No code for class 1 or class 2 12 volt wiring.
No code for class 1 or class 2 12 volt wiring.
Perhaps you should take a peek at article 725. BTW "class 1" can also include 120v wiring (up to 600v) and from a life safety standpoint, there is no significant difference. That is why Class 1 circuits use chapter 3 wiring methods. Don't confuse Class 1 with Class 2 or Class 3 but all are covered by the code.
+1
Clarabelle should just stay away from electricity.
Isn't *everything* electrical covered by code? Heck, even Pipe Organs have their own article. ;-)
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OK - I was wrong. Notice I specified "12 volt" wiring However I may have misunderstood the original situation. People are talking about attic and wires in the wall. The way "I" understood the question the OP had a device that mounted on the wall very close to the ceiling on either the main floor of a 2 storie, or the basement of either a single or multi story building, with an electrical outlet at the normal low-level postion directly above the location of the device, where the wall-wart could be connected. The question as I understood it was whether he could pass the power cable from the wall wart down through the upper floor and the ceiling below..
Now - ASSUMING this is a single family residence and the ceiling/floor is not required to be a total fire stop, there is no building code violation involved in drilling a hole in the ceiling or the floor. Also, I'm assuming, as usually is the case, the cavity between the upper floor and lower ceiling is not stuffed with insulation, which means any wiring in that cavity does not need to be oversized or de-rated for elevated temperatures.
Also I'm ASSUMING the power supply is a pluf connected UL or CSA approved pwer supply that is current limited and listed as an ultra-low voltage class 1 or class 2 current limited device. with integrated wiring..
If all these assumptions are true, I don't believe there is any code that SPECIFICALLY prevents the OP from drilling a hole in the floor above and in the ceiling below and dropping the cord down to the wall mounted device. This does not "hide" the wires, but it greatly reduces the amount of exposed cable and removes the "wall wart" from view in the primary living space..
This is how I interpreted the original question. Running a piece of flexible tubing between the floors to guide the wire and prevent accidental damage might possibly be adviseable, but not required..
In my understanding the power supply MUST be accessible and can not be "permanently installed"
Low voltage "lighting" is addressed in the code and is a different story UNLESS it is a "light tape" or "rope" type lighting device, which at least in Canadian Electrica Code, is exempt.
Installing in an unfinished attic space might cross the line due to "accessibility" and insulation issues.
725.154 (B) Riser. Cables installed in risers shall be as described in any of (B)(1), (B)(2), or (B)(3): (1) Cables installed in vertical runs and penetrating more than one floor, or cables installed in vertical runs in a shaft, shall be Type CL2R or CL3R. Floor penetrations requiring Type CL2R or CL3R shall contain only cables suitable for riser or plenum use. Listed riser signaling raceways and listed plenum signaling raceways shall be permitted to be installed in vertical riser runs in a shaft from floor to floor. Only Type CL2R, CL3R, CL2P, or CL3P cables shall be permitted to be installed in these raceways. (2) Other cables as covered in Table 725.154(G) and other listed wiring methods as covered in Chapter 3 shall be installed in metal raceways, or located in a fireproof shaft having firestops at each floor. (3) Type CL2, CL3, CL2X, and CL3X cables shall be permitted in one- and two-family dwellings. Listed general-purpose signaling raceways shall be permitted for use with Type CL2, CL3, CL2X, and CL3X cables. FPN: See 300.21 for firestop requirements for floor penetrations.
The insurance company will pay the claim but likely refuse to renew the policy.
With so much at stake, why not just do the job the right/safe way?
Did you read my original post?
I guess the remaining question there is what exactly they mean by "penetrating more than one floor". I would take it to mean that if the cable goes down from attic to a room, it's penetrating only one floor and therefore riser rated cable is not required. But it still has to be at least CL2 and the other code rules apply.
Also note:
and other listed
OK (1) Cables installed in vertical runs and penetrating more than one floor, or cables installed in vertical runs in a shaft, shall be Type CL2R or CL3R
Does not apply - only going through one floor, therefore:
Floor penetrations requiring Type CL2R or CL3R
Also does not apply.
