1 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:38,039 What Up? What Up? What Up? Everybody? Welcome to another episode 2 00:00:38,039 --> 00:00:41,159 of Let's Ask Paul, the podcast where I, Paul Abernet at the answer 3 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:46,560 all of your pressing electrical code related questions. But all you gotta do is 4 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:50,920 go to Paul Abernathy dot com. It's a free service offered by a well, 5 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:53,640 it's sponsored by Wicks, and it's free for all of you to be 6 00:00:53,679 --> 00:00:56,960 able to come and ask me any electrical question that you want to ask me. 7 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,240 All you gotta do is go to Paul Abernathy dot com, it in 8 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:04,439 your name, email and submit your question and if selected, will be utilized 9 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:11,439 on an upcoming podcast much like today's podcast. But you can rest assured I 10 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:17,920 will answer your questions via email. 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And as we promote it, we have a 20 00:02:06,079 --> 00:02:10,280 budget planned to promote that around the country and it's going to promote electricians and 21 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,879 you can be the first to list your company in it. It's not going 22 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:16,639 to cost you anything, so that's something we got going. Also, if 23 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,879 you haven't checked it out yet, every business out there needs to have a 24 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,199 website, without a doubt. You need to have a website, whether it's 25 00:02:24,199 --> 00:02:28,520 just an e commerce website, whether or not it's just promoting your business. 26 00:02:29,599 --> 00:02:31,800 Do me a favor. When you get a chance, go to Empire Butler 27 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:38,639 dot com and it's exactly how it sounds. Empire emp I R E Butler 28 00:02:38,759 --> 00:02:46,400 Butler dot com and check out the templates that you can get. They're all 29 00:02:46,439 --> 00:02:51,000 customizable. It's a drop and drag. It's so simple. We'll even help 30 00:02:51,039 --> 00:02:53,199 you out if you have any questions about any element that you want to add. 31 00:02:54,159 --> 00:02:58,120 But it is great to get your business on the internet and if you 32 00:02:58,159 --> 00:03:01,680 already have a website. Trust me, more is better. So these are 33 00:03:01,719 --> 00:03:07,080 just inexpensive ways to get more exposure on the Internet and to be able to 34 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:14,080 share your business on web business cards, on your different publications you might do 35 00:03:14,199 --> 00:03:16,360 wherever you want to do it. We offer a service that is all part 36 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:22,840 of Electrical Code Academy. Many people don't know that we have many divisions within 37 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:27,360 Electrical Code Academy incorporated. Our electrical training is just one division of that. 38 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,520 Obviously I'm more intimate with that one. But we do have many other services 39 00:03:30,560 --> 00:03:37,800 available, and you can see all the services that we have at butlersuite dot 40 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,840 com. But we have PPM Butler, which is project management software. We 41 00:03:40,879 --> 00:03:46,840 have accountant Butler, we have Profile Butler, we have Empire Butler. Many 42 00:03:46,879 --> 00:03:51,120 ways to get your exposure online. Check those out. We'll put links to 43 00:03:51,159 --> 00:03:55,319 those done in the description of this podcast. All right, all right, 44 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,680 so today I have it. Let's ask Paul and I will say we are 45 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:03,680 also were streaming live on TikTok, not answering questions on TikTok, but we 46 00:04:03,719 --> 00:04:10,599 are streaming live on TikTok, and we want to make sure that I answered 47 00:04:10,599 --> 00:04:14,000 this question accurate because this could be a long one today, and I'm sure 48 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,959 that TikTok folks won't hang in there that long. Okay, that's a three 49 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:24,920 minute platform. Tension spans probably less. But I have a question. It 50 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:29,439 was submitted to me, and this question was, Paul, can you teach 51 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,959 me a little bit more about MC cable? It's uses, it's not permitted 52 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:36,439 uses. What's the difference in the types of MC cables and some examples where 53 00:04:36,439 --> 00:04:44,560 you can and can't use MC? Metal clad cable? Okay, So one 54 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,199 of the more popular wiring methods out there, probably for residential, the most 55 00:04:48,199 --> 00:04:54,839 popular is no metallic sheeth cable. The second most popular, probably residentially and 56 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:59,920 like commercial, is going to be metal clad cable. Now, three time 57 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,399 types of MC cables that are available in the industry. Okay. The most 58 00:05:02,399 --> 00:05:08,920 predominant is called an interlock. Now. Interlock type of MC is made by 59 00:05:09,079 --> 00:05:13,879 taking a perplexed set of conductors, running it through a machine that creates what's 60 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:18,480 called we call it a bird beak, but actually it wraps a continuous reel 61 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:25,360 of metal armor. It wraps it around that cable assembly, and then as 62 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:29,079 it's wrapping it around, it has a little beak that bends it and turns 63 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:33,600 it, and it actually kind of creates the spiral and it interlocks it. 64 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:38,199 That's why it's called interlocked, okay, so it shouldn't be able to pull 65 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:43,480 apart. And of course the other type is smooth and corrugated. Now, 66 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,600 smooth it kind of sounds just like it is. It is a constant extrusion, 67 00:05:48,639 --> 00:05:53,439 and it's extruded out just like you would like an EMT would be. 68 00:05:54,920 --> 00:06:00,319 And then there's the corrugated, and typically corrugated is welded. Okay, it's 69 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:06,199 essentially like an interlocked, but it has a welding component that welds the different 70 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:14,959 convolutions together. Still as flexibility obviously not as flexible as interlock, but it 71 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:18,879 there are some benefits to smooth and corrugated. Smooth and corrugated, you can 72 00:06:18,959 --> 00:06:25,120 actually use the armor as an equipment ground in place of having to have one 73 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:29,079 