bphgravity
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
I'm back at the book store remodel today. Along the east and west walls are shelving. At the top center of each section are low-voltage puck lights. There are 16 per transformer. Each transformer is rated at 300 watts.
The transformers are mounted above the shelving horizontally. On the side of these transformers is a sticker that states, "CAUTION Heat sensitive device. Do not install in an area that can entrap heat. Unit MUST (bold and underlined) be hung with arrows pointing up." The arrows indicate the unit needs to be installed vertically.
I brought the issue to the electrician whom did not even see the sticker on the unit. We were able to track down some literature that came with the transformers. The instructions also specify the vertical mounting with a note. The note states, "This unit can be hung horizontally if in an area at less than 120? F and the load does not exceed 80% of the maximum output rating."
So it does appear the unit, under certain conditions, can be installed horizontally. Here's the question. The puck lights themselves are rated for 15 watt max. The electrician insists the lamps oreder were only 13 watt. There is no rating or markings on the bulbs. At 13 watts, the load for each transformer (6 of them) is around 78%. At 15 watts, the load for each transformer is around 90%.
What load must be considered? The current installed load, or the maximum potential and permissible load? If I consider the example of 220.14(D), the installation exceeds the note allowance and the transformers will have to be reinstalled vertically.
What do you guys think. I know Article 220 has nothing to do with this, but isn't it kind of the same idea. Someone could install 15 watt lamps, then again someone can always install the wrong thing later. Should I be concerned?
The transformers are mounted above the shelving horizontally. On the side of these transformers is a sticker that states, "CAUTION Heat sensitive device. Do not install in an area that can entrap heat. Unit MUST (bold and underlined) be hung with arrows pointing up." The arrows indicate the unit needs to be installed vertically.
I brought the issue to the electrician whom did not even see the sticker on the unit. We were able to track down some literature that came with the transformers. The instructions also specify the vertical mounting with a note. The note states, "This unit can be hung horizontally if in an area at less than 120? F and the load does not exceed 80% of the maximum output rating."
So it does appear the unit, under certain conditions, can be installed horizontally. Here's the question. The puck lights themselves are rated for 15 watt max. The electrician insists the lamps oreder were only 13 watt. There is no rating or markings on the bulbs. At 13 watts, the load for each transformer (6 of them) is around 78%. At 15 watts, the load for each transformer is around 90%.
What load must be considered? The current installed load, or the maximum potential and permissible load? If I consider the example of 220.14(D), the installation exceeds the note allowance and the transformers will have to be reinstalled vertically.
What do you guys think. I know Article 220 has nothing to do with this, but isn't it kind of the same idea. Someone could install 15 watt lamps, then again someone can always install the wrong thing later. Should I be concerned?