The installation requirements for the low-voltage wiring of information technology equipment (electronic data processing and computer equipment) located within the confines of a room that is constructed according to the requirements of NFPA 75, Standard for the Protection of Information Technology Equipment, are not covered by Article 725. Low-voltage wiring within these specially constructed rooms is covered in Article 645.
Also, if listed computer equipment is interconnected and all the interconnected equipment is in close proximity, the wiring is considered an integral part of the equipment and therefore not subject to the requirements of Article 725. If the wiring leaves the group of equipment to connect to other devices in the same room or elsewhere in the building, the wiring is considered ??wiring within buildings?? and is subject to the requirements of Article 725.
Note the first sentance of the second paragraph.If the wiring is "an integral part of the equipment" it is " therefore not subject to the requirements of Article 725"
I still maintain the NEC does not address the situation as described above.
they are to pay a claim for any future damages.
A couple posts ago you told us there was no code for Class 1 or 2
12V wiring. Now you found the code. That's an improvement!
I'd say what he is proposing - as I understood it - IS a safe way.
Beyond the fact that the wiring is part of a "listed device" (unless it is some cheap chinese knock-off that has not met any listing requirements), what is the difference between what he is proposing and a doorbell circuit, or a CATV security camera wiring, or wiring for an alarm system with active sensors, or telephone wiring? Phone companies install wiring through floors and walls all the time, as do alarm companies. And phone lines excede the "ultra low voltage" limit at nominally 50 volts. Off hook current on a phone system used to be around 80ma.(a lot less on new electronic phones)
Regardless,I doubt any inspector would "flag" it, and it is no more dangerous than tunninh the cable along the floor or up the wall - likely less dangerous as it is less likely to be caught and damaged.
But there is a difference between being "safe" and being code compliant. The latter was the specific question asked.
That those require at least CL2 listed cabling and possibly more, depending on where they are run? And his wall wart cable almost certainly is not CL2 listed.
IDK what an electrical inspector would do, but I would not be surprised if the typical home inspector flagged it. I agree it's *probably* not dangerous. I wouldn't be concerned about the safety aspects of running the cord through a ceiling hole, but I would be a bit concerned about putting one of those cheap Chinese wall warts in a hot attic that could reach 125F+.
Yes, I agree.
The requirements of 645 are stricter than 725 under a raised floor since this is usually an air handling space. "DP" cable is plenum rated. Once inspectors discovered computer rooms, lots of things changed. IBM had to replace thousands of miles of riser rated interface cables. Of course, I doubt there are that many computer rooms these days.
How can that be true? By your own definition "If the wiring leaves the group of equipment to connect to other devices in the same room or elsewhere in the building, the wiring is considered ??wiring within buildings?? and is subject to the requirements of Article 725"
EXCEPT when the cabling is part of a "listed device" - which the cord on the wall-wart is - when it is not addressed.
In typical usenet fashion we have taken a simple question to absurd lengths but I doubt the listing includes the ability to penetrate walls, ceilings or floors.
1&2 family is pretty much immune from inspections as long as there is no open permit but I guarantee you, in a commercial building or a multi family, this would get tagged. I already said, in the grand scheme of things this is not a baby killer but it is still questionable as a code issue.
I'm in the UK and there's no rule about using flex instead of "twin and earth" (if that means anything over there). Why would there be? What's important is the current and voltage rating of the cable. I always use flex, it's far easier to get round corners etc.
And since USA mains plugs are extremely dangerous compared to UK ones, I find it hard to believe your wiring code is stricter than ours.
ROFL!
If safe and code compliant are different, then the code needs to be changed. The code is there for safety.
If he plugs in the wall wart as normal, it's fine, yet running it through the ceiling isn't?!
Does the USA have regular inspections or something? In the UK that only happens if you rent out your house or sell it.
I wouldn't necessarily try it in a multi-family either - but we WERE talking single family dwelling, I believe.
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