Stranded Wire For Fixture Chain

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Sparks.4.All

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A workmate said today that if you link more than 2 troffers together with MC fixture whips, that it needs to be stranded wire. He said he had seen it in the NEC. I have tried to find it but was unable to. Anyone seen this before?
 
You will not find much if anything that says you must use stranded wire for any particular application, other than for sizes 8 AWG and larger as mentioned in 310.106(C).
 
He might be thinking of this.


410.56 Protection of Conductors and Insulation.


(E) Stranding. Stranded conductors shall be used for wiring on luminaire chains and on other movable or flexible parts.
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Not sure if this applies to the OP:

410.56(E) Stranding. Stranded conductors shall be used for wiring
on luminaire chains and on other movable or flexible parts.
Click to expand...
 
OP says this is a whip made of MC cable to troffers, I wouldn't thing 410.56(E) would apply to that, it is not something that requires flexibility. He could run RMC to these luminaires if he wants as they should not move once they are in the grid.
 
kwired said:
OP says this is a whip made of MC cable to troffers, I wouldn't thing 410.56(E) would apply to that, it is not something that requires flexibility. He could run RMC to these luminaires if he wants as they should not move once they are in the grid.
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Captain Obvious to the rescue. :D
 
Sparks.4.All said:
Does "fixture chain" apply to a series of troffers wired together? I would assume, yes.
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It applies to these type luminaires and not trouffers supported by chains.


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iwire said:
Actually it seems to apply to any fixture that is supported by chain and that could include chain hung 'troughers' etc.
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I agree. I have always interpreted this requirement as applying to any/all fixtures hung from chain, including chandeliers, strip lights, and 'trauphers'.
 
iwire said:
Actually it seems to apply to any fixture that is supported by chain and that could include chain hung 'troughers' etc.
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I agree and whether that was the intent or not, it is the wording and there is no writen exception.

Roger
 
Cavie said:
No, Fixture chain is just what it says it a Chain. You hang surface mounted fixtures with it. think dining room. Troffers can be "chained" together using flex.
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+1
The literal wording does not specify wiring of a fixture chain, it specifies wiring which is mounted on the chain itself or otherwise mounted on moving parts.
(E) Stranding. Stranded conductors shall be used for wiring on luminaire chains and on other movable or flexible parts.
Click to expand...
Now if chain supported troffers are mounted very close together and were also likely to move independently, then the second part of the and might be considered to apply, with the troffers themselves being the movable parts. :)
 
My point was simply that troughers are not always in a grid ceiling, sometimes they are only supported by chains.


The OPs title seems to indicate chain hung fixtures but his post seems to be about whips so all bets are off. :)
 
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