inside of the cable assembly, whereas interlocked that's not going to work. Now, 74 00:06:29,079 --> 00:06:34,040 there are specialty products like Southwire has a product called mcap Uncoal wire as 75 00:06:34,079 --> 00:06:41,319 a product called smart ground, and you can use the armor as an equipment 76 00:06:41,319 --> 00:06:46,120 ground and those specialty products, but only up to conductor size. Is a 77 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,720 six gage. Okay, so anything larger than that. Obviously, with interlocked 78 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:51,879 ms that you can't use the armor and you still have to bond it, 79 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,839 but you can't use it as an equipment ground. Okay, that's not the 80 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:02,720 case with corrugated and smooth. Now corgating smooth type of MC cable, I 81 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:08,079 can use that armor as an equipment ground. Okay, So it eliminates the 82 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:12,759 need for a separate equipment ground and conductor inside the cable assembly. All right, 83 00:07:12,839 --> 00:07:15,000 but that's just a kind of a quick overview of that. Let's get 84 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:20,279 a little bit more deeper into talking about MC cable and trying to answer this 85 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:25,399 gentleman's question here. And remember, if you have questions, you can always 86 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:29,920 submit your questions to me at Paul Abernathy dot com. Please make sure you 87 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,920 do that. All right, we're talking about metal claud cable. There's multiple 88 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,199 types of metal clad cable. They all have to be listed. Dot six 89 00:07:36,199 --> 00:07:42,279 of Article three thirty requires that they all be listed. Now most I would 90 00:07:42,279 --> 00:07:46,040 say, all of the wiring methods are are required to be listed now. 91 00:07:46,079 --> 00:07:50,879 Dot six is the listing requirement. And if you're following along, I'm in 92 00:07:53,319 --> 00:07:57,399 the twenty twenty three edition of the National Electrical Code. Right, so I 93 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:01,000 have transitioned. Whether you have or not, whether you're stays using Again, 94 00:08:01,519 --> 00:08:03,639 it's usually irrelevant to me. Because I'm an educator, I always go with 95 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:09,079 the latest addition. I do ask people to when they ask me a question, 96 00:08:09,519 --> 00:08:15,399 I like them to ask me a question and let me know what code 97 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:20,040 cycle they're in, because again I can be more relevant to the cycle there 98 00:08:20,079 --> 00:08:22,399 is. Otherwise I'm going to give you an answer that's in the twenty twenty 99 00:08:22,439 --> 00:08:24,759 three. That's just the way it works, all right. Now, let's 100 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:30,920 talk about some uses permitted for mc cable. A lot of misconceptions about the 101 00:08:30,959 --> 00:08:35,960 application and use. MC cable is perfectly permitted to use for services, feeders 102 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,759 and brand circuits applications, whether it's small conductor size, long feeder, mid 103 00:08:39,879 --> 00:08:45,120 sizes with four outs two fifty three, fifties, four hundred case email, 104 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:50,320 perfectly fine. But again use for service feeders and brand circuits. Again, 105 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:56,879 also utilize for both power and lighting, even control and signal applications. Most 106 00:08:56,879 --> 00:09:00,840 people know that there's products on the market that have this zero to ten vault 107 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:05,200 control and signal inside of the same cable assembly as the power conductors that is 108 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:11,399 permitted in the National Electrical Code, but that's also my patents. I have 109 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:16,559 about four patents on that, and again we don't aggressively fight the patent. 110 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:20,039 I really don't care if other manufacturers make it. I don't make anything from 111 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:26,039 these patents, but I am the patent holder of that. Anytime you grab 112 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:30,600 that MC cable and you have those zero to ten vaults in there, I 113 00:09:30,639 --> 00:09:33,360 am My name is attached to that patent. Yeah, I don't make a 114 00:09:33,399 --> 00:09:37,159 diamond on that. Because when you work for a manufacturer, you know, 115 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:41,320 they get all the rewards. I like to say, I got a job 116 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:46,919 so that you know takes care of that. Now, MC cable. When 117 00:09:46,919 --> 00:09:50,600 you're looking at three thirty ten, people get kind of confused when it talks 118 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,120 about the general use because it says indoors or outdoor use. You know, 119 00:09:54,159 --> 00:09:58,639 that's item number three. What they don't understand is indoor means just flat out 120 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:03,559 you can use the MC indoor outdoors. If it's a wet or damp location, 121 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:07,519 then you have to do something extra. It has to be some type 122 00:10:07,519 --> 00:10:15,000 of impervious jacket that is corrosive resistant, that's extruded over top of the armor. 123 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:20,519 Itself. Okay, So when we think about that, you know, 124 00:10:20,879 --> 00:10:24,080 we make MC cable people. You know, you can buy MC cable interlocked. 125 00:10:24,159 --> 00:10:28,039 We'll keep the topic get interlocked because that's the most commonly used MC cable 126 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:37,279 today. It's available both p PVC jacketed as well as without PBC jacket It's 127 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:41,519 the exact same cable that's used in a wet location that has PV extruded on 128 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:46,240 it. It's an exact same product. It just takes it and runs the 129 00:10:46,279 --> 00:10:52,879 whole cable through an extrusion, and it extrudes a certain thickness of PVC material 130 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:56,000 over top of the armor, and then we print the information on top of 131 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:01,080 that material. That's the only difference. Okay, But you cannot use mccable 132 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:07,000 in a wet or even a damp location. It is a dry location product 133 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:13,440 only. Okay. Now, Item number four says, and we're in three 134 00:11:13,519 --> 00:11:18,159 thirty dot ten. By the way, Item number four says that it can 135 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,759 be exposed or concealed absolutely, So I can run it on the surface of 136 00:11:20,759 --> 00:11:24,080 a building. If it's outside, it's got to be PBC jacketed obviously. 