Water tubing pass through in electrical enclosures

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cfordahl

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We have an industrial machine electrical panel that that has a 480VAC transformer in it as well as some high and low voltage wires from a high powered laser passing through it. The laser has water cooling lines (nylon reinforced plastic tubing which carry DI (deionized, non-conductive) water which we would like to let pass through the enclosure. There would be no joints or fittings in the lines where it passes through the enclosure. I have a copy of the 2005 NEC code book and do not see this addressed.

Is there code addressing this situation?
 
iwire

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Take a look at 300.8

If the enclosure is actually covered by the NEC you will not be able to run the water lines in the enclosure.
 
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cfordahl

Member
Thank you for your quick response.

Our system uses a YAG laser where the power supply is in an electrical enclosure behind the system and the laser generator sits out on the end of a three axes moving robot system. We have the same high voltage wires traveling in flexable cable ways up to the laser generator as well as the DI water tubing. They are segregated but not isolated.

Must they be isolated.

Doesn't it make a difference that the water is non-conductive? In fact the water flows around the high voltage flash lamps to cool them.
Craig
 
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winnie

Senior Member
Location
Springfield, MA, USA
Occupation
Electric motor research
Notice what iwire said: "IF the enclosure is actually covered by the NEC..."

Note that the NEC does not apply everywhere, and there are many engineered systems that mix water and electricity. At some point the water and electricity are in the same 'enclosure'. In fact, for some water cooled systems the water flows right down the middle of hollow copper conductors, and is thus directly in contact with whatever high voltage is being used.

If this enclosure is part of a machine that you are manufacturing, then you need to deal with all of the appropriate standards for the equipment in question, and get the equipment tested/listed by a lab such as UL. Saying that these standards and testing labs exist is the limit of my knowledge :)

-Jon
 
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