Trac light

[Alectric]

Whats the rule on 'current draw' for trac lighting? I heard (at one time) that it's 1 amp per foot. The trac heads to be installed are 0.6 amps each, therfore @ one head per ft. @ 20ft. of trac = 12 amps of known load [perfect for a 15 amp circuit]. but the "rule" makes it 20 amps. HELP! [img]confused.gif[/img]

[neil seidner]

I vaguely recall someone telling me the same rule of thumb (1A per foot), but I cannot locate anything in the code book. If it were in the code book, I imagine it would be located in 8-302, right after the W/m requirement for show-window lighting, or in 12-3000. Maybe 1A/foot was a provincial amendment, or a manufacturers suggestion, or a builders spec at some point in time. Do you know for a fact how many heads are being installed on the tract?

[electric-ed]

There is no rule specific to track lighting that I can find.
I would assume that the "fixed multi-outlet assembly" rule would apply. 12-3000(4)

Ed

[Alectric]

I can't say for sure how may heads they're going to put on. [most likely one every 1.5 to 2 feet] so I'm sure the cct's current draw will be below 80% ea. Thanx. As for the future owners... who can tell.

[Tony Moscioni]

Article 410.101 Installation.

National Electrical Code

B) Connected Load. The connected load on lighting track shall not exceed the rating of the track. Lighting track shall be supplied by a branch circuit having a rating not more than that of the track.

Section 220.12(B) addresses track lighting loads.


The volt-ampere (VA) load for 2 ft of track is 150 volt-amperes because a value of 150 VA is more consistent with standard lamp values for 2 ft of track. It should be understood that 220.12(B) is not intended to limit the number of feet of track on a single branch circuit nor is it intended to limit the number of fixtures on an individual track. Rather, 220.12(B) is intended to be used for load calculations of feeders and services.

Example

Suppose a lighting plan shows 62.5 linear ft of single circuit lighting track for a small department store featuring clothing. Because the actual track luminaires are owner supplied, neither the quantity of track luminaires nor the lamp size is specified. What is the minimum calculated load associated with the lighting track that must be added to the service or feeder supplying this store?


Solution
According to 220.12(B), the minimum calculated load to be added to the service or feeder supplying this track light installation is determined as follows:

62.5ft/2ft=31.25ft (rounded to 32)
32x150va=4800va

The minimum load that must be added to the service or feeder is 4800 VA.
It is important to note that the branch circuits supplying this installation are covered in 410.101(B). For the lighting track branch-circuit load, the maximum load on the track cannot exceed the rating of the branch circuit supplying the track. Also, the track must be supplied by a branch circuit having a rating not exceeding the rating of the track. The track length does not enter into the branch-circuit calculation.


Tony Moscioni
Electrical Inspector
Electrical Safety Authority

[neil seidner]

Electricguy: It appears the NEC requirement might be the source of the rule of thumb that I had heard once (the numbers don't exactly match up but those details may have become confused with time)

[electricguy]

Just curious

why is there the referance to the NEC and Not the CEC