Low Voltahe Disconnects

[BACH Sign]

NEC 600 indicates a disconnect required with in sight of the electric sign, no issue?s there when the letters or cabinet is Neon.
But we have not built any new signs in years using neon, now it is all low voltage 24 Volt or less LEDs. Many of the
high end retailer in malls do not want to see the disconnect switch in a separate J box. Several municipalities here no longer require a switch.
Several different building officials said they can not find anything on this.
ALARM SYSTEMS DO NOT REQUIRE IT, IS IT IN THE CODE, AND WHERE- OR UP FOR A CHANGE

 

[kwired]

NEC 600 indicates a disconnect required with in sight of the electric sign, no issue?s there when the letters or cabinet is Neon.
But we have not built any new signs in years using neon, now it is all low voltage 24 Volt or less LEDs. Many of the
high end retailer in malls do not want to see the disconnect switch in a separate J box. Several municipalities here no longer require a switch.
Several different building officials said they can not find anything on this.
ALARM SYSTEMS DO NOT REQUIRE IT, IS IT IN THE CODE, AND WHERE- OR UP FOR A CHANGE

Is the power conversion equipment at the sign or remote from the sign?

Whether it is clear in the code or not, I believe the intent is to be able to easily disconnect any voltage over 50 volts for the safety of anyone servicing that equipment. My guess is that in most cases you have 120 to 277 volts supplying the sign and power conversion equipment within the sign to get 24 volts needed by the LED's.

ADD: I do recall connecting a multi section sign that had a separate "driver" and low voltage to each section of the sign. I put the disconnect next to the "driver" and had no disconnect on each of the sections.

 

[Volta]

What follows below is less then the full text, but shows that the disconnect is not necessarily needed to be in sight of the entire sign,. Though while it may not be interpreted to be fully remote, perhaps it can at least be in a more discreet location.

....
(A) Location.
(1) Within Sight of the Sign. The disconnecting means shall
be within sight of the sign or outline lighting system that it
controls. Where the disconnecting means is out of the line of
sight from any section that is able to be energized, the disconnecting
means shall be capable of being locked in the open
position. The provision for locking or adding a lock to the
disconnecting means must remain in place at the switch or
circuit breaker whether the lock is installed or not. Portable
means for adding a lock to the switch or circuit breaker shall
not be permitted.....