Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dnbob

Senior Member
Location
Rochester, MN
Hello,

I had a crew wire a commercial office, and they put the lights and recepts on the same ckt.

I have always separated lights & recepts in commercial, my opinion is that the harmonics from the lights may interfear with the computers that are plugged in to the recepts. Seems to be an industry standard as well.

The boys got to pull the wire out and correct it, just curious about the other opinions out there,

Bob
 
Re: Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

We always seperate them and also usually the specs require it.As far as nec goes its not illegal.Best keep an eye on that crew :D
 
Re: Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

i dont use boys to do electrical work. . i use men.

i seperate lights from recs, but that is a design choice not a code issue.
 
Re: Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

What is the best explanation I can give for separating the lights from the recepts? Just because myself and most of the comm. contractors in the U.S. do it, isn't good enough.

Bob

P.S. If you spent a couple hours with them, you'd agree they are much more like boys than men...
 
Re: Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

I would like to see your definition of men and boys. A lot of our people are female. I will admit that occasionally some of them do not have the physical strength to do certain things but that is very rare.

I have also noticed on occasion that fresh ideas from very young people are very good ones. Just not very often. :)
 
Re: Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

I prefer to design lighting systems on 277V branch circuits. It's more efficient, IMO.
 
Re: Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

Originally posted by dnbob:
What is the best explanation I can give for separating the lights from the recepts? Just because myself and most of the comm. contractors in the U.S. do it, isn't good enough.
Click to expand...
So that the people wont be left in the dark because a rec circuit gets overloaded. which happens alot in modern offices.
 
Re: Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

Originally posted by dnbob:
What is the best explanation I can give for separating the lights from the recepts? Just because myself and most of the comm. contractors in the U.S. do it, isn't good enough.
Click to expand...
Forget the harmonics; computers and electronic ballasts are the worst polluters anyway.
You could tell them that lighting loads can be predicted and therefore the circuits fully loaded. By the same token, receptacles need more headroom (that should throw them) to accommodate the cyclical loading of unknown equipment

You could also tell them that is the way to wire a place with romex and anyone can do that. ;)

If you are there boss and sign their paycheck, don't sign anymore if they do it again. Tell them that! :eek:
 
Re: Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

Most commercial lighting is wired to 277-volt circuits in our area, so it is a good habit to get into when doing commercial work.
 
Re: Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

Originally posted by rr: I prefer to design lighting systems on 277V branch circuits. It's more efficient, IMO.
Click to expand...
So do I, for the same reason.
 
Re: Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

Originally posted by rr:
I prefer to design lighting systems on 277V branch circuits. It's more efficient, IMO.
Click to expand...
Certainly the professional thing to do and well founded. Same reason, effiency.
 
Re: Separate Circuits for Commercial Lighting

Originally posted by rr: I prefer to design lighting systems on 277V branch circuits. It's more efficient, IMO.
Click to expand...
If the separate voltage systems are available, having the extra fixtures per circuit would be more efficient in wiring a building with a lot of lighting load. I hope we aren't saying it is less expensive to operate.

In many commercial (small retail, restaurant, light industrial) there just is not the economic incentive to take delivery at 277/480 and step it down to 120/208; lighting and power loads are one happy family. Keeping the lights and power separate is a good design feature but is not necessarily more professional if a single conduit run is involved. It is going to be based on the scale of the design if it is even practical to have 277V lighting.

[ December 22, 2005, 04:52 PM: Message edited by: rick hart ]
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top