137 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:26,879 If it's inside, I can run it on the surface. We have to 138 00:11:26,919 --> 00:11:33,600 be careful because if you run it somewhere that is subject to physical damage and 139 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,200 that may or may not be very obvious, that's going to be an HJ 140 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:41,159 call. Then it is not designed. Even though it goes through a crushing 141 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:46,679 impact with this quite impressive Okay, a thousand pounds or two thousand pounds, 142 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:52,559 depending on the size of the conductors. That's a product standard okay UL fifteen 143 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:56,080 sixty nine. That has nothing to do with the application in the field. 144 00:11:56,120 --> 00:12:01,639 If somebody says it's subject to physical damage, then mc cable couldn't be run 145 00:12:01,639 --> 00:12:05,159 there. But generally it's okay to be exposed or concealed. So if you 146 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:09,519 want to install it in the wall, no big deal. If you want 147 00:12:09,519 --> 00:12:11,519 to install it on the wall, as long as it's not subject physical damage, 148 00:12:11,519 --> 00:12:13,840 no big deal. You can do it, secure it and support it 149 00:12:13,879 --> 00:12:20,879 properly and no problem. I am number five. People say it's is it 150 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:24,399 direct burial? It is when it's identified for such use, and that obviously 151 00:12:24,399 --> 00:12:30,679 will be when it is PVC jacketed. It is obviously going to be identified 152 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:31,960 for that use. It's going to say right on the side of the jacket, 153 00:12:33,399 --> 00:12:39,399 it'll say dB or a direct burial use. Next one people ask about 154 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:45,480 it. Number six cable tray were identified for such use. Absolutely, MC 155 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:48,360 cable king go on a cable tray as long it's it's part of its listings 156 00:12:48,399 --> 00:12:54,399 for us in cable trays, the manufacturers will designate that on the actual labels 157 00:12:56,159 --> 00:12:58,840 that they would put on the reel. The next one is in any race. 158 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:05,759 Another misconception. People say, you can't run MC cable in a raceway. 159 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:09,159 Well, most certainly you can, especially if it's a location where you 160 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:13,120 think it's going to be subject to physical damage, then you can most certainly 161 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:16,159 run it in a raceway. Okay, but nothing prohibits it from running to 162 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:22,279 a raceway. The only problem you have with MC cable is the requirements to 163 00:13:22,399 --> 00:13:26,440 bond that as it comes to an enclosure. So I tell people all the 164 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:31,120 time and the requirements at through twelve dot five C. If you're talking about 165 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:35,840 enclosures, for example, I'll tell people it'll make sure you just stop the 166 00:13:35,919 --> 00:13:39,120 raceway short so they can come out and then actually use a connector and connect 167 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:43,279 to the enclosure. That type of thing. Now, we have different allowances 168 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,720 in three fourteen for boxes, but at the end of the day, you 169 00:13:48,759 --> 00:13:50,799 have to bond the armor. So if it runs into a box and it 170 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,320 doesn't connect to the box, how are you bonding the armor. So there's 171 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:58,679 some things you can do for that. But the key takeaway here is it 172 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:03,279 can it be in a raceway, aolutely commuter raceway. The next one is 173 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,879 aerial cables on a messenger. A lot of people don't realize that MC cable 174 00:14:09,039 --> 00:14:11,879 can be run on a messenger messenger being from point A to point B, 175 00:14:13,039 --> 00:14:16,799 maybe using a steel supporting component with a webbing from a building to a building. 176 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:22,679 So you know, keep that mind. Now, Typically if it's an 177 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:26,720 aerial cable, it's going to be designated. Is that by the manufacturer? 178 00:14:26,799 --> 00:14:33,080 Not always, but there are many manufacturers. For example, there's a manufacturer 179 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:39,639 down in Houston, I believe it's service Wire who specifically makes a cable that 180 00:14:39,759 --> 00:14:43,360 they call an aerial cable. Okay, the next one is number nine. 181 00:14:43,399 --> 00:14:48,440 How's it just classified locations we're specifically permitted by other articles in this code. 182 00:14:48,279 --> 00:14:54,039 Obviously that'd be five hundred five two five o three things like that. That's 183 00:14:54,039 --> 00:15:00,080 where you get into the necessary needs for things like smooth and corrugated. If 184 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:03,399 you're going to have like an MC that's rated for a hazardous location and all 185 00:15:03,399 --> 00:15:07,279 that type of things. So remember when you see a US is permitted in 186 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:11,559 three thirty dot ten, it is not germane just to interlock. This is 187 00:15:11,559 --> 00:15:16,960 this is covering all the MC types, okay, and so keep keep that 188 00:15:18,039 --> 00:15:24,879 in mine. Next one is number ten. It says in dry locations and 189 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:31,240 embedded in plaster finish on brick or other masonry, except in damp or wet 190 00:15:31,279 --> 00:15:35,720 location. So it is permitted to be embedded in plaster on brick or other 191 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:43,320 masonry, except where there's a situation where the wall makes be exposed to moisture, 192 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:48,600 dampness, wetness, maybe an exterior wall or something like that, then 193 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:50,960 you can't do it. But if it's a dry location inside of a building 194 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:54,559 and they groove it out in the plaster, let's say, and they want 195 00:15:54,559 --> 00:15:58,720 to embed it, that's that's not a problem. If the location is going 196 00:15:58,759 --> 00:16:03,399 to be a dry location, okay, not going to be okay, if 197 00:16:03,399 --> 00:16:08,919 the location to which that wall which is being betted embedding the MC into the 198 00:16:08,919 --> 00:16:14,759 plaster, let's say, The problem would be if that is a damp or 199 00:16:14,799 --> 00:16:17,960 wet location in general, and you just have to look at the location to 200 00:16:18,039 --> 00:16:22,759 determine make a distinction whether it's a dry inside of a building unless you're in 201 00:16:22,799 --> 00:16:25,960 a spray booth or in somewhere where they're going to host things down. Typically 202 00:16:26,039 --> 00:16:29,080 inside the building in a conditioned space is going to be a dry location. 