A prototype outdoor fixture has been dumped in my lap, containing two Class 2, 24 volt/96 watt power supplies. Various areas need mechanical changes, but I was checking the electrical side. I’m looking at a 2005 NEC Handbook now. I’m trying to determine if this website, http://www.solaheviduty.com/support/Pdfs/NECCLASS2DCPSTechNote.pdf) is correct at the bottom of page 2 when it says,
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“. . . A short installation guideline for Class 2 circuits follows:<!—-> <!—->
– Class 2 requires dry indoor use<!—-><!—->
– Only for non hazardous location areas<!—-><!—->
– Circuits shall be grounded <!—-><!—->
– Two or more Class 2 circuits are permitted within the same cable, enclosure or raceway <!—-><!—->
– Separate Class 2 circuits from other circuits<!—-><!—->
For details, please refer to the NEC Codebook.†<!—-><!—->
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I’ve looked at the entire NEC Article 725, and Table 11B. I’m trying to determine what modifications, if any, I’d need to make to this mostly-just-hooded fixture (wet environment) to meet NEC. I rarely look at the Code, and have trouble deciphering it!
Thanks for any help –
Forrest.<!—-><!—->
Replies
Sure, big time office engineeer comes back crawling...LOL
Sorry, not a clue.
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Forrest
", containing two Class 2, 24 volt/96 watt power supplies."
CONTAINS is the key word.
the NEC has nothing to say about what is IN equipment.
as far as the NEC is concerned the box got contain a monkey operating a generator and the external wiring connects to the monkeys private parts to get him going.
all it needs is a 3rd part approval.
In most case that is UL.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
You really need to get it evaluated by a NRTL (like U/L) and that can be a pretty expensive proposition. They will want a bunch of your lights and they will blow them all up in different ways, being sure they fail safe.
woah! Edit. You are designing a light, not modifying an existing one. I don't design lights, I just wire and install them. The biggest difference I see between outdoor and indoor lights is a rubber gasket that is SUPPOSED to protect the wiring from water. I'm sure that there are limitations as far as materials that you can use to build them with. I've seen some pretty iffy fixtures that were classified as outdoor use, so as long as you keep the water away from the wires, you could get away with just about anything.
As far as the grounding is concerned, you will have to provide a grounding screw that allows grounding the system to the fixture.
Also, to bump it down to 24V, you need a step down transformer or ballast.
Edited 8/21/2008 8:12 pm ET by arcflash
Edited 8/21/2008 8:13 pm ET by arcflash