What hazardous location ratings does the Appleton EFDB factory sealed photocontrol carry?

The Appleton EFDB Series Factory Sealed Photocontrol is rated for NEC/CEC Class I, Division 1 and 2, Groups B, C, D; Class II, Division 1 and 2, Groups E, F, G; and Class III, with NEMA 3, 7BCD, 9EFG. Applications include walkways, security areas, and other outdoor lighting in classified areas where flammable vapors, gases, or highly combustible dusts are present. The Appleton catalog lists chemical and petrochemical plants, refineries, and process industries where corrosive elements are present as typical installation sites.

The factory sealed photocontrol provides automatic dusk-to-dawn lighting control and confines arcing of the device within the enclosure. That confinement prevents ignition of atmospheres in hazardous locations.

How does the factory sealed enclosure prevent ignition of flammable atmospheres?

The factory sealed enclosure confines arcing inside, preventing ignition of surrounding flammable vapors, gases, or combustible dusts. For Class I, Division 1 and 2, Groups C and D and Class I, Division 2, Group B applications, this design eliminates the need to add sealing fittings and compound at each conduit entrance. For Class I, Division 1, Group B installations, external seals must still be installed at each conduit entrance.

The Appleton catalog draws a specific boundary for Group B: the factory sealed enclosure removes extra sealing fittings only for Groups C and D in Division 1 and 2, plus Group B in Division 2. Group B Division 1 requires external seals at each conduit entrance. The Appleton EFDB body is malleable iron or copperfree aluminum and the cover is copperfree aluminum, with an epoxy powder coat finish over a zinc electroplate and chromate base for corrosion resistance.

What electrical specs apply to EFDB and EFDCB photocontrols?

The 120 V, 50/60 Hz units draw 8.3 A with 1000 VA maximum. The 208-277 V, 50/60 Hz units draw 3.5 A with 1000 VA maximum. Temperature range is -25 °C to +40 °C (-13 °F to +104 °F), turn-on occurs at 1 to 3 footcandles, and the turn on/turn off ratio is 1:3.

1/2 inch hub, 120 V dead-end: EFDB150PC120 iron, EFDB150PC120A aluminum; feed-thru: EFDCB150PC120 iron, EFDCB150PC120A aluminum
3/4 inch hub, 120 V dead-end: EFDB175PC120 iron, EFDB175PC120A aluminum; feed-thru: EFDCB175PC120 iron, EFDCB175PC120A aluminum
1 inch hub, 120 V dead-end: EFDB110PC120 iron, EFDB110PC120A aluminum; feed-thru: EFDCB110PC120 iron, EFDCB110PC120A aluminum
208-277 V equivalents follow the same pattern with PC277 catalog suffixes.

Which EFDB catalog numbers use copperfree aluminum bodies?

Aluminum body catalog numbers carry an A suffix and use copperfree aluminum with 4/10 of 1% maximum copper. For example, EFDB150PC120A is the aluminum dead-end 1/2 inch hub 120 V unit, while EFDB150PC120 is the malleable iron version. Feed-thru versions replace EFDB with EFDCB, so EFDCB150PC120A is the aluminum feed-thru 1/2 inch 120 V unit.

This suffix pattern extends across 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch hubs and both 120 V and 208-277 V ratings. The body and cover use copperfree aluminum for corrosion resistance in the aluminum configurations; malleable iron bodies are also available for dead-end and feed-thru versions.

What replacement cover assemblies are available for the Appleton remote photocontrol?

EFKB-PC120 is the complete cover assembly for 120 V, 50/60 Hz units drawing 8.3 A with 1000 VA maximum. EFKB-PC277 serves 208-277 V, 50/60 Hz units drawing 3.5 A with 1000 VA maximum. Both are listed as replacement parts for remote photocontrol and are covered under cULus Listing E81751.

How are the Appleton EFDB photocontrols certified and which standards apply?

cULus Listings are E10449 for EFDB and EFDCB Series and E81751 for EFKB Series. UL standards include UL 508 and UL 1203. CSA standards include CSA C22.2 No. 14, CSA C22.2 No. 25, and CSA C22.2 No. 30.

The body finish is a triple coat: zinc electroplate, chromate, and epoxy powder coat. Stainless steel hex-head captive screws hold the cover to the body, and accurately tapped, tapered hubs provide tight, rigid joints and ground continuity. A smooth, rounded integral bushing in each hub protects conductor insulation.

When should you specify external seals for Group B installations?

Specify external seals at each conduit entrance for Class I, Division 1, Group B installations. The factory sealed enclosure does not remove that requirement for Division 1 Group B. For Class I, Division 1 and 2, Groups C and D and for Class I, Division 2, Group B applications, the factory sealed design eliminates additional sealing fittings and compound. The Appleton catalog draws this distinction without listing specific gases, so the Group B seal requirement must be treated as a hard boundary.

Summary

The Appleton EFDB Series Factory Sealed Photocontrol carries NEC/CEC Class I, Division 1 and 2, Groups B, C, D; Class II, Division 1 and 2, Groups E, F, G; Class III; and NEMA 3, 7BCD, 9EFG.
Factory sealing confines arcing inside the enclosure and eliminates extra sealing fittings for Class I, Division 1 and 2, Groups C and D and Class I, Division 2, Group B, but external seals remain required for Class I, Division 1, Group B.
Electrical ratings are 8.3 A at 120 V and 3.5 A at 208-277 V, both 50/60 Hz with 1000 VA maximum; turn-on is 1 to 3 footcandles with a 1:3 turn on/turn off ratio.
Bodies are malleable iron or copperfree aluminum with an A suffix for aluminum; finish is zinc electroplate, chromate, and epoxy powder coat; stainless steel captive screws hold the cover.
cULus Listings are E10449 for EFDB and EFDCB Series and E81751 for EFKB Series, under UL 508, UL 1203, CSA C22.2 No. 14, No. 25, and No. 30.

Products discussed in this episode

Browse all Appleton products on PE Energy Industrial Supply.

Listen on your favorite platform

RSS.com

Appleton EFDB Factory Sealed Photocontrol: Dusk-to-Dawn Lighting Control for Hazardous Locations