203 00:16:29,879 --> 00:16:33,919 So this gives you that permission. Now, Item number eleven three thirty dot 204 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:38,759 ten has a change that I submitted in the twenty twenty three is to add 205 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:41,879 the word damp in there, because prior to the twenty twenty three it's said 206 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:47,080 in wet locations and it didn't make any reference to damp, although the standard 207 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:53,840 itself you Will fifteen sixty nine also really didn't address damp locations. So in 208 00:16:53,879 --> 00:16:59,200 the twenty twenty three edition of the NEC, damp was added to item number 209 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:07,720 eleven thirty ten A just making it very clear that damp or wet locations where 210 00:17:07,839 --> 00:17:14,640 corrosive resistant jacket is provided over the metallic sheathing and any of the following conditions 211 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,359 are met. So this is where we say, yes, I can use 212 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:22,400 MC in a damp or a wet location as long as I meet any of 213 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:27,599 the following conditions. Condition A is the metallic covering is impervious to moisture. 214 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:32,160 Well, that would be as smooth. For example, MC would be impervious 215 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:38,640 to moisture. Be says a jacket resistant to moisture is provided under the metal 216 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:44,480 covering, all right, So that is typically not what most manufacturer are going 217 00:17:44,559 --> 00:17:48,119 to do. They leave the armor outside and put some kind of covering underneath. 218 00:17:48,759 --> 00:17:52,799 The third one, which is C is the insulated conductors under the metallic 219 00:17:52,839 --> 00:17:59,880 covering are listed for use in wet location. Now ours most manufacturers are going 220 00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:07,920 to put thh in th th thhw DASH two And of course the thhw dh 221 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:12,519 two is perfectly okay for a wet location, so it's typically going to be 222 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:18,559 adequate for that. Now that can be typically misleading for a lot of people 223 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:21,960 because they go, okay, well, then that means I don't have to 224 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,960 have anything over the metal. Well you're gonna see in the three thirty twelves 225 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:30,720 and then we'll move pretty rapidly from there trying to explain the little nuances. 226 00:18:30,759 --> 00:18:34,000 But I wanted to show you permitted uses and not permit uses as a key 227 00:18:34,039 --> 00:18:38,200 component to you to your question that you submitted, because here's where we get 228 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:45,400 a lot of questions from people. And so again all of the manufacturers will 229 00:18:45,559 --> 00:18:51,839 use conductors that are insulated under the metal covering that are actually listed for use 230 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:56,319 in wet location. They'll have a W signified in its nomenclature. Item number 231 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:00,640 twelve says, we're a single conductor KERS use and this is again an MC 232 00:19:00,759 --> 00:19:04,680 cable where you have one single conductor running in it, all phase conductors, 233 00:19:04,759 --> 00:19:10,640 and we're used the ground of conductors should be grouped together to minimize inductive voltage 234 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:14,039 on the sheathing. Absolutely, so in a rare case, we have really 235 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:18,240 large MC that has a single conductor in each MC. It's kind of like 236 00:19:19,599 --> 00:19:22,039 m I cable, and when you run it, you want to make sure 237 00:19:22,039 --> 00:19:26,680 that they're grouped in close proximity because you don't want any induced voltage on it, 238 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,240 and of course that creates inductive heating and things like that, and that 239 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,559 can cause all kinds of problems. So it's just a routing thing. But 240 00:19:33,599 --> 00:19:41,240 they do make single conductor cables for applications where you might have rather large conductors 241 00:19:41,519 --> 00:19:47,119 and you're running multiple phases each in an individual single conductor MC format. It 242 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:56,000 is available all right, specific uses. This is still under uses permitted, 243 00:19:56,079 --> 00:20:00,640 but this is specific uses. It says MC cable show be permitted to be 244 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:06,240 installed in compliance with parts two and three of Articles seven twenty five. So 245 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:12,480 seven twenty five is dealing with signaling and control that type of applications seven seventy. 246 00:20:12,839 --> 00:20:19,039 I believe it's fiber optic applications where MC is very prominent to have some 247 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:23,960 MC and also have the potential have fiber optic in the same assembly. And 248 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:30,079 so you have number one cable trays, says type MC cable installed in a 249 00:20:30,079 --> 00:20:33,400 cable trays shall comply with and it proceeds to give you a bunch of three 250 00:20:33,519 --> 00:20:36,960 ninety twos. Well, three ninety two is four cable trays. So it 251 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:41,160 has its different rules that you have to follow, how it lays in there 252 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,720 with the ampacities, how it's going to be adjusted. So again, the 253 00:20:44,759 --> 00:20:49,319 great thing about the NC is while it's not an installation manual by any means, 254 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:53,440 it is a good minimum standard that lets you know, okay if you 255 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:59,599 want to put it in a cable tray. Here's some other code sections that 256 00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:04,559 you must follow. Right next one is B two, which is direct burial. 