Outlet Box supported from equipment via rigid nipple

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dsr

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Hello there! I'm Daniel, a fairly new EE with only a couple years of experience under my belt. I'm here because I'm hoping to get some feedback from you kind folks to make sure I'm not missing something.

A client has a multitude of existing pieces of equipment that have 4" square handy-boxes mounted to a 3/4" hole on the equipment via a chase nipple. There is flex conduit coming off the box. The boxes contain a switch and splices. I am questioning whether I can use this design as it seems to violate article 314.23. It seems to be the standard design in this facility. I'm wondering if this, what seems to me to be practical design, is code compliant?

Piece of equipment, see page 3 for conduit hole:
http://www.dwyer-inst.com/PDF_files/B_33_A_rev6.pdf

Thank You
 
The code does not permit the chase nipple to support a box. Why did they not just run the flex into the instrument?
 
Hi Daniel. Welcome to the Forum.

After teasing apart your description, and examining the PDF, I am wondering:

Is the 4" square box secured solely by the 3/4" chase nipple? Or might there be screws or other fasteners securing the 4" square box to the removable cover of the Photohelic Switch / Gage? To me, such fasteners comply with 314.23(A) "or other surfaces."
 
al hildenbrand said:
Hi Daniel. Welcome to the Forum.

After teasing apart your description, and examining the PDF, I am wondering:

Is the 4" square box secured solely by the 3/4" chase nipple? Or might there be screws or other fasteners securing the 4" square box to the removable cover of the Photohelic Switch / Gage? To me, such fasteners comply with 314.23(A) "or other surfaces."
Click to expand...

Hello Al, thank you. Yes the 4" box is attached solely by the chase nipple. I don't believe any fasteners are use as the removable cover. It looks like we are going to need them to provide a box mounting location on the bracket for the unit after all. Thank you for the reply!
 
dsr said:
Hello Al, thank you. Yes the 4" box is attached solely by the chase nipple. I don't believe any fasteners are use as the removable cover. It looks like we are going to need them to provide a box mounting location on the bracket for the unit after all. Thank you for the reply!
Click to expand...
One term clarification: "chase nipple" to me is:
HA210-orig.jpg


This chase nipple is tightened in place with a single locknut.

The use of a chase nipple to attach a "4 inch square box" to the existing Photohelic Switch / Gage implies that the existing assembly you are describing has a "field installed 4" square box" tight to the flat side of a piece of "equipment".

One of my hats is that of "installer". The installer in me says, "Just fix it with two screws, or pop rivets, or whatever fastener that pleases." . . . rather than rebuild what is built.

I look at that 3/4" raceway, and imagine the number of conductors that may be terminated to the Photohelic terminal blocks, and think about sliding that huge cup shaped cover away from the terminal blocks in order to service the individual terminals and I realize that I must have a rather large ball of loose conductor available captive in the cup of the cover, or, I must undo the raceway conductors at the other (far) end in order to get enough "play" by sliding conductors out of the flexible raceway before I can even get the cup shaped Photohelic cover to even move.

Makes sense to me that there is a "field added splice box" right at the cup equipment cover.
 
al hildenbrand said:
One term clarification: "chase nipple" to me is:
HA210-orig.jpg


This chase nipple is tightened in place with a single locknut.

The use of a chase nipple to attach a "4 inch square box" to the existing Photohelic Switch / Gage implies that the existing assembly you are describing has a "field installed 4" square box" tight to the flat side of a piece of "equipment".

One of my hats is that of "installer". The installer in me says, "Just fix it with two screws, or pop rivets, or whatever fastener that pleases." . . . rather than rebuild what is built.

I look at that 3/4" raceway, and imagine the number of conductors that may be terminated to the Photohelic terminal blocks, and think about sliding that huge cup shaped cover away from the terminal blocks in order to service the individual terminals and I realize that I must have a rather large ball of loose conductor available captive in the cup of the cover, or, I must undo the raceway conductors at the other (far) end in order to get enough "play" by sliding conductors out of the flexible raceway before I can even get the cup shaped Photohelic cover to even move.

Makes sense to me that there is a "field added splice box" right at the cup equipment cover.
Click to expand...

You're correct on the chase nipple. I do doubt that they will be updating existing installations due to they are, in some cases, more than 10 years old. For my designs, however, I'll be making sure everything is compliant with the latest code requirements. Thanks again!
 
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