General

Q. What is LINKOSITY™?
A. LINKOSITY™ power distribution is a modular plug-and-play wiring method that enables fast installation and high technical performance for 20A and 30A power distribution up to 600 VAC.

Q. What is the relationship between "LINKOSITY™" and Lockheed Martin?
A. "LINKOSITY™" is a Lockheed Martin brand name and trademark applied to a series of Lockheed Martin electrical system technologies. The LINKOSITY™ brand is licensed along with the technologies to qualified companies for commercial sale of compliant electrical system products.

Q. What Amperage, Voltage, and Phasing can LINKOSITY™ accommodate?
A. LINKOSITY™ is rated for 20A and 30A circuits up to 600V AC. Circuits can be single-phase or three-phase.

Q. How has LINKOSITY™ power system and LINKOSITY™ connectivity system technology solved critical issues associated with Lockheed Martin performance on national contracted government sector programs?
A. With total system performance in the areas of cost, schedule, logistics, compliance, safety, install-ability, technical performance, maintain-ability, reconfigure-ability, and reuse-ability, enabling Lockheed Martin to win contract sales in a highly competitive environment, and to perform effectively in fulfillment of those contracts.

Q. What other users of LINKOSITY™ Electrical Systems are there other than Lockheed Martin?
A. Lockheed Martin developed electrical system technologies for application on industrial automation, data collection and data processing systems in execution of nationally contracted and deployed systems aiding mission fulfillment of a US government entity. The technologies have been deployed at multiple locations at some level in all fifty states. LINKOSITY™ Electrical Systems is a commercialized version of some of that technology.

Code-Related

Q. Can LINKOSITY™ cabling be used in permanent as well as temporary installations?
A. Yes, for permanent installations, cables are TC (tray cable) rated with a UL Type "ER" rating for open wiring that has the crush and impact resistance of metal-clad (Type MC) cable. For temporary installations, LINKOSITY™ cable assemblies also have a Type STOOW cord rating.

Q. How are LINKOSITY™ Electrical Systems technologies code compliant?
A. The combination of listed components in listed assemblies in a Classified system - coupled with comprehensive design and installation instructions intended to work within the confines of the NEC - make LINKOSITY™ Electrical Systems technologies compliant. Each specific installation of LINKOSITY™ Electrical Systems technology must be inspected and acceptable to the NEC® AHJ Inspector.

Q. What specific code changes now permit plug-n-play systems?
A. NFPA 79 Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery 2002 Edition states in Section 14.1.2.2: "Factory-applied connectors molded onto cables shall be permitted. Such connectors shall not be considered as splices or joints."

Q. Where is LINKOSITY™ permissible for use?
A. LINKOSITY™ installations are permissible for use on industrial equipment, in industrial facilities and in commercial facilities.

Q. Where is LINKOSITY™ NOT permissible for use?
A. Residential applications or commercial applications requiring a plenum rating.

Q. Does a special cable need to be specified when installed on industrial equipment?
A. No, LINKOSITY™ cabling carries an MTW (Machine Tool Wire) designation, which makes it permissible for use on industrial machinery per NFPA 79 sections 13.2 Conductors and 13.3 Insulation.

Q. Are the LINKOSITY™ power system components "listed" for use in the US and Canada?
A. All three hardware component elements of LINKOSITY™ power system - PSSAs, PSDAs and CSCs - bear the file number and "Listing" mark of an Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory (NRTL) indicating compliance with the applicable Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards. As of this publication, these components are not yet suited for use in Canada.

Q. What is the pending LINKOSITY™ power system NRTL Classification about?
A. LINKOSITY™ Power System - inclusive of all methodologies and hardware - is "Classified" by an OSHA Nationally Recognized Test Lab (NRTL) indicating compliance with the National Electrical Code® (NEC®) when implemented in accordance with Lockheed Martin documented instructions. The "classification" serves as indication to interested parties and inspection authorities that, although LINKOSITY™ power system may be new technology to them, that they are not subject to an undesirable exposure when choosing, accepting or approving the technology for use as an OSHA NRTL has done an independent investigation of the technology "classifying" it as safe for and compliant for use when implemented as identified above.

Power System Supply Assemblies

Q. What KVA sizes do the PSSA come in?
A. Common PSSA ratings include:

Three-phase 575/480/400-120/208 VAC, 50/60 Hz, at 6, 15, 30 or 45 KVA.
Respectively providing 1, 3, 6 or 9 - 20A 120/208 VAC multi-wire branch circuits
Single-phase 575/480/400-120/208 VAC, 50/60 Hz, PSSAs are available in 4 KVA.
Providing 1 - 20A 120/208 VAC multi-wire branch circuit
Single-phase 575/480/400-120 VAC, 50/60 Hz, at 2 KVA
Providing 1- 20A/ 120 VAC branch circuit.
Less common KVA configurations are also available. PSSAs of similar rating can be ganged together to increase capacity.

