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National Electrical Code Top Ten Tips: Article 522: Control Systems for Permanent Amusement Attractions

  1. Article 522 applies to control circuit power sources and conductors for permanent amusement attractions.
     
  2. A control circuit carries the electrical signals for controlling the equipment, but does not carry the power [522.2]. Example: The 120V motor speed control and start/stop circuits belong to the controls, the 480V power to the motor itself does not.
     
  3. What does the NEC mean by "permanent?" For Article 522, it means that transporting or relocating the equipment is impractical [522.2]. That does not mean it's impossible. Basically, if you don't typically remove the equipment at the end of the season (or during), it's permanently installed.
     
  4. Only "qualified personnel" can service this equipment [522.7]. An untrained operator with a pair of pliers isn't a qualified person. A factory-trained technician with specific training on this specific equipment is.
     
  5. The two types of control circuits are power-limited (under 30V and under 1,000A) and non power-limited. The latter cannot exceed 300V [522.10].
     
  6. The overcurrent protection devices for power-limited control circuits can't be rated for more than 167% of the following: VA rating divided by the rated voltage [522.10].
     
  7. You can't use aluminum conductors in the control circuits [522.20].
     
  8. If using conductors 16AWG or smaller, ensure they comply with Table 522.22.
     
  9. Though it's a poor engineering decision, you can run control and power wiring in the same raceway. But to do so you must meet the criteria of 522.24(B).
     
  10. Where wet contact is likely to occur, ungrounded 2-wire control circuits are limited to 30VDC (or 12.4VDC peak for DC that's continually interrupted at a rate of 10 to 200 Hz) [522.28].

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How the NEC is arranged

  1. The first four Chapters of the NEC apply to all installations.
  2. Article 90 precedes Chapter One, and establishes the authority of the NEC.
  3. Article 80 follows the body of the NEC; it exists as Annex H. It provides the requirements for administration.
  4. Chapters 5, 6, and 7 are the "special" chapters, covering special: occupancies, equipment, and conditions (in that order).
  5. Chapter 8 provides the requirements for communications systems.
  6. Chapter 9 provides tables.
  7. The appendices provide mostly reference information.
  8. Appendix D contains examples that every NEC user should study.

 

 

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