Hoggedy
Member
- Location
- Gloucester,VA,USA
What is the maximum allowable voltage in a dwelling, and in which article can it be found?
I always thought the limit was 240V till someone on the forum pointed out the limits in the section Jumper posted.
On solar systems you can easily go over 500V in a dwelling.
Not in the solar section, but the NEC just raised the limit for low voltage up from 600V up to 1000V.
That's not what it means.So the maximum allowable voltage in a dwelling is 1000v? That seems a little high
There is not a maximum voltage, there are just different rules depending on the voltage you are working with.So the maximum allowable voltage in a dwelling is 1000v? That seems a little high
So if anyone was wondering i found the answer today after spending an hour in the NEC 2011. Under luminares Article 410, there is a specific sections that says there shall be no more than 1000v in a dwelling.
XIV. Special Provisions for Electric-Discharge Lighting Systems of More Than 1000 Volts
410.140 General.
(A) Listing. Electric-discharge lighting systems with an open-circuit voltage exceeding 1000 volts shall be listed and installed in conformance with that listing.
(B) Dwelling Occupancies. Equipment that has an open-circuit voltage exceeding 1000 volts shall not be installed in or on dwelling occupancies.
An interesting point!Hold on, that is not a general prohibition or limit, that section applies only to specific types of lighting circuits.
In plan English it means you cannot install neon lighting in a home as the open circuit voltages for neon are 7,500 to 30,000 volts.
An interesting point!
One could probably argue that the popular neon beer signs are not covered since their purpose is not lighting? Then it would come down to the AHJ.
I found the answer to the beginning question I asked. The answer is 1000v. You can find it under special luminaresThat's not what it means.
I asked for the maximum allowable voltage in a dwelling. Article 410 under special luminares, listso that you shall not be allowed to have more than 1000v.The problem is the question you asked. If it is for lighting then it is one thing- 410 is for lighting and you cannot have 1000v for a lighting circuit in a dwelling. You spent all that time looking and you don't even give us the section number-- not fair...
Then you said it was for solar.... the question is open ended and we would need to know exactly what you are looking for.
But that only applies to lights not the whole house.I asked for the maximum allowable voltage in a dwelling. Article 410 under special luminares, listso that you shall not be allowed to have more than 1000v.