Are there any code issues with connecting multiple lighting inverters (let's say 100 watts each) on the same circuit for emergency lighting purposes? As opposed to requiring a separate circuit breaker for each lighting inverter, but this would seem like overkill to require a separate circuits for each small inverter.
Small lighting inverters - same circuit breaker?
- Thread starter cppoly
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ggunn
PE (Electrical), NABCEP certified
- Location
- Austin, TX, USA
- Occupation
- Consulting Electrical Engineer - Photovoltaic Systems
What is a lighting inverter?
GIYF
I don't know of any reason for multiple circuits as long as the load under all operating conditions is within the capacity of the circuit feeding them. Will the lighting loads all be normally on?
http://www.mulelighting.com/department.php?id=6
Fixtures that aren't available emergency ballasts can be put on a lighting inverter. Used for emergency egress lighting for when the power fails.
gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
You need to be careful with central E-light systems. Usually the building code requirement is that if lighting fails in an area of the building that emergency lighting comes on to allow egress. What happens if there is only a partial electrical failure? A bad breaker, or someone put a load on a lighting circuit, or there's a short, or construction damage. The central system won't detect that condition since there's still POCO power at the main panel board but now you have an issue with movement in the blackout area. This is why e-lights are usually powered from the lighting circuits that serve the areas in which they are installed.
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