According to NEC 2014, Section 410.130(G)(1), fluorescent luminaires with ballasts are required to have a disconnecting means either internal or external to each luminaire.
How about when the ballast is unwired (or removed) in order to install self-driven LED tubes, in which the 120v (or 277v) branch circuit is wired directly to the socket on one end of the fixture?
Should this be a code requirement, or not?
I think this requirement was put in to address the changing out of ballasts, so you did not need to turn off the switch/breaker feeding the whole row of recessed trouffers. I think that there may be a need to disconnect the incoming power if a socket goes bad, but not necessarily when a tube goes bad, so the same thinking should apply.
Thoughts?
Rick Miell
