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In the prelude to the questions, we gave away the fact this is a gutter. But of course the name of Article 366 gives that away also. What we didn't give away is its defining characteristics (though we did mention some of them). An auxiliary gutter can be metallic or nonmetallic [366.2]. If the latter, it's flame-retardant. Either way, it's an enclosure with hinged or removable covers. It's designed such that you lay or set (as opposed to pull, as you would with conduit or tubing) the conductors in place (after the complete system is installed) and then close the covers.
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Unlike the conduit and tubing Articles, Article
366
doesn't present a list of permitted uses. Instead, it provides the requirements for using metallic ones indoors and outdoors, then does the same thing for nonmetallic ones [366.10]. Basically, you have to use gutters that are listed for the application.
- Article
366 does list two prohibited uses [366.12]. You can't enclose switches, overcurrent devices, appliances, or similar equipment [366.12(1)]. Nor can you extend more than 30 ft beyond the equipment it supplements [366.12(2)]. There is an exception to that distance limit, and it applies to elevators.
- Oddly enough, the NEC does not explicity say what type of hardware you can use. But since these gutters are sold and assembled as systems, common sense tells us that you use hardware that's consistent with what comes in the gutter kit and/or that is appropriate for it. It does say that you must secure each metallic gutter for its entire length at intervals of no less than 5 ft [366.30(A)]. It also provides a more stringent support requirement for nonmetallic gutters [366.30(B)].
- Joints between some lengths of gutter might need to be replaced with expansion fittings. In fact, you must install expansion fittings where temperature changes might cause a change in gutter length of more than 6 mm (quarter inch) [366.44].
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