ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (Scott35), 270 guests, and 16 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 349
Radar Offline OP
Member
Here's a situation maybe you all can help me with. On one particular design / build project, the electrical subcontractor is proposing to place branch circuit wiring from two different panelboards in the same conduit run. The idea here is to feed a string of light fixtures from alternate panelboard circuits and save a little on conduit in the process.

The first light would connected to a circuit from panel A, the second light on panel B, the third on A, and so on alternating back & forth. The string of lights is between the two panelboards, so the branch circuit conduit would run from panel to panel with a J-box at each light fixture location. The light fixtures themselves are surface wall mount fluorescents mounted just below the J-box, and have a short piece of conduit to connect to the afore mentioned J-box.

Back when I was a field foreman, we never dreamed of doing something like this. The reasons seem so obvious, but I am unable to find anything specific in the NEC that precludes it. In fact, NEC 300-3(c)(1) would appear to support their proposed design.

Thanks for any clarification,
Radar


There are 10 types of people. Those who know binary, and those who don't.
Stay up to Code with the Latest NEC:


>> 2023 NEC & Related Reference & Exam Prep
2023 NEC & Related Reference & Study Guides

Pass Your Exam the FIRST TIME with the Latest NEC & Exam Prep

>> 2020 NEC & Related Reference & Study Guides
 

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,391
I
Moderator
Radar I am not sure what you mean by

Quote
The reasons seem so obvious,

but code wise this installation is fine.

It is just a design issue.

Of course that is assuming other code articles are followed like derating etc.


Bob


Bob Badger
Construction & Maintenance Electrician
Massachusetts
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,876
E
e57 Offline
Member
The only reason I wouldn't do something like that is if the came from different meters. I don't like having metering mixed, even if they are for the same customer. And seeing that they are from panels from different locations, I would probhably use striped wire for one. Just to make sure they don't get connected by the neutral by accident, although that would only be required if they were from different transformers, but still a wise idea.

Don't really understand why, the guy is doing it. Does this serve some purpose? Like say one was from a UPS, or generator.


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 212
G
Member
Yeah, my question is also,why? It's legal. After all, circuits of different voltage can be in the same conduit so it stands to reason that two sources is OK. It's just a strange design.

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
One code issue that comes to mind is the requirement that neutrals from different systems be identified; you are required to have all the conductors of a circuit come from the same source. Mixing them up in the same pipe can lead to all sorts of interesting problems.

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,391
I
Moderator
reno keep in mind different panels are not necessarily different systems.

Check out e57s post. ;}


Bob Badger
Construction & Maintenance Electrician
Massachusetts
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
IWire- nice smile! I don't want to get bogged down in what is a 'different system.' It just doesn't seem like a good thing if the "hot" wire comes from one panel, and the neutral goes to another- even if the two are simply separate load centers from the same service!

I believe the code says all conductors for a circuit must be in the same raceway....I would think that meant the neutral has to go back to the panel the hot comes from. If you don't identify the neutrals, it is all too easy to get them mixed up....and that's where the trouble starts.

So how do you identify a nuetral? My personal favourite way is to run a colored "Sharpie" along the wire, leaving a SINGLE stripe. That way, I know the red stripe goes with the red wire, etc.

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 349
Radar Offline OP
Member
Thanks for all your input. To answer Bob's first question, and as addressed in other posts, this concept seems repulsive to me from a workmanship point of view, the possibility for errors by installers and/or future workers is just too great and very dificult to troubleshoot. I and another foreman once spend a few days in a new highrise in LA tracking down and correcting a half dozen or so crossed neutrals in exit lights (emer & norm). I can't tell you how much fun that was!

Without being specific concerning location, the two panels in this case are far enough apart that they are most probably on different meters, although the same customer and same utility. I'm thinking they're about a mile apart. Voltages are the same, but different utility meters.

The reason for the alternating panel circuits in the first place is that's what is indicated in our preliminary (as-bid) design. We do this so that in the event that an entire auxiliary power station bites the big one, we don't loose all the lighting. Every other light is still powered from the neighboring power station. Again, I am avoiding specific locations here.

I believe the main reason for considering the single conduit is to economize; minimize costs on a firm fixed price design / build contract. After all, a single conduit is less expensive to provide and install than two are, even if it is a size bigger.

Thanks again for the great responses,
Radar


There are 10 types of people. Those who know binary, and those who don't.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 58
E
Member
Radar,
Oh! Wait!!! The "separate meter" part is BIG. That gets back to the reason for 230-2, especially (e)Signage.
Think of the Fire Dept Responder who thinks he just de-energized a power to the room before they pump 125 GPM of fire water all over, only to find half the circuits in the pipe still energized.
Got to have separate conduits, signage/labeling, "billboards, red flags, pom-poms".
Sorry, I got carried away!

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 349
Radar Offline OP
Member
Well, we would fall under the 'By Special Permission' claus in exception #4 of 230-2(a). Besides, I'm only reasonably, not entirely, certain the panels will be metered separately.

However, this illustrates my concern. I think the fire responder issue would apply to anyone who may have to work on the system in the future. Imagine getting into a J-box thinking you've killed the circuits and discovering there are others from who knows where that are still live?

I think this is a really poor design, but am not able to locate a code section to prevent it. Thanks again for your help,

Radar


There are 10 types of people. Those who know binary, and those who don't.
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5