Oversized conductors

[flatlander1982]

I currently am working on a Petco build out and wondering if any one that may have worked on one figured out why the plans call for the 20a receptacles on the aquarium wall to be fed with #8 thhn? Ruled out voltage drop, furthest receptacle is 85' from panel.

 

[iwire]

How many are shown in each raceway?

 

[ivsenroute]

I assume the breaker will remain at 20A and there will be taps for the devices???????????

 

[flatlander1982]

Pipe size is at discretion of EC.

 

[infinity]

Sounds like a waste of someones money. Even for a 20 amp load on an 85' run the voltage drop would be 3.2%. That's in the worst case scenario.

 

[electricalperson]

heres my guess. was it a possible change order and they didnt feel like removing the #8's? maybe they had a 40 amp load and it changed down to a 20

edit: sorry didnt realize you were doing it. thought you were working on a petco that had that

 

[LarryFine]

I think they should use a sub-panel. :wink:

 

[khixxx]

The NEC is for minimum standards. What ever the specs call for you bid and do. However the owner of the company I use to work for put Al in for feeder cables instead of CU as required. Meetings oh the meetings about that one. I honestly thought we were going to repull those cables. I often hear the PM saying "we'll let the courts handle it"

I have noticed a company will use circuit lay outs similar to other projects. The dimensions of the building were not the same. So maybe the last Petco was a bigger store and they just used those same circuit drawings? Might be worth investigating.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I currently am working on a Petco build out and wondering if any one that may have worked on one figured out why the plans call for the 20a receptacles on the aquarium wall to be fed with #8 thhn? Ruled out voltage drop, furthest receptacle is 85' from panel.

Unfortunately you will also have to use a #8 for your EGC (250.122(B)). How ridiculous this all seems

 

[iwire]

How ridiculous this all seems

Yeah selling and installing what the customer wants and pays for does seem ridiculous for an electrician to do.

I have no personally built a "Pet Smart" I have done service calls to them and I have been involved with plenty of other retail chains. They want what they want and your only wasting your own time by questioning it.

Bid the prints, build it by the prints collect the money and move on. :smile:

 

[ptonsparky]

Maybe because as soon as the inspection is done and tanks installed the breaker is changed to a 40?

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Yeah selling and installing what the customer wants and pays for does seem ridiculous for an electrician to do.

I have no personally built a "Pet Smart" I have done service calls to them and I have been involved with plenty of other retail chains. They want what they want and your only wasting your own time by questioning it.

Bid the prints, build it by the prints collect the money and move on. :smile:

I am not arguing that at all. It seems like major overkill but if they want to pay for it-- go at it. I had a customer who wanted his entire dwelling to be wired in #10 wire. He was willing to pay for it but fortunately I didn't get that job-- I can't imagine box fill, etc with #10 in a residence.

 

[iwire]

I think they should use a sub-panel. :wink:

Of course you do, and you could suggest it to them and they would say 'no thanks'.

PetSmart like many chain stores provides the panels and lighting to the EC. In the Petsmarts I have worked on the electrical service transformers and panels all came pre-assembled as a unit and the EC just has to set it and make the field connections. The breakers will be remotely operated for lighting and power control.

Likely there will be one transformer and panel mounted remotely in the server room for the IT / POS / TEL equipment at the front of the store.

 

[benaround]

One of the 'chain' stores that we do is just like Bob stated, they supply most of the equipment.

One 'trick' they get away with often is to spec 30a 120v recpts. in the Tire Garage, that

way they don't need GFCI protection. I don't know, with all the fish tanks---------