Q. How many circuits can one Power System Supply Assembly accommodate?
A. Depending on the phasing and KVA of the unit, it may accommodate anywhere from 1 to 9 - 20A branch circuits.

Q. Do the PSSA branch circuit protective devices have ability to be locked out?
A. Yes. Commercially available devices for lockout can be applied to the branch circuit breaker located in the PSSA.

Power System Distribution Assemblies

Q. Are LINKOSITY™ power system PSDAs the same as a portable power tap?
A. No. PSDAs are listed multi-outlet assemblies for permanent installation on a branch circuit by qualified personnel. Portable power taps are moveable temporary extensions of a branch circuit used by the population at large.

Q. Can a duplex receptacle be split wired in a PSDA box?
A. No.

Q. How many circuits will be accessible in a PSDA box?
A. One. All the devices in a PSDA box are on one circuit.

Q. Can a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) duplex receptacle provide down stream protection?
A. No and yes. No, standard GCFI protection is only provided for the point of use. Yes, GFCI open neutral protection can be applied to the multi-wire branch circuit or tap as may be required in a temporary installation on a construction site.

Q. Are the PSDA boxes bonded?
A. Yes. The box and cover are bonded with a #10 machine screw to the grounding circuit conductor. The yoke of each wiring device is also connected directly to the equipment-grounding conductor or isolated grounding conductor. The LINKOSITY™ male input and female output receptacles are bonded to the enclosure by the locknut.

Q. What is the maximum number of PSDA boxes that could be installed on a trunk line?
A. 12

Q. Are the PSDA boxes field repairable?
A. Although the PSDAs are constructed with field installable components, implementing a repair in the field voids the UL listing of the assembly.

Q. Is local circuit protection provided in PSDAs?
A. Each PSDA contains a fuse holder and 20 amp type ABC fuse for local, coordinated, or supplementary protection. The fuse type and fuse rating can be changed in the field by the end user so as to afford the most effective utility for the application environment.

Q. Are PSDAs offered in various outlet configurations?
A. Yes. NEMA 5-20R receptacles are available in specification, hospital and corrosion resistant grades. Ground fault, isolated ground, surge suppression, and isolated ground with surge suppression features are available in specification grade. Specification grade L5-20R and L5-15R (Twist-Lock) receptacles are also available, and may be acquired with an isolated ground.

Connecting Components

Q. Will LINKOSITY™ connections inter-mate with Hubbell control connectors?
A. The LINKOSITY™ 10A devices will inter-mate with comparable Mini-Quick products. The LINKOSITY™ 3A devices will inter-mate with comparable Micro-Quick products. 20A and 30A devices will not mate with any commercially available product.

Q. Are the LINKOSITY™ cables UV stabilized?
A. Cable assemblies are sunlight resistant.

Q. Is there a life cycle for the LINKOSITY™ cables and receptacles?
A. Yes. They are good for 1,000 inserts and removals.

Q. Can cables be run on the ground?
A. Yes. The STOOW rating of the cable allows its use in this type of temporary situation. On industrial machinery it can be run on the floor in natural chases of the machinery or where protected with a walkover type assembly.

Q. Can cables be run in ceilings or attached to walls?
A. Cables can be attached to walls or members of a structure where extending from a cable tray in industrial type facilities, where not subjected to physical damage, and where qualified persons are available to maintain the system. Cables may NOT be run in ceilings requiring a plenum rating.

Q. What is the difference between 20A and 20A SNIG?
A. 20A products are standard connections for up to 600V AC. 20A SNIG products are intended for use on circuits that require an isolated ground and/or an oversized "SUPER" neutral conductor to accommodate harmonic loads in multi-wire circuits.

Q. Why is it acceptable to inter-mate different pole configurations in 20A SNIG products?
A. As an example, a four wire male connection can inter-mate with a 6-wire female. The additional 2 positions accommodate a potential second and 3rd phase and therefore present no jeopardy if not connected. Additionally, the ground and neutral conductors are in fixed positions.

Q. Is LINKOSITY™ cabling suitable for direct burial?
A. At the time of publication, LINKOSITY™ cable has a direct burial rating. Direct burial rating for connections is still pending.

Q. Can LINKOSITY™ Cabling be autoclaved without breaking down?
A. Autoclave requirements vary dramatically depending on the application for the cable/tool in question. Autoclaving is not just subjecting an item to heat. A true autoclave can require a multiple of temperatures, cycle times, levels of steam and pressure. The recommended operating temperature is 105C / 221F and the manufacturing processing temperature is 176.67C / 350F. The point of breakdown is somewhere in between.

