mikhett
Well-known member
In my 32x32 what's the preferred method for wiring ceiling lights?Receptacles or junction boxes?This is a pole barn.
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Hard wire or receptacles for ceiling lights?
- Thread starter mikhett
- Start date
pattenp
Well-known member
Hardwiring. If you use outlets they need GFCI protection.
Hardwiring. If you use outlets they need GFCI protection.
Can you quote this from the NEC?
My inspector said that if you could not reach them from the ground then no GFCI needed.
OP I prefer a mix of both, most of the lights in my shop are plugged into switches outlets, makes changes easier, of course most of my lights are hanging as well so to hard wire them I would have had to run BX to them.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
Can you quote this from the NEC?
My inspector said that if you could not reach them from the ground then no GFCI needed.
210.8
Personnel. Ground-fault circuit-interruption for personnel shall be provided as required in 210.8(A) through (C). The ground-fault circuit-interrupter shall be installed in a readily accessible location
(A) Dwelling Units. All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20- ampere receptacles installed in the locations specified in 210.8(A)(1) through (8) shall have ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel.
(2) Garages, and also accessory buildings that have a floor located at or below grade level not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage areas, work areas, and areas of similar use
The CODE says nothing about whether they can be reached from the ground or not, only that the actual GFCI unit itself shall be installed in a readily accessible location. You could have outlets on the load side of the GFI, and they would still have to be protected
Marctrees
Well-known member
First off, I am a big believer in GFI protection.
That said,
Code or not, whats the hulaballoo?
If they are on the ceiling dedicated for ceiling light purpose, and I wanted cord and plug for whatever reason, I would not worry about GFCI
Well, unless it's being inspected, then I don't know what's current. Marc
That said,
Code or not, whats the hulaballoo?
If they are on the ceiling dedicated for ceiling light purpose, and I wanted cord and plug for whatever reason, I would not worry about GFCI
Well, unless it's being inspected, then I don't know what's current. Marc
In my 32x32 what's the preferred method for wiring ceiling lights?Receptacles or junction boxes?This is a pole barn.
In professional lighting, it would be rare to see receptacles on the ceiling, with the exception of HID lighting in factories and warehouses. First, they would require GFCI protection which is very problematic with electronic ballasts and drivers. Ballasts and drivers both have leakage current which plays havoc on GFCI's, causing them to trip. And when the lights go out, who knows where the reset button is?
It's only in the DIY world, where it's more common to see folks cobbling together their own lighting. You might hear that using receptacles makes moving lights and doing maintenance easier. Personally, I've never seen anyone climbing a ladder to move their lights around. With the advent of uber long life LED's, maintenance is no longer much of an issue.
In my opinion, it's better to get the lighting design right from the start and then you wont have to worry about it.
Good luck
CD
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Marctrees
Well-known member
Molehill Mountain. Marc
William Payne
Well-known member
In the engineering shop where I work here in New Zealand we have hi-bay lights in the workshop and they are all plug in and were installed brand new that way. I just recently got a hi-bay light for my home workshop and it's a plug in deal as well. Beats me what the rules are for you guys though.
Most lights I've seen are hard wired but I just wanted to put it out there that in some places plug in is common.
Most lights I've seen are hard wired but I just wanted to put it out there that in some places plug in is common.
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In the engineering shop where I work here in New Zealand we have hi-bay lights in the workshop and they are all plug in and were installed brand new that way. I just recently got a hi-bay light for my home workshop and it's a plug in deal as well. Beats me what the rules are for you guys though.
Most lights I've seen are hard wired but I just wanted to put it out there that in some places plug in is common.
Pretty much the same over here. Industrial high bays, whether they're HID or LED, are hung on hooks and then plugged into boxes connected by conduit. It's done mostly so that a maintenance worker can work on them easier.
Kia Ora
CD
dave89iroc
Well-known member
something to consider when saying warehouse/plants use high bay lights that plug in............are they 120v lights?..........................
sberry
Banned
My ceilings are high, cord and plug connected.
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I like hardwiring them just for aesthetics reasons. I don't like all that rubber cord dangling all over the ceiling. And again then no GFCI needed. Although in my area if they are up high out of reach inspectors don't care if they are GFCI or not.
something to consider when saying warehouse/plants use high bay lights that plug in............are they 120v lights?..........................
Generally not. 277v mostly. They use twist-lock plugs and receptacles so that the cords dont fall out.
CD
dave89iroc
Well-known member
Generally not. 277v mostly. They use twist-lock plugs and receptacles so that the cords dont fall out.
CD
yup, and the gfci rule only applies to 120v outlets
I know we have 480v 3ph all over the place here at the plant
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
yup, and the gfci rule only applies to 120v outlets
I know we have 480v 3ph all over the place here at the plant
You're talking Apples and Oranges here.
The GFCI rules are quite different when it comes to Commercial/Industrial vs Residential.
Lighting outlets, even if they're 120 Volts, aren't required in anything other than a Residential garage application.
William Payne
Well-known member
Yeah sorry available voltage will be different for you guys. Down here we only have 230v single phase or 415v 3phase.