six times the largest conduit diameter plus the
diameters of each smaller conduit.

6 ? 3 inches = 18 inches

2 inches + 2 inches = 4 inches

Total = 18 inches + 4 inches, or 22 inches

The distance C between the centers of the two nearest 2-inch conduits
can’t be less than 6 ? 2 inches = 12 inches.

If the pull box is square and the two conduits are the same distance from
the corner, the distance D must be no less than 0.707 ? 12 inches = 8.484 inches, or approximately 8 1/2 inches."

My instructor says this is directly related to "Table 5" of the NEC for wires over 8 gauge.
Click to expand...

reread the section. the distance shall be 6 times the largest plus the sum of ALL the other raceways in the row that results in the largest dimension.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top