120V lights

Hello, I’m fairly new to the boating world. I’m used to following the NEC codes. The company I’m working for wants me to place insulated quick disconnects for the lights, which are 120v. The connection would sit outside of a J-box above the fixture in a wooden cavity. I’m told this is how they do it. Is this acceptable in the boating world?

 

If you are a licensed electrician; you need to start to refer to the ABYC.

Is the rationale behind the lighting so it can be customized later?

The only relevant rules I can think of are that the limit to the wire length is 18” without connection to wall, and a hard rule is that the disconnect cannot pull apart easily, so a threaded connector or keyed connector would be needed, or some such.

 

I believe the rational behind it is ease of install and service. I would say the spade insulated quick disconnects do not pull apart easily. Or at least it’s never been my experience.

I finally have the ABYC standards at hand. I’d been asking for them for some time. So this is in fact acceptable having disconnects outside of j-box and fixture?

And the minimum cable length to fixture is 18”?

Could u point me to the standard?

Thanks for the input!

 

Any length of cable over 18” requires being secured is all.

 

Oh, gotcha. I’m aware of that standard. What about quick disconnects outside of a j-box? In commercial and residential I know this wouldn’t be allowed.

 

I guess for me, I would only accept it if it were out of reach a/o if the disconnects were very difficult to short with fingers, etc.

The NEC does not apply to boats.

I would want to know the rationale for the quick connects.