A-22 I E S LIGHTING HANDBOOK

an externally-operable switch within sight of sign or outline lighting. This is a

safety feature to protect men working on the sign. The other provisions of this
Article follow in general the rules for any conduit system. Today outdoor Christmas-
tree or similar holiday decorative lighting is the only common application of festoon
or incandescent outline lighting. Most of these installations are temporary and are
used for a short time only. Therefore the design requirements for permanent in-
stallations are not followed.
Wiring for Street and Highway Lighting
Two wiring methods are used to supply power for street and highway lighting:
1. Overhead lines for highway and suburban streets.
2. Underground lines for ornamental street lighting, used for higher levels of
illumination in business districts and bridges. Multiple and series systems are
applicable to both classifications.
Overhead wiring. Wire used for overhead systems generally is No. 6 solid copper
conductor. Here, current-carrying capacity is not the principal criterion by which
the wire is chosen, as a conductor of smaller cross section generally would transmit
the current without economic waste. Since current-carrying capacity is not the
question of primary interest, it is generally accepted practice to use a wire size that
will obtain the best compromise between first cost and sufficient tensile strength to
hold up under adverse conditions. Where wider pole spacing is desirable, No. 6
copper-clad steel wire has been used with considerable success.
The standard insulation, regardless of voltage, has been triple braid weatherproof.
Insulation is provided by means of porcelain or glass insulators on the poles and in
luminaires. The spacing of conductors and clearance to ground is specifically cov-
ered in the National Electrical Safety Code.
Underground wiring. There are three approved types of underground conductors
:
(1)
Rigid steel conduit is used for all small installations because materials and
installation skill are available. This material also is used in combination with the
other methods. For example, where direct-burial cables cross streets iron pipe is
installed so that if necessary this section can be replaced without tearing up the
street.
(2)
Fiber duct or cement-asbestos duct is used interchangeably, depending on con-
ditions and individual preference. Two types of duct are available, one with heavy
walls for direct burial in ground and one with light walls for encasement in a concrete
envelope. The duct in concrete is the most permanent type and a requirement in
many cities. It often is installed in banks of ducts which carry power circuits. The
duct for direct burial without envelope is growing in use, and is more economical to
install.
The conductor type is the same in both ducts, either moisture resistant rubber,
synthetic compounds, or rubber with lead sheath. The insulation will vary also ac-
cording to the operating voltage of the system. The advantages of the duct for
underground systems over parkway cable is the same as the advantages of conduit
over nonmetallic sheathed cable or BX cable in building wiring. The duct is a
somewhat more expensive installation than buried cable, but has the advantages of
easier replacement should defects develop.
(3)
Parkway cables are manufactured in many types, from rubber-covered, lead-
sheathed, and steel-taped to synthetic insulation for direct burial. Cable in this
form gives satisfactory performance except for the hazard of mechanical injury.
The steel tape offers some protection but occasionally a rock or other sharp object is
pressed through the steel tape causing a break-down in the system. Where difficulty
has been encountered with underground cable installations, it often may be traced to
lack of care in laying. Lead-sheathed or armored cable cannot be bent on a small
radius without injury. Connection to other wires should be brought well up into the
base of the standard so as to guard against the entrance of moisture.