257 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:08,640 Direct burial cable should comply with three UNDERD dot five that stepth of cover 258 00:21:10,759 --> 00:21:14,400 and that's thousand volts are less than of course three oh five dot fifteen is 259 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:18,880 over a thousand volts, so you've got some appropriate applicable rules there. Next, 260 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:23,279 installed as service entrance cable, we said earlier it could be service cable, 261 00:21:23,799 --> 00:21:29,240 So it proceeds to tell us that the MC cable installed as service entrance 262 00:21:29,279 --> 00:21:33,319 cable shall be permitted in accordance with two thirty dot forty three. Course two 263 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:37,440 thirty dot forty three is a list of the different types of wiring methods and 264 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:44,000 whatnot that can be used as service entrance cable. And then either number four 265 00:21:44,039 --> 00:21:49,119 is as installed outside of buildings are structured or as aerial cable, and it 266 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:52,880 proceeds to tell us that the MC cable installed outdoors of a building are structure 267 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:59,039 or as aerial cable shall comply with two twenty five dot ten. Course two 268 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:03,359 twenty five is outside branch and feeders, uh three ninety six is messenger, 269 00:22:03,799 --> 00:22:07,039 and it tells us that you need to follow dot ten and dot twelve. 270 00:22:07,079 --> 00:22:11,000 Those are going to be uses and use is not permitted as well under messenger 271 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:15,440 and three ninety six, So pretty straightforward if you're doing any of those types 272 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:18,640 of installations it's going to direct you directly where you need to be, so 273 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:22,279 you shouldn't have any concern all that. Now, let's talk a little bit 274 00:22:22,319 --> 00:22:29,000 about use is not permitted where you can't use MC cable. Now, you're 275 00:22:29,039 --> 00:22:32,759 gonna know that this is a very small list. It's it's only got two 276 00:22:32,799 --> 00:22:40,319 items, so you know, typically from my experience, I have seen installations 277 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:45,319 where And also I should have mentioned that MC cable is available in both steel 278 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:51,720 or aluminum armor, and believe it or not, it's also available in a 279 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:57,279 copper armor. Rare for manufacturers to produce the copper. That's a specialty product. 280 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:02,839 A lot of times us with the variable frequency drive applications again, things 281 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:06,759 like that, but the most commonly used today is probably going to be the 282 00:23:06,799 --> 00:23:12,160 aluminum. And here's an interesting fact. Aluminum or steal armor both at the 283 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:17,359 past the same crushing impact. I mean, the misconception that many people might 284 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:21,480 have is that, well, steel has to it's got to be stronger than 285 00:23:21,480 --> 00:23:26,559 the armor, so therefore the test ratings would be different, and that's that's 286 00:23:26,599 --> 00:23:32,359 not the case. So UL fifteen sixty nine and then subsequently UL twenty five 287 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,799 fifty six, all of the rules for MC crushing impact are exactly the same 288 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:41,480 whether it's steel or aluminum armors. So if you're buying aluminum or you're buying 289 00:23:41,519 --> 00:23:45,359 steel because you think it's subject to physical damage that it can handle it better, 290 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:51,319 they both should be adequate, right. But they're not listed to protect 291 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:56,279 for physical damage. So that's the important key. If it gets damaged, 292 00:23:56,680 --> 00:24:00,599 it needs to be replaced. Okay, So here looking at the use is 293 00:24:00,599 --> 00:24:06,640 not permitted. If you have your Code Book three three thirty twelve, use 294 00:24:06,759 --> 00:24:11,440 is not permitted Type MC cable shall not be used under either of the following 295 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:15,799 conditions. The very first one in the list is where subjects of physical damage 296 00:24:15,799 --> 00:24:18,240 and we kind of talked about that earlier. Now, some of the questions 297 00:24:18,279 --> 00:24:22,759 that people submit to me being on a code panel, being on a servile 298 00:24:22,799 --> 00:24:27,480 code panel five and and code panel seventeen, and you know, one of 299 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:32,920 the things that people will ask is like, well, is there a definition 300 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:37,839 of physical damage? And it was attempted and people have submitted it through the 301 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:44,359 years. It has not been successful. It is it is never made it 302 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:49,640 into the code. And of course then we have terminologies like severe physical damage 303 00:24:51,279 --> 00:24:59,279 and that also has not made it into the NC. So What has normally 304 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:04,279 been is that they believe that that is something that the ah J, the 305 00:25:04,319 --> 00:25:10,759 authority having jurisdiction, the electrical inspector who's acting as the deputy for the building 306 00:25:10,759 --> 00:25:15,039 official, or the building commissioner who is the actual age J, they have 307 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:18,480 to make a decision whether something is subject to physical damage. Now, my 308 00:25:18,559 --> 00:25:23,640 hope is that we use a little common sense and realize that it might be 309 00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:27,079 running along the wall, but unless somebody went at it with a hatchet, 310 00:25:27,599 --> 00:25:33,319 it's not really subject to physical damage. Whereas if you install in an ERIC 311 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:36,160 where they do a lot of forklifts, a lot of things like that, 312 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:40,759 and you're running it exposed and obviously somebody could bang into it and it would 313 00:25:40,759 --> 00:25:45,480 be subject to physical damage. Again, while everybody would like a uniformity to 314 00:25:45,519 --> 00:25:48,359 this and a definition of this, the problem is anytime you start defining something, 315 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:52,960 then it locks it in and then people start arguing about the interpretation. 