Has Anyone ever encountered an Inspector who called you on this one? I am having trouble swallowing this code... It states that you must have a disconnect switch within sight or a lock out box (if not in sight) of the sign. I would think that using the Breaker, the time clock, or the disconnect switch on the transformer would be sufficent. If anyone has any words of wisdom on this please help...
It needs to be within sight of or lockable so thet when being serviced you can see that no one turns on the power or lockable if not within sight of so that no one else can switch it on without your knowledge.I have worked on signs where the power was restored by someone looking in the breaker box trying to figure out why something in the building wasnt working. 1560 trannys hurt!!!!
Paul, thats exactly what I told the inspector. He told me "Well...Thats the code, and we have to stick to it!" I told him that the A.) Panel, B.) Time Clock, and C.) Transformer Shut off switch are all within eye sight of each other. Now I am going to install a lock out switch which is also within eyesight of each, and not to mention out of reach of passer by's. I spoke with a friend of mine who is a county inspector and he couldn't believe I got called on that. Ohh well... I thinks it's pretty dumb thats all. Wanted to vent, thanks for the ear.
I know up here in Canada many jurisdictions are requiring visible switches for use by the fire department so they can cut power to the sign in the event of an electrical malfunction.
As for needed switches be within sight of each other I've never encountered that but I install 'lockable' switches on signs and always carry my own padlocks to lock the switches in the off position when working on it.
We have encountered this in several cities here in California. Our solution has been to install a toggle switch mounted on the first character and wired back to the first transformer. It does require an extra hole, but it satisfies the inspectors and looks clean when placed near the UL lable on the can.
I find it interesting that the inspector allows the switch to be within the sign body. Our inspector has disallowed any "live" component to be within the sign raceway, channel letter or illuminated sign can for the reason that if the fire department shuts off the switch there would still be a hot wire within the sign itself on the back of the switch which could injure fire personel when putting out a sign fire.
He does allow the switch mounted in a weatherproof box to be attached to the sign structure as long as no current is supplied beyond the switch box when it is in the Off position.
The inspector I spoke with stated that a switch on one of the channel letters was acceptable. Last time I checked a channel letter can was not a NEC approved junction box. I opted to put a 120 V 3 pole lock out switch on the load side of the time clock. This way when they shut the lock out switch off they wont shut down the time clock needing to reset the time. The inspector told me it needed to be on the line side. I think he's just got it in for me now. I'm going to his supervisor now. wish me luck!!
I thought that part of the code would apply to mixing low-voltage (ie. door bells, communication wiring, 12/24 vdc) and higher-voltage (ie. lighting circuits 110, 220, 277 vac) in a common wireway.
We've already got high-voltage neon transformers that can be equipped to have a shut off switch mounted in them so I've never believed that it applied to such a scenerio. I believe its more suited to say that GTO and primary wiring can't be in the same conduit or flex but its certainly allowed in a sign body if proper spacing is kept.
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The City of Roseville California is now requiring a disconnect switch
at the jbox located inside the building.
The disconnect switch at the transformer / timer clock or circuit
is not enough.
Can't figure out why !!!