SO cord connections

J

JCPE

Member
Location
charlotte, nc
I'm working on a sports lighting installation. I planned to run so cord inside the pole to a junction box at the cross-arm, where the so cords supplied with the fixtures were to be terminated. The plan reviewer is calling the terminations in the junction box splices in a flexible cord, which is not allowed by 400.13. We're under 2023 NEC. Does anyone have a better interpretation? I can't find anything in the 2017 Handbook, it is the latest I have access to.
 
I would have cited 400.12 and subsections 1 and 2 and possibly 6 before citing 400.13. This is rule that hasn't really changed over several code cycles. Flexible cord simply isn't intended for use as permanent wiring unless specifically allowed in 400.10

400.10(A)(2) does specifically allow wiring of luminaires - but in your case would be from the mentioned junction box to the luminaire. The part run inside the pole is not permitted.
 
I ended up getting it accepted. It's used in a similar manner on the crossarms from the fixtures to the junction box in that it is concealed in the luminaire supports. The pole is part of the luminaire support. I argued that the pole didn't have walls, ceilings, or a floor. I also argued that the cable was terminated in the junction box, not spliced. I understand the SO cord down the pole is common practice in sports lighting. I'm not sure why, it has to be more expensive than THWN.
 
I used to do street lighting design and specified Pole and Bracket Cable. Worked well but not UL listed. My specs were based on state standards as that’s what they required
SO cord was likely used by the sports lighting company as it’s their boilerplate spec
Even though not listed, pole and bracket cable would last longer as the insulation would not deteriorate over time.
 
tom baker said:
I used to do street lighting design and specified Pole and Bracket Cable. Worked well but not UL listed. My specs were based on state standards as that’s what they required
SO cord was likely used by the sports lighting company as it’s their boilerplate spec
Even though not listed, pole and bracket cable would last longer as the insulation would not deteriorate over time.
Click to expand...
What is pole and bracket cable?
 
Pole and bracket cable is far better than SO cord. The cable is what our DOT specs, if so cord was better they would use it
 
PaulEd said:
What is pole and bracket cable?
Click to expand...
tom baker said:
Pole and bracket cable is far better than SO cord. The cable is what our DOT specs, if so cord was better they would use it
Click to expand...
Must be the cable commonly used on traffic signals?

Is it listed for general use or specifically listed only for certain applications?

In my world there is center pivot irrigation machine "span cables" they possibly somewhat similar to this pole and bracket cable. They have pretty durable outer sheath that is hard compared to type S cords. Also have a shield under the outer jacket, more of a physical shield than an external interference shield though it probably does both by nature. Is only listed for use on the center pivot irrigation machines and not recognized by NEC for general use. Some irrigation guys like to use it for other purposes at times - sometimes isn't necessarily a bad idea but technically isn't listed for it. Is not anywhere near as flexible as type S cords are, probably somewhat similar to jacketed wet location rated MC cables, when it comes to flexibility.
 
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