316 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:56,480 So we'll leave this one to the HJ and you the electrician, and y'all 317 00:25:56,480 --> 00:26:00,119 can work that out. Okay, people don't like that. Again, the 318 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:04,920 moment that we start getting too defined in ANEC than people bitch and wine in 319 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:10,279 a moment where too loosey goosey with the NEC people bitch and wine. So 320 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:12,160 at the end of the day, you're not going to stop people from bitching 321 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:17,119 and whining. So at the end of the day, physical damage is going 322 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,480 to be up to you in the HJ to make that determination, and hopefully 323 00:26:19,519 --> 00:26:23,640 the little common sense will come into play. Now, idem number two kind 324 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:26,960 of goes hand in hand with what we saw earlier when it said that the 325 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:33,480 conductor's inside as long as they're weighted rated for a wet location and that type 326 00:26:33,519 --> 00:26:36,119 of thing, that be okay, right, Well, here you go. 327 00:26:36,799 --> 00:26:41,599 It says, now we're exposed to any of the destructive corrosive conditions in A 328 00:26:41,839 --> 00:26:48,759 or B unless the metallic sheathing or armor is resistant to the conditions or is 329 00:26:48,799 --> 00:26:56,240 protected by material resistance to the condition. So this is that extruded jacketing, 330 00:26:56,519 --> 00:27:02,640 Okay, extruded all over it in jacketing. And so there's an A and 331 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:07,039 a B. Here A says direct buried in the earth or embedded in concrete 332 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:14,640 unless identified for direct burial. Now, most manufacturers that produce MC cable, 333 00:27:15,359 --> 00:27:19,920 okay, are going to produce the MC cable and on the outside of it, 334 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:26,000 it's going to have the extruded PVC material typically black. Nothing says it 335 00:27:26,039 --> 00:27:32,000 has to be black, but typically extruded black because that's the most that's the 336 00:27:32,039 --> 00:27:37,640 most purchased pelletized materials. So you buy that in bulk. So colors cost 337 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:41,400 you cost money. Uh, not that black is cheap, it's just that 338 00:27:41,480 --> 00:27:47,880 it's it's the most predominantly base used, so that's what everybody uses. That 339 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:49,640 doesn't mean you can't order it in color, so you probably can. You're 340 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:52,599 just gonna have to buy a crap load of it in order to be able 341 00:27:52,599 --> 00:27:56,839 to do that. But on the outside of it, it's going to be 342 00:27:56,880 --> 00:28:00,279 printed with direct burial and that's what it's going to give you the permission to 343 00:28:00,599 --> 00:28:06,279 embed that into the earth or to actually embedded in concrete. Now b is 344 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:11,960 exposed to cinder fills, strong chlorides, caustic alkalies, or vapors of chlorine 345 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:18,119 or of hydrochloric acids. Okay, So this is why I tell people in 346 00:28:18,759 --> 00:28:23,359 that in UH six eighty when it comes to swimming pool applications, they want 347 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:27,759 to know when it talks about corrosive environments six eight fourteen and all this other 348 00:28:27,799 --> 00:28:33,200 stuff, can you use PVC jacketed MC. And my answer to that is 349 00:28:33,279 --> 00:28:37,039 absolutely you can. And people want to say, but it says such as 350 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:38,680 this, this, this, this, and this, and doesn't say MC. 351 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:44,039 But at the very first line it says, we're listed for the for 352 00:28:44,079 --> 00:28:48,119 the use. Well, we're talking about a corrosive environment. You're never going 353 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:52,039 to have a manufacturer list that for swimming pools, even though that is an 354 00:28:52,079 --> 00:28:57,079 option. Nobody's going to do it. But it is listed for corrosive environments. 355 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:02,319 It's in the earth. It's just like it says right here. So 356 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:06,039 at the end of the day, and PBC is very resistant to these type 357 00:29:06,079 --> 00:29:10,519 of things, so it most certainly can be used in that application and it 358 00:29:10,599 --> 00:29:15,680 is very resistant to the corrosive effects. So I'm a believer that that six 359 00:29:15,839 --> 00:29:21,039 eighty dot fourteen absolutely would allow me to use a PBC jacketed MC and those 360 00:29:21,079 --> 00:29:26,119 applications for pool installations. Okay, you know, and I don't really give 361 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:29,960 a damn what anybody says. It's I know because I helped submit that rule. 362 00:29:30,359 --> 00:29:34,240 So anyway, enough of that, All right, what about exposed work 363 00:29:34,279 --> 00:29:38,000 again? So if you are going to install MC, cable and disposed worth, 364 00:29:38,039 --> 00:29:44,079 then you've got three three thirty fifteen that is titled exposed work right pretty 365 00:29:44,079 --> 00:29:48,960 straightforward. It says exposed runs of cable except as provided in three hundred eleven 366 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:52,359 B, which sounds like it's going to be supportive above submitted ceilings and things 367 00:29:52,359 --> 00:29:56,799 like that. It says shall closely follow the surface of the building finish or 368 00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,559 on running boards. So you don't want you want to make sure that if 369 00:29:59,599 --> 00:30:02,000 you're going to on this MC, you're gonna run it along the surface of 370 00:30:02,039 --> 00:30:07,039 the building. If not, it's gonna dangle from joist to joyce or whatnot 371 00:30:07,039 --> 00:30:10,720 like that, then you want to have it on running boards. It says 372 00:30:10,759 --> 00:30:14,559 exposed runs shall also be permitted to be installed on the under side of joist. 373 00:30:14,599 --> 00:30:18,680 We're supported at each joyce located so is not to be subject to physical 374 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:23,519 damage. You know, with non metallic sheet cable, you can run it 375 00:30:23,519 --> 00:30:27,119 on the joyce, for example in crass bases, but it has to be 376 00:30:27,119 --> 00:30:32,880 equivalent to eight three or six two and then you can support it underneath. 377 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:36,000 Other than that you gotta go through board holes or running boards. While here 378 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:40,319 it doesn't say anything about that, but the difference here is that if you 379 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:44,400 do want to run it exposed let's say on the under side of Joyce, 380 00:30:44,759 --> 00:30:51,599 then you're gonna have to secure it at every single joist. Okay, yep. 381 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:56,480 So ironically enough, if you run it, if you just put up 382 00:30:56,519 --> 00:30:59,759 a running board, then you can just secure it at its securing requirements of 383 00:30:59,799 --> 00:31:03,839 three thirty dot thirty and every six feet and then you don't have to have 384 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:07,480 it every choice. Because you're running it on a running board, it's totally 385 00:31:07,559 --> 00:31:08,559 up to you. Or you could bore holes and run it through the board 386 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:14,759 holes and you have to worry about it. Let's see here three thirty dot 387 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:18,240 seventeen through or parallel to framing members. It says type MC cables shall be 388 00:31:18,319 --> 00:31:25,039 protected in accordance with three hundred dot fo AC and D we're installed through or 389 00:31:25,160 --> 00:31:30,319 parallel to framing members. Right, so when people talk about that, you 390 00:31:30,359 --> 00:31:36,279 have to remember that three three hundred dot four I don't know if I said 391 00:31:36,279 --> 00:31:41,119 three thirty three hundred dot four A talks about through wood members. Okay, 392 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:45,519 so if you're actually installing through wood members, then you're going to have to 393 00:31:45,559 --> 00:31:52,079 worry about things like nail plates. Okay, the exception doesn't list MC cable. 