ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Low Voltage Wiring

Harold:
As soon as I get myself organized again (just finished moving).
Got the DSL thing going, got the lap top on, by the end of this week (I hope), I'll have my stuff where I can find it quick>

BTW, LV is a real 'money-maker'; both for the EC's and the Towns (Permit Fees).

John

How many AHJs require permits for things like lawn sprinklers and Malibu lights?

Greg,

Here in NJ even the Low Voltage (LV) things are suppose to have a permit. Most of the time it is just a minimum permit fee which could go from $25-$75 .(I guess) the price of permits have to do with the amount of permits per town. A town like John's may do 2000-3000 permits a year. His prices may be lower than mine. Of my towns I work for 1 town does 1100 - 1400 permits a year. Their permit fees for min is about $43 for up to 50 outlets. My other town which only does about 250 permits per year, their permit fees for minimum is $50 for the first 35 outlets. That means that their prices for the total bill will be higher since they do less permits.

Sorry, I wasn't watching who I was replying to.
John,

Yes the LV wire will add to profits for the towns. Plus I will go out on any inspection that is called for.

Greg,
Yes, here in NJ all the LV wiring including sprinklers. BA/FA alarm systems are also required to be inspected and the LV boys have their own type of Lic. and they can only do their own LV wiring. BTW, most HO do not get permits for Malibu lights because it just plugs into a recpt. and the LV wires just get buried under some mulch. Should the be inspected? In NJ the answer should be Yes, (I believe) However are they always called in for inspection???

OK, quick & dirty......

2004 was 4600+ permits, not including updates or Change of Contractor.

'05 looks about the same; '03 was 4850+

Minimum fee is $35 (1-10 devices), $80-11/50; $105-51/75 etc., a HVAC replacement, etc. The fees are a bargain in my personal opinion.

As to LV permits:

REQUIRED:
Phone, computer, alarm (burg/fire), CCTV, speakers, access controls, lawn sprinklers.

The 'Malibu' lites are debatable.....plug em into an existing outlet, lay the wire on the mulch.......

'Professional' LV lighting installs, hard wired xfr, etc, REQUIRE permits.

Best one of all is a CUBICLE permit is required ($8.00 each) in addition to the 'whips' on the elec permit. That's a local ordinance, not UCC. Heck, the 1st guy I told this to had 320 cubes in an open office reno.....$ 2560 KA-CHING.

John

I see little difference between Malibu and lawn sprinklers (both just plug in) and they both seem to be installed by the homeowner or lawn maintenance guy around here. I don't think they ever get permitted/inspected unless it is new construction.
I agree alarms are a little higher up on the food chain and they do need "qualified" installers.

Difference is a $35 fee...had a irrigation sys inspection last week.....50' oraange extension cord stapled along the garage walls from controller to exist outlet; steel bx conn on cord; nice splice in the first 20' of the ext cord.

Guy called in afternoon "what's wrong??? been doin' it like that for years!"

John

Greg,

You should know me by now. Should the LV installer have a Lic. and get inspections. Well YES. Do they, well, NO. The state on NJ will require people to get a lic. for LV and they want them to call for inspections. However you and I and John know that sometimes? Mostimes? The inspections are never called in. As John said, the fact that some electrical items, "Just plug in", des not mean that they are installed right. We ca only hope that they are!