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Posted By: hawaiianfan@cs.com 411-4 Low Voltage Lighting - 09/07/01 07:16 PM
I have specified on many jobs before the installation of low voltage tranformers in the attic for ease of servicing and access.
Recently the electrician on my specified job called to say the elect.insp. had failed the LV lighting T/F location because the secondary side of the circuit would be running within the stud framed wall. He has cited 411-4 30V or less lighting systems can not be installed this way.
I am dumbfounded as there has never been problems in the past.
The installation is as follows:
I had specified the 300 and 600w T/F remotely installed in the huge attic of
this home
for easy servicing access by the electrician.
They are both wired with 12/2 NMB on the Primary side with the usual staples
to the studs and joists.
The secondary side of the 300w I have 12/2 and a 10/2 NMB run to two
different locations into the dinning room. One terminating into a STD. J box
on the wall another on the ceiling for the LV lights to be mounted on the
surface.
The 600 T/F the electrician ran 4 sections of flex conduit on the secondary
side to 4
locations in the Living room. He used 14 and 12 Ga. THHN to these 4
locations. two locations will only draw 100w ea. (2 x 50w MR16-12V - these
have the 14 Ga.) the other two will have 150w & 200w on them ( 3 x Mr16's
50w and 4 x mr16's 50w all 12v these have 12 Ga.) Total secondary load being
550w on a 600w T/F. More than adequate ampacity capability on the THHN 14 &
12 Ga. So what have I specified wrong.
The secondary wiring has been stapled or saddled onto the studs like they
have been in the past.
What has been done wrong here to get this failed or has the electrical
inspection department got THEIR DANDER UP for me?
Any help will be greatly appreciated and information I can quote in defense
of my reputation. If chapter 3 is my defense -- what do I cite?
Sincerely - Alan Roodt
E-mail is : hawaiianfan@cs.com
Posted By: Redsy Re: 411-4 Low Voltage Lighting - 09/08/01 01:21 AM
It seems clear to me that your installation is code-compliant. The intent of 411-4 is to forbid the installation of low-voltage cables throughout the home. Since you are using a wiring method included in Chapter 3(Nonmetallic Sheathed Cable, Article 336 & Flexible Metal Conduit, Article 350 , but you already knew that.) and I assume using both within their acceptable installation parameters, I see no reason to fail your job. Can you call another inspection agency, or does your town use their own Code Enforcement Officials?
Posted By: sparky Re: 411-4 Low Voltage Lighting - 09/08/01 11:28 AM
what other possibility is there to wire this??
Posted By: Glenn Re: 411-4 Low Voltage Lighting - 09/15/01 01:02 PM
For more support, look at the faq Article 411 at
www.nfpa.org

the try for the Frequently Asked Questions in the NEC section.


[This message has been edited by Glenn (edited 09-15-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Glenn (edited 09-15-2001).]
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