394 00:31:52,279 --> 00:31:57,720 By the way, you know, notches in wood, same same applications, 395 00:31:57,759 --> 00:32:02,359 So just be careful with your your installation. Remember you're gonna have to 396 00:32:02,359 --> 00:32:07,680 still comply with three hundred for AC and D. If you're running through framing 397 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:12,519 members or parallel to framing members, you still have to have those rules. 398 00:32:12,559 --> 00:32:15,279 And typically what we're talking about as an inch and a quarter separation, that 399 00:32:15,359 --> 00:32:22,640 type of thing. Let's see talk about radio the bending radius, because again 400 00:32:22,799 --> 00:32:30,480 people that run mc cable are bending it all the time and they're wondering, 401 00:32:30,519 --> 00:32:32,359 Okay, what's the what's the tw tight Can I bend this stuff? Well, 402 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:36,519 obviously if the backside of it busts out the convolution, then you do. 403 00:32:36,759 --> 00:32:40,960 You don't screwed up. Uh. There is no known listed way to 404 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:47,759 repair mc cable that has blown a convolution, right, The only known thing 405 00:32:47,759 --> 00:32:51,640 to do is repair it. Not mean not repair it, I mean replace 406 00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:53,720 it. There is no repair. Now. What you want to do on 407 00:32:53,759 --> 00:32:57,000 your own, how you want to do it on your that's up to you. 408 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:59,599 You're the electrician, you're the one installing it. Whatever you can get 409 00:32:59,640 --> 00:33:05,960 past inspector that, that's on you, right. But reality is, there 410 00:33:06,079 --> 00:33:14,839 is no market available repair for mccable. The convolutions have pulled apart, so 411 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:17,279 you have to replace it, and you can put junction boxes and make us 412 00:33:17,279 --> 00:33:22,440 splice skin those boxes. The splices have to be accessible and all this kind 413 00:33:22,440 --> 00:33:25,359 of stuff. But at the end of the day, you know you you 414 00:33:25,359 --> 00:33:29,759 you've got to try to install it without damaging that convolution. Now, one 415 00:33:29,799 --> 00:33:35,079 of the ways that you can damage convolutions is the bending radius. Now interesting 416 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:38,240 at three thirty dot twenty four, which again DOT twenty four is consistent with 417 00:33:38,359 --> 00:33:45,640 most of the wiring cable articles when it comes to bending radius. In m 418 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:51,160 IS dot twenty four trade cable everything is dot twenty four when it comes to 419 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:55,319 bending radius. Ironically, a little tit bit of knowledge. There's nothing in 420 00:33:55,359 --> 00:34:01,559 the National Electrical Code about bending radius when it comes to six hundred volt conductors 421 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:05,359 or a thousand or less. To be honest with you, you're going to 422 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:08,360 have to seek the manufacturer's guidance when it comes to single insulated conductors on what 423 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:13,239 you can bend in what you can't, and most manufacturers will give you some 424 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:15,719 guidelines. They're only recommendations with their guidelines. Now, when you're over a 425 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:22,000 thousand volts, then the NEC does give you some bending radius rules. Maintained 426 00:34:22,119 --> 00:34:25,800 bending radius rules for conductors, right, but really not for a thousand volts 427 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:30,519 or less. So you just be careful. If you've been a conductor too 428 00:34:30,519 --> 00:34:34,519 tight, then you'll notice on the backside, if it's color conductor, it'll 429 00:34:34,519 --> 00:34:38,039 start to opaque. And that is the elongating out the insulating material, which 430 00:34:38,079 --> 00:34:43,119 is weakening and thinning. That insulated material kind of defeats the purpose of it. 431 00:34:43,719 --> 00:34:46,159 On the inside of it, it creates what's called a calipillar, and 432 00:34:46,199 --> 00:34:50,760 that caterpillar could split right down the middle now, exposing the copper core, 433 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:53,960 and that's a problem as well. The whole purpose of the insulation is to 434 00:34:54,000 --> 00:35:00,440 help with the heat as the conductors are currents passing through the actual conduct so 435 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:05,880 and of course it also keeps it from touching components that are not to be 436 00:35:06,280 --> 00:35:08,639 in contact with conductive surfaces, which can create a hazard. So you want 437 00:35:08,639 --> 00:35:14,639 to protect the insulation. Now when it comes to a cable, bending it 438 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:19,199 too tight can damage it not only the inner but the outer and cause the 439 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:22,519 convolutions to pop loose. And that's that's going to be a problem. Now 440 00:35:22,840 --> 00:35:27,559 you'll look and see that at three thirty twenty four, I told you earlier 441 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:32,360 that there is smooth sheathing, and then there's interlocked, and of course there's 442 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:39,679 a corrugated sheathing. Again, just to rehash it, smooth sheathing is is 443 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:45,280 like a continuous extrusion kind of looks like if you've never seen it, kind 444 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:49,039 of maybe a little like an m I. But it is does have convolutions 445 00:35:49,039 --> 00:35:53,840 and how it's extruded, and I've seen that mostly smooth I see in copper 446 00:35:53,920 --> 00:36:00,000 extrusion for a sheathing, But smooth is smooth, just like it sounds. 447 00:36:00,639 --> 00:36:06,599 Interlocked armor is what most manufacturers make. It's again continuous strip of metal that's 448 00:36:06,639 --> 00:36:12,360 actually aluminum or steel. It's actually been around the conductors, and then it 449 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:15,800 has a little beak at the end that kind of creates a little interlock to 450 00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:21,719 hold those convolutions together. And then of course corrugated is a corrugated still in 451 00:36:21,760 --> 00:36:25,679 the same nature of an interlock, but each each convolution is well and sometimes 452 00:36:27,119 --> 00:36:32,239 excuse me, sometimes referred to as CCW. Now, the bending radius is 453 00:36:32,320 --> 00:36:37,079 for smooth can be ten times, twelve times, or even fifteen times, 454 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:44,960 based on the diameter of the actual metallic sheathing. Obviously the bigger then you 455 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:46,840 know it wants to keep fifteen times it wants to. You know, you 456 00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:51,480 don't want to bend that too tight. It's very easy to damage the sheathing 457 00:36:51,519 --> 00:36:57,079 on that. Interlocked it's seven times the external diameter. That's also the same 458 00:36:57,119 --> 00:37:00,719 for corrugated. So all you do is go to the manufacturers product sheets. 