Site Lighting

[Alwayslearningelec]

I was helping out on an estimate and here is what I encountered. There are 20a lighting circuits( panels schedules calls for #10 for these circuits) going from a panel to a lighting control panel then out to handholes then branch( about 30')to the pole lights( there are terminal blocks on the poles). Most of these poles have two 400w heads. The feeders/conduit run from the LCP to the handholes contain large wire size some #4's and #8's. I assumed that from the handholes that same wire size would be branched to the pole lights but the other estimator who is overlooking the project said that you would splice at the handhole from #4 to #12 that would run to the light. I actuallly not aware you could splice and bugnut or spit bolt together # 10 and #4 wire. This theoretically did not make sense to me but I am obviously wrong. What else is confusing is I am sure #4's are rated for a pretty high amp circuit( have not checked) so there should be a overcurrent protection device rated for that...no?

Thanks

 

[480sparky]

The large wire is to reduce voltage drop over the long runs typical in lot lighting. I've never run 12 up a pole, but 10 is SOP for me. As long as the smallest wire on the circuit has an ampacity exceeding the OCPD, you're good to go.