Q. Are the LINKOSITY™ power system connecting components rated for use in cable tray?
A. Yes. The CSC cable construction is listed Type TC with the crush and impact rating of Type MC cable identified for open wiring (the UL designation for such construction is "ER".) It is intended for use in a cable tray and is suitable for use as open wiring in an industrial facility. Furthermore the cable construction is listed Type MTW Machine Tool Wire and Cable and is suitable for use on industrial machinery. The cable is also listed Type STOOW cord and is suitable for use in cord applications.

Q. Should the LINKOSITY™ power system connecting components be run inside of rigid conduit?
A. No. It is not necessary to fish a connectorized cable through any type of pipe (RMC, IMC, ENT, PVC etc.) Although the construction of the cable cannot afford the same "apples to apples" protection offered by RMC, it does offer the same crush and impact protection of metal clad cable Type MC.

Q. Can the LINKOSITY™ power system connecting components be run inside of flexible liquid tight conduit?
A. No. It is not possible to fish a connectorized cable through flexible conduit. Also, the jacket and flexibility of LFMC or LFNC is redundant with that of the cable. The environmental rating of the connectors is redundant with that of the LFMC or LFNC fittings.

Q. Are the conductors within a cable in a LINKOSITY™ power system derated?
A. The connecting components are derated. When they are applied as Type TC/ER or MTW cable the four current carrying conductors of each three phase multi-wire branch circuit are derated from the 90 degree column of NEC® Tables 31015(B)(2)(a) and 310.16 to 80% of identified capacity. When they are applied as "cord" the ampacity is determined per NEC® Tables 400.5 and 400.5A to 80% of identified capacity. In both cases a 20 amp branch circuit is loaded to no more than 80% of capacity, or 16 amps - which is within the allowable derated range of operation for the 12 and 10 AWG conductors.

Q. Can LINKOSITY™ be applied in control applications?
A. Yes, LINKOSITY™ connectivity system suites CSS-10, CSS-20 and CSS-30 can be applied to any NEC® "low voltage" (i.e.; <=600 VAC) system. Suites CSS-03 and CSS-R3 are intended for application on control applications =<32 VDC.

Q. What does the "ER" or "Open Wiring" designation mean?
A. "ER" is an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) designation for cable Type TC (tray cable) that satisfies the crush and impact requirements of cable Type MC (metal clad) and is thereby permissible for use as "open wiring" - or wiring that exits a cable tray for unlimited length provide it is installed an industrial establishment with qualified personnel and is not subjected to physical damage. Most types of LINKOSITY™ connectivity system use a cable construction that that satisfies the requirements for Type TC/ER cable as well as for Type MTW multi-conductor cable and STOOW cord. This multi rating allows for a general all-purpose cable for application in commercial facilities, in industrial facilities and on industrial machinery in NEC®, or CEC jurisdictions. The smaller cross-section, lower voltage types of LINKOSITY™ connecting cables are rated as Types ITC and PLTC. This multi rating provides for application in commercial facilities, in industrial facilities and on industrial machinery in NEC®, or CEC jurisdictions for power limited and instrument applications.

Q. Why is AWM not used?
A. Appliance Wiring Material Type (AWM) is a "recognized" component — not a wiring method, not a listed cable, and not suitable for direct application except as part of a higher-level listed assembly. AWM, as a unlisted recognized component, is typically of lesser construction with thinner insulation or lesser flame retardant properties than required for wiring methods. LINKOSITY™ components are intended for use as a wiring method and the listed cable construction makes for a safe code complaint solution when properly applied.

Q. What are the various standard lengths of cable?
A. Standard cable assemblies are of 5' through 50' lengths in 5' increments. Standard receptacle assemblies have wire lengths of 1' through 10' in 1' increments.

Q. What about custom lengths?
A. Custom lengths are made to order and typically not available off the shelf.

Q. What are the recommended methods of cable support and routing?
A. Generally cable support and routing is to be done in accordance with the applicable codes and standards. For specific details on how to support and route the cables please reference

PROJ-2003-LINKOSITY-0191
LINKOSITY™ Power System Installer's Guide
or
PROJ-2002-LINKOSITY-0032
LINKOSITY™ Connectivity System Installer's Guide.

These documents are available at LINKOSITY's Technical Documentation Request page.

Q. Can the user install connectors on the cable to make custom cables lengths in the field?
A. No. The connecting components are listed by a NRTL to UL 2238 as factory constructed assemblies. They are constructed at the factory so as to assure safety and satisfy the relative requirements of OSHA 1910, the NEC® and NFPA 79.

Q. Are devices available that allow a transition to another wiring method?
A. Receptacles type can be used to readily integrate with other wiring methods.

Q. Are there posted warnings to not open under load?
A. Each plug end of a cable assembly includes an ANSI Z535.4 Product Safety Signs and Labels marker:

CAUTION
Do NOT Connect
or
Disconnect with the Power On

The marker colors (i.e.; yellow, black and white) meet ANSI Z535.1 Safety Color Code.

Terms of Use
© Hubbell Incorporated 2006