Running circuitry through a pole base.

[Perean]

I am trying to determine whether it is permissible to run an unrelated circuit through pole bases to a remote location. I am not looking at doing this myself but rather stumbled across the following situation recently and want to know if there is anything in the code specifically not allowing it.

I was trying to isolate which of a series of pole lights had caused the breaker feeding them to trip. All circuits feeding the lighting contactor were locked out and verified dead. While pulling wiring out of one of the pole bases to perform continuity tests one wire scraped against the pole hand hole opening and arced out. Upon investigation it was determined that power for a remote shed had been routed through the pole lights to a remote shed to provide power.

I was wearing my hot gloves at the time (I've had bad experiences with poles before) so did not end up getting burned from the arc, but was in a rather bad mood with whoever decided to route the power that way.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

[jap]

I don't know of any code that would prohibit this nor would I see why this would be any different than multiple circuits running through pole lights that may or may not be hot all the time.


JAP>

 

[Fulthrotl]

I am trying to determine whether it is permissible to run an unrelated circuit through pole bases to a remote location. I am not looking at doing this myself but rather stumbled across the following situation recently and want to know if there is anything in the code specifically not allowing it.

I was trying to isolate which of a series of pole lights had caused the breaker feeding them to trip. All circuits feeding the lighting contactor were locked out and verified dead. While pulling wiring out of one of the pole bases to perform continuity tests one wire scraped against the pole hand hole opening and arced out. Upon investigation it was determined that power for a remote shed had been routed through the pole lights to a remote shed to provide power.

I was wearing my hot gloves at the time (I've had bad experiences with poles before) so did not end up getting burned from the arc, but was in a rather bad mood with whoever decided to route the power that way.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

you can't use lighting fixtures for conductors not serving those fixtures,
as in strip fluorescent lighting.

but a pole isn't a light fixture. you can run anything thru it you
wish, as you have determined.

i put in some lights on poles in an industrial situation.
as the facility would be subject to future expansion, i put a
2" conduit as a home run back to a gutter under the panels.
each light pole has a 2" home run. the only thing in the pipe
at this time is some #6's and a mule tape, but i can get a couple
hundred amps of either 208 or 480 to any of those poles,
set a disconnect, and power something local.

 

[jap]

you can't use lighting fixtures for conductors not serving those fixtures,
as in strip fluorescent lighting.

but a pole isn't a light fixture. you can run anything thru it you
wish, as you have determined.

i put in some lights on poles in an industrial situation.
as the facility would be subject to future expansion, i put a
2" conduit as a home run back to a gutter under the panels.
each light pole has a 2" home run. the only thing in the pipe
at this time is some #6's and a mule tape, but i can get a couple
hundred amps of either 208 or 480 to any of those poles,
set a disconnect, and power something local.

Keep that type of installation up and Smart$$$ will have to start sharing his handle.....


JAP>