Should home run arrows point towards the panel?

[steve66]

I have seen at least one "old timer" confused by arrows that didn't point to the panel. So apparently, at some point in time, someone somewhere taught the concept that the arrows should point to the panels.

But I'm generally more concerned with putting the text where its readable, and the home runs where they are easy to see than I am with having the arrows point to the panels.

P.S. I wonder what Revit does when you have it automatically add the wiring? Does it pick the homerun direction at random, or does it point to the panel?

P.S.S. And the two lines on the receptacles attach to the walls, not the circle!! Even Revit gets that one right.

 

[lielec11]

P.S. I wonder what Revit does when you have it automatically add the wiring? Does it pick the homerun direction at random, or does it point to the panel?

Revit does it at random, you can adjust the point of the arrow as you please.

 

[charlie b]

P.S.S. And the two lines on the receptacles attach to the walls, not the circle!! Even Revit gets that one right.

No, no, you misunderstand. If you show the two lines attached to the wall, it means you want the ground point up, and if you show the two lines attached to the circle, it means you want the ground point down. :lol: :lol::lol:


Just kidding. Just kidding. Please don't ban me! :happyno:

OK, kidding aside, this is another item that is a matter of personal choice, and for which there is no "official" correct way.

 

[rcwilson]

On my first job ( a 60MW power plant) with this design build company, we showed home run arrows for most conduit runs with a cable number, no conduit numbers. It was up to the electricians to field route the conduit to the tray, MCC, panel, control room or switchgear. (15kv cable tray and runs were detailed).

When our company president and our client's representatives walked through on a tour, they found a five foot arrow made from 4" RGS sticking straight up out of a 500 HP motor J-box with 5 kV cables dangling out of each end of the arrow's point complete with cable number tags. The electrical superintendent told them he was just trying to install per my drawings, but wasn't certain if it was going to work.

I got a lot of ribbing about it. But that job had the best design of conduit racks and tray, because it was done by crews that had done it before and not by a know-it-all engineer like me.

 

[kentirwin]

Not this old timer

Not this old timer

I have seen at least one "old timer" confused by arrows that didn't point to the panel. So apparently, at some point in time, someone somewhere taught the concept that the arrows should point to the panels.

I started my apprenticeship in 1971 so I guess I qualify as an old timer. This old timer has NEVER heard of homerun arrows pointing at panels until reading this thread.

 

[jcbabb]

I was taught to always point the arrow at the panel. That's why it looks careless to me when I see the arrows going every which way. I know its an unofficial meaning - it doesn't say anywhere on the documents that the arrow points to anything, but it's a nice touch - like organizing your branch circuit numbers so that odd numbered circuits are on the left side of the hall and even numbers on the right. If you can't follow the rule, its no big deal, but you have to try.

Which side of a hallway is the left side? :?

 

[JoeStillman]

Which side of a hallway is the left side? :?

When you stand facing the panel, the side with the odd numbered circuits.

 

[GoldDigger]

When you stand facing the panel, the side with the odd numbered circuits.

And if the panel is not in the hallway?

 

[JoeStillman]

And if the panel is not in the hallway?

When you stand facing your code book, the side towards chapter 1 is left.

 

[GoldDigger]

With the spine facing me as it sits on the shelf?
If I open the codebook into chapter 1 it is on both sides.

 

[JoeStillman]

With the spine facing me as it sits on the shelf?

It's still left, just not yours.

If I open the codebook into chapter 1 it is on both sides.

If you're stuck in chapter 1, I can't help you.

 

[jcbabb]

I was taught to always point the arrow at the panel. That's why it looks careless to me when I see the arrows going every which way. I know its an unofficial meaning - it doesn't say anywhere on the documents that the arrow points to anything, but it's a nice touch - like organizing your branch circuit numbers so that odd numbered circuits are on the left side of the hall and even numbers on the right. If you can't follow the rule, its no big deal, but you have to try.

Which side of a hallway is the left side? :?

When you stand facing the panel, the side with the odd numbered circuits.

I guess you've lost me on this one.

 

[kingpb]

I don't use arrows, nor daisy chain devices together on the same circuit. Simply put a ckt number next to each device that corresponds to the ckt they are associated with, and utilize a ckt/conductor list.

Home run arrows and connecting the dots is time consuming and useless.

There would be no reason to point a home run arrow toward the panel, the arrow simply means "fed from".