Re: Causes of Ground Faults

[Nomen Nescio <nobody@xxxxxxxxx>]

Stanley Barthfarkle said:

>"G. Morgan" <alarmpro@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>news:5queo213sinvoht0po6q83osi9bq2ele6n@xxxxxxxxxx
>> On Tue, 19 Dec 2006 05:07:04 GMT, "Stanley Barthfarkle"
>> <sbarth@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>>>>>1)Poor workmanship. Using cutters to crimp beans leaving a gap in the
>>>>>>insulation and the gap touching a grounded back box.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now, now,  Roland... no beanies on a FA!
>>>>
>>>> good catch,  wire nuts only, eh.
>>>
>>>
>>>Solder and tape. Only way to fly.
>>
>>
>> Nope, not on a fire alarm.
>>
>> It has to be serviceable.   No permanent connections.
>>
>>
>> Ask Mike Baker for the code section , not my cup o' tea - but 'da code
>> nonetheless.
>
>
>Here in St. Louis, per the AHJ, all commercial fire systems have to have
>accessible splices, which are required to be soldered and taped, with an
>appropriate service loop provided. Plastic splice boxes are permitted for
>low voltage.
>
>If you used wire nuts here, the AHJ would throw you off the job after he
>finished laughing.

We all know what idiots AHJs can be sometimes, but if you guys think wire
nuts are not allowed on fire alarms, I challenge you to show me the code
section that prohibits them.

Both power wiring and fire alarm wiring are regulated by the NEC.  If UL
listed wire nuts are acceptable for splicing light and power wiring, then
they must also be acceptable for splicing fire alarm wiring.  Of course,
you wouldn't use red wire nuts to splice two 18 gauge wires, but if you use
the correct size, I say it's NEC  compliant.

Solder and tape is also recognized by the NEC as an acceptable method of
splicing wires.    Somebody show me where it says you can't splice fire
alarm wire that way.

I am less confident about the use of jellybeans, since I don't use them at
all.  However, they are UL recognized, and so long as wire size limitations
are not exceeded for those connectors, I suspect they are legal as well.

- badenov