Supporting a luminare from low voltage wires.

E

egwmiv

Member
Location
South Carolina
Occupation
Electrician
We received lights from a Canadian based company that are made to utilize the low voltage control wiring for support. These lights were spec'd by an engineer to go into a high school cafeteria. The manufacturer says its okay to do it. As the EC I do NOT want to hang these things 8ft high supported only by LV wiring, I am sure there is code to support not doing this but the language is a bit vague to me.

"300.11(D) Cables Not Used as Means of Support. Cable wiring methods shall not be used as a means of support for other cables, raceways, or nonelectrcial equipment."
Would a luminare be considered "non-electrical equipment??"

410 Part IV Luminare Supports also doesn't specifically call out support via conductors

Again, I DONT want to hang these lights this way, but need a solid code reference to tell the manufacturer, engineer and GC to take 60k worth of lights and tell them they specified the wrong one.

Help me out, and don't crucify me too much.

Thanks
 
Here is the installation method which states supplied aircraft cable and Power over suspension cord. What they provided was a vinyl jacketed low voltage wire that is already installed in the fixture. The manufacturer is telling us that this wire is acceptable to them for support. The fixture is ETL listed.
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Before you make a issue that doesnt exist for a $65k light package, you may want to mock up a fixture first. The Lv cable "sisters" a nice and sturdy aircraft cable...
 
rambojoe said:
The Lv cable "sisters" a nice and sturdy aircraft cable...
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That's what I'm seeing. The power cable does not support anything, it just runs with one of the support cables. This is just like many other pendent fixtures and chandeliers that have been around forever. Ever see a hanging fixture with the power zip cord run down with the chain it hangs from?

Oh, and there are many pendent fixtures that DO hang from their power cable.

egwmiv said:
"300.11(D) Cables Not Used as Means of Support. Cable wiring methods shall not be used as a means of support for other cables, raceways, or nonelectrcial equipment."
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I think you have it backwards. ELECTRICAL cables shall not be used to support other cables, raceways or non-electrical equipment.

egwmiv said:
Again, I DONT want to hang these lights this way, but need a solid code reference to tell the manufacturer, engineer and GC to take 60k worth of lights and tell them they specified the wrong one.
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Now say "thank you" to us for saving you from looking stupid. :ROFLMAO:

-Hal
 
I agree, from the diagram, aircraft cable should sister to the low volt cable to take the physical strain of the lights.
But.. see the pic below this cable fitting x 3 is what was provided and what I am being told is acceptable.



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egwmiv said:
Which earlier post, the diagram says aircraft cable, but both pictures are of the same fixture.
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Look at the picture in your post #5. Are saying you don't see the aircraft cables attached to the fixture?
 
This is obviously over your head, see the three coils in the picture below, they are factory attached aircraft cables. Your electrician will know how to install the fixture.
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egwmiv said:
Roger, I wouldn't want this light over my head, that's the issue. Those are not metallic stranded or braided aircraft cables, they are vinyl. See the attached video.

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com
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So look in the packaging for the aircraft cables that are supplied per the instructions in your post #5. There is supposed to be 10'supplied, if it's not there contact the manufacturer
 
Roger, again, there were none supplied. When we contacted the manufacturer they said use the cord that came installed on the fixture. Thats my issue, I disagree with the MFG who is telling me to use the cord. The engineer who spec'd these lighst and GC don't want to take the liability of hanging these lights that way, I don't want to either. Trying to find a code citation in my favor.
 
egwmiv said:
Roger, again, there were none supplied. When we contacted the manufacturer they said use the cord that came installed on the fixture. Thats my issue, I disagree with the MFG who is telling me to use the cord. The engineer who spec'd these lighst and GC don't want to take the liability of hanging these lights that way, I don't want to either. Trying to find a code citation in my favor.
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110.3(B) is what I would use. The manufacturers instructions show the fixture to be supported by manufacturer supplied aircraft cable. If it's not there the designer should pressure the manufacturer to supply it or authorize a change order for you to supply it.
 
If the manufacturer is in fact saying to hang it from the LV cable have them send a letter specifically saying that in lieu of their instructions.
 
roger said:
If the manufacturer is in fact saying to hang it from the LV cable have them send a letter specifically saying that in lieu of their instructions.
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They sent an email, but I'll ask for a signed document on letterhead. Thanks for helping me dig this down. Its the last thing left on a big project, 1300 lights.
 
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