Voltage Separation or Not

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A/A Fuel GTX

A/A Fuel GTX

Senior Member
Location
WI & AZ
Occupation
Electrician
How is it acceptable for line voltage and thermostat wires to be intermingled without barriers within the wiring compartment of a typical residential furnace? What about a commercial overhead door operator with line voltage and low voltage control conductors occupying the same space? I've never seen thermostat wire rated for such scenarios. Yet, it happens everyday.
 
A/A Fuel GTX said:
How is it acceptable for line voltage and thermostat wires to be intermingled without barriers within the wiring compartment of a typical residential furnace? What about a commercial overhead door operator with line voltage and low voltage control conductors occupying the same space? I've never seen thermostat wire rated for such scenarios. Yet, it happens everyday.
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It is spelled out somewhere in article 725. But in those cases all that is required is 1/4" separation of the conductors inside the enclosure.
 
iwire said:
It is spelled out somewhere in article 725. But in those cases all that is required is 1/4" separation of the conductors inside the enclosure.
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OK, but why is it when there is a two gang box related to a gas fireplace and there is a switch for the fan (120V) and a switch for the ignition (Low Voltage), a separator is required between the two switches because of the difference in voltages and insulation? If I maintain the 1/4" of separation in that case, is the separator not required?
 
A/A Fuel GTX said:
OK, but why is it when there is a two gang box related to a gas fireplace and there is a switch for the fan (120V) and a switch for the ignition (Low Voltage), a separator is required between the two switches because of the difference in voltages and insulation? If I maintain the 1/4" of separation in that case, is the separator not required?
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I would say because there is no choice inside equipment.
 
A lot of equipment makes me wonder about how they get away with violations of box fill as some are absolutely ridiculous. I chalk it up as they have to pass listing not field code compliancy.

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