Raco 257 Box Usage
- Thread starter wbdvt
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JFletcher
Senior Member
- Location
- Williamsburg, VA
From a safety standpoint, I can see where no Knockouts would be allowed on a pendant box like that... in the middle of a warehouse floor, or production facility like what the o p showed, is probably considered subject to physical damage, and running a piece of all thread or something into the side of that box would stand a good chance of knocking a knockout into the ungrounded conductors.
I do not see what the big deal is about changing the box type to one with a threaded hub and no knockout or holes in it. something like a surface mount box for RMC conduit that have the mounting ears on the outside of the box. if it's just one or 5 boxes at 1 facility, no big deal... Hundreds of these at numerous facilities and then yeah I guess that's a big deal.
there may be nothing wrong with the installation to the letter of the NEC, however previous employers I have worked for, their safety departments would have shot this install down for the reasons I mentioned.
I have no problem believing you at all when you say OSHA had a problem with this install.
grich
Senior Member
- Location
- MP89.5, Mason City Subdivision
- Occupation
- Broadcast Engineer
314.23(H)(1) is certainly vague, as mentioned previously.
I'm with ya.
The OSHA thing actually makes much more sense than the code thing.
Jap>
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
so no threaded hub requirement from osha, we all agree?
MTW
Senior Member
- Location
- SE Michigan
In 314.23 (H) (1) Pendant boxes suspended by chord, require a strain relief installed into a box with a threaded hub. It's been a requirement as long as I can remember. FS type boxes have no holes piercing the box, mounting lugs are cast into the external surface of the box. Installed hundreds of them in plants over the years, never a citation from OSHA or otherwise. Bean counters may not care for them, but cast iron boxes are pretty tough. The last plant that had chord pendant OSHA violations, many years ago, got dinged $500 for each one. The bean counter didn't save much on that one. Makes the FS boxes look like a bargain.
A bell box could suffice, but i never liked them with their sharp corners and thin aluminum construction, not suitable for industrial use.
http://www.cooperindustries.com/con...ardous/fs_fd_series_multigangdeviceboxes.html
A bell box could suffice, but i never liked them with their sharp corners and thin aluminum construction, not suitable for industrial use.
http://www.cooperindustries.com/con...ardous/fs_fd_series_multigangdeviceboxes.html
MTW
Senior Member
- Location
- SE Michigan
The OSHA article cited above was referencing shop made extension chords for temporary use. I don't see how that applies to permanently installed pendant outlet boxes. Especially in an industrial environment.
An FS box with a strain relief passed OSHA inspectors every time. I always use bus drop cable as well because it's approved for pendant use. And the appropriate strain relief hardware at the top of the pendant, as shown in this thread.
http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=191114&p=1912654#post1912654
An FS box with a strain relief passed OSHA inspectors every time. I always use bus drop cable as well because it's approved for pendant use. And the appropriate strain relief hardware at the top of the pendant, as shown in this thread.
http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=191114&p=1912654#post1912654
macmikeman
Senior Member
- Location
- Planet macmikeman
wbdvt
Senior Member
- Location
- Rutland, VT, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer, PE
That was another of my thoughts on this installation, however 110.12(A) states that unused openings other than those intended for mounting purposes shall be closed. Those holes are for mounting so I think they don't have to be closed.
So based on everything said here, it seems like it is a valid installation. Not sure if the cord conforms with Table 400.4 which would be something else to look at as well as the support above.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
No knockouts allowed - you should have knocked all the remaining ones out then you are compliant
Just caulked some holes shut the other day in the back wall of a Homeline loadcenter. They were extra "slots" for securing a larger interior when used in the same cabinet. I didn't like how large the opening was considering it was installed in a garage and would be easy entry point for even moderately large insects like wasps. Hate opening equipment and having that surprise.
Transfomers and Panels have factory vent slots in the covers where you can actually see the conductors inside if look through them at the correct angle.
All this nonsense about not allowing a 4square box having holes in it to be installed where someone could purposely or accidently stick something through them and cause damage may be true but it's comical.
If that were the case, we'd have to caulk the openings on all of our receptacles shut so we couldn't plug anything into them.
JAP>
All this nonsense about not allowing a 4square box having holes in it to be installed where someone could purposely or accidently stick something through them and cause damage may be true but it's comical.
If that were the case, we'd have to caulk the openings on all of our receptacles shut so we couldn't plug anything into them.
JAP>
SceneryDriver
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Electrical and Automation Designer
JFletcher
Senior Member
- Location
- Williamsburg, VA
That's what the TR receptacles are for. They're so safe because you can never get the dang plug in!
SceneryDriver
So true!... the first time my late mother tried to plug a cord into a TR receptacle, she somehow busted/jammed the shutters on it. They should call them IR receptacles, insertion resistant.
That's what the TR receptacles are for. They're so safe because you can never get the dang plug in!
SceneryDriver
I never really had a problem with them. They seem to work just fine.
JAP>
Adamjamma
Senior Member
- Location
- Jamaica and london
No knockouts allowed - you should have knocked all the remaining ones out then you are compliant
Just caulked some holes shut the other day in the back wall of a Homeline loadcenter. They were extra "slots" for securing a larger interior when used in the same cabinet. I didn't like how large the opening was considering it was installed in a garage and would be easy entry point for even moderately large insects like wasps. Hate opening equipment and having that surprise.
Ok. This is a case of doing something sensible but not required by code, like running a neutral and ground to every switch position. Only certain switch positions require the neutral, but it saves time and cost later if the switch is changed to one that needs the neutral.
If your looking for advise on doing something sensible but not required by code then you're looking on the wrong forum.
JAP>
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Actually NEC in more recent years added a requirement to bring the neutral to nearly all switches that control lighting outlets, even if the switching device doesn't utilize a neutral.
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