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<blockquote data-quote="Rob Timmerman" data-source="post: 108403" data-attributes="member: 172">Re: Cam Lock Ground OrientationWhile I haven&#039;t read the 2005 NEC, I&#039;ve got older and newer versions handy, and they all have the same wording regarding single-pole separable connectors for theatrical applications [for those playing along, it&#039;s 520.53(k), 530.22, and 525.22(d), although articles 525 and 530 may have been rearranged between 1999 and 2008).&nbsp; All have the same wording in the 2011 NEC].&nbsp; That wording allows for 3 methods of protecting the connectors:&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 1) An interlock that prevents the connectors from being energized untill all are mated (these are becoming more common on company switches and other tie-in points)&nbsp;&nbsp; 2) Listed sequential-interlocking-type connectors that can only be connected in the proper order (e.g. Posi-Lok) &nbsp;&nbsp; 3) A notice posted by the connectors dictating the proper conenction sequence (by far the most common)Swapping the gender on the ground and neutral cables doesn&#039;t appear to satisfy any of these 3 methods.&nbsp; I will grant that it does make a hot/ground swap less likely, but I&#039;d argue that someone who makes that mistake is not a qualified person to be working with feeder connectors.&nbsp; From an explanatory note to 520.53(k) in the 2011 NEC:&quot;Single-pole separable connectors are quick-connect feeder splicing and terminating devices, not attachment plugs or receptacles.&nbsp; They are designed to be sized, terminated, and inspected by a qualified person before being energized, and are to be guarded from accidental disconnection before being de-energized.&quot;And Brian, the NEC allows for the use of tape to identify ground and neutral conductors larger than 4AWG, but is silent on line conductors.&nbsp; Every inspector I&#039;ve run across has been fine with field-applied colored electrical tape designating feeder function (phase, neutral, ground).</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Rob Timmerman, post: 108403, member: 172"] Re: Cam Lock Ground Orientation While I haven't read the 2005 NEC, I've got older and newer versions handy, and they all have the same wording regarding single-pole separable connectors for theatrical applications [for those playing along, it's 520.53(k), 530.22, and 525.22(d), although articles 525 and 530 may have been rearranged between 1999 and 2008). All have the same wording in the 2011 NEC]. That wording allows for 3 methods of protecting the connectors: 1) An interlock that prevents the connectors from being energized untill all are mated (these are becoming more common on company switches and other tie-in points) 2) Listed sequential-interlocking-type connectors that can only be connected in the proper order (e.g. Posi-Lok) 3) A notice posted by the connectors dictating the proper conenction sequence (by far the most common) Swapping the gender on the ground and neutral cables doesn't appear to satisfy any of these 3 methods. I will grant that it does make a hot/ground swap less likely, but I'd argue that someone who makes that mistake is not a qualified person to be working with feeder connectors. From an explanatory note to 520.53(k) in the 2011 NEC: "Single-pole separable connectors are quick-connect feeder splicing and terminating devices, not attachment plugs or receptacles. They are designed to be sized, terminated, and inspected by a qualified person before being energized, and are to be guarded from accidental disconnection before being de-energized." And Brian, the NEC allows for the use of tape to identify ground and neutral conductors larger than 4AWG, but is silent on line conductors. Every inspector I've run across has been fine with field-applied colored electrical tape designating feeder function (phase, neutral, ground). [/QUOTE]

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