459 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:06,480 They're on everybody's website, find out what the exterior od diameter is of their 460 00:37:06,599 --> 00:37:10,440 armor. Multiply that by seven, and that's going to tell you that your 461 00:37:10,519 --> 00:37:15,760 bend cannot be greater than that. It has to be at least that radius. 462 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:20,039 Okay. So thinking of a radius, we're thinking of a ball. 463 00:37:20,159 --> 00:37:24,639 The radius is from the center out, okay, circumferences around radius is from 464 00:37:24,719 --> 00:37:29,159 center out, So you're bending it around that radius. Okay. It's like 465 00:37:29,199 --> 00:37:32,760 bending it around a softball or baseball, if you will. And then of 466 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:37,760 course you have diameter, which is all the way across, okay, So 467 00:37:37,840 --> 00:37:42,039 the different dimensions that you're dealing with. But we're talking radius, okay, 468 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:46,960 and so it's it can't be more than seven times the external diameter, okay. 469 00:37:47,159 --> 00:37:52,119 And it says right up in the beginning of three thirty twenty four it 470 00:37:52,199 --> 00:37:54,719 says bins of mc cables shall be so made that the cable will not be 471 00:37:54,880 --> 00:37:59,840 damaged. Okay, so that's the first part. If it's obvious damage to 472 00:38:00,039 --> 00:38:01,679 it, that's a problem. In your HJ is going to call out three 473 00:38:01,719 --> 00:38:06,760 thirty dot twenty four. Now it says the radius of the curve on the 474 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:12,840 inter Okay, the inner part that is to not be less than required in 475 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:16,039 three thirty twenty four eight through c in course smooth could be ten, twelve 476 00:38:16,159 --> 00:38:22,199 or fifteen times, but interlocked or the core gated, it's going to be 477 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:25,679 seven times. Now if you have shielded conductors, so we have an MC 478 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:31,480 cable within it's shielded conductors, then it's twelve times the overall diameter of one 479 00:38:31,559 --> 00:38:37,599 of the individual conductors or seven times the overall diameter. So again, depending 480 00:38:37,639 --> 00:38:40,039 on the size you have, you may be using the individual conductor or you 481 00:38:40,119 --> 00:38:45,719 might be able to using the overall diameter of the multi conductor cable. The 482 00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:50,639 fact is you're going to use the value twelve times whichever is greater. So 483 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:53,639 if the value ends up being greater measuring for the individual conductor than it is 484 00:38:53,679 --> 00:38:59,440 for the overall diameter of the multi conductor cable, then you're going to use 485 00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:04,639 whichever is greater In most cases, if you have shielded MC, that's where 486 00:39:04,679 --> 00:39:07,440 you have the MC and inside that you have a usually what is a polyfoil 487 00:39:07,559 --> 00:39:13,639 shield. Chances are you going to use the diameter of the whole assembly, 488 00:39:14,039 --> 00:39:17,880 right, You're going to use the overall diameter of the multi conductor cable rather 489 00:39:19,320 --> 00:39:22,920 than any individual conductor. So then it's gonna be just seven times just like 490 00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:28,840 you would with interlocked and that's going to be maintained. When it comes to 491 00:39:29,039 --> 00:39:34,639 securing and supporting three thirty thirty, we have a general we have secured and 492 00:39:34,639 --> 00:39:37,639 we have supporting when we have unsupported cable. Now, the general rule is 493 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:43,480 MC cable should be supported and secured by Staples. Yep, it's just regular 494 00:39:43,519 --> 00:39:49,280 Staples cable ties listed and identified for securement and supporting. You know, I 495 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:52,280 don't know why the hell you would have a cable tie if it wasn't for 496 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:57,000 securing and supporting. I mean, that's the whole damn purpose of a cable 497 00:39:57,039 --> 00:40:00,679 tie. So I assume that most of the cable ties you buy, especially 498 00:40:00,679 --> 00:40:05,480 if you're buying it from supply house, which are probably way overpriced, then 499 00:40:05,599 --> 00:40:07,880 they're going to be okay, and they're going to be listed for securing its 500 00:40:07,880 --> 00:40:14,079 supporting. It also says straps, hangers or similar fittings. What's a similar 501 00:40:14,079 --> 00:40:20,719 fitting something that is similar to one of these that we just mentioned, same 502 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:23,119 kind of function, same intent. But it also goes on to say or 503 00:40:23,320 --> 00:40:29,280 other approved means designed and installed, so it is not the damage the cables. 504 00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:32,800 So this allows for introduction of other products, other different things that have 505 00:40:32,840 --> 00:40:36,519 come out on the market. And as long as you can present to the 506 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:43,679 HJ something from the manufacturer, they are the ones that approve it okay. 507 00:40:44,360 --> 00:40:49,280 So if they're okay with it, then okay, you can use it. 508 00:40:50,119 --> 00:40:55,840 There's companies racketeer different things like that that make other products that are similar to 509 00:40:55,960 --> 00:41:00,639 maybe the hangers and straps, whatever their own flavor on it things, and 510 00:41:00,639 --> 00:41:05,320 they're utilizing these allowances and the approval means. Again, if they designed it, 511 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:07,760 they market it, and you follow the instructions and it's not going to 512 00:41:07,880 --> 00:41:12,800 damage the cable. I don't have any problem with it. Again, it's 513 00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:16,079 all about supporting and securing him, and that's the key. One thing it 514 00:41:16,159 --> 00:41:20,480 was added for clarity in the twenty twenty three edition of the National Electrical Code 515 00:41:20,559 --> 00:41:27,519 was that MC cable fittings that's the connector at the end shall be permitted as 516 00:41:27,559 --> 00:41:32,480 a meat as a cable support. So if you're going from a box down 517 00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:36,519 to a luminaire and you have let's say allows you to go six feet, 518 00:41:36,639 --> 00:41:42,320 let's just say then from the last support it allows you to go six feet, 519 00:41:42,360 --> 00:41:46,280 Well, that cable fitting is considered as far as it code's concerned, 520 00:41:46,559 --> 00:41:52,840 a support. So if you're going up to six feet for example of let's 521 00:41:52,840 --> 00:42:00,920 say unsupported cable, then it's supported at the box because of that fitting. 522 00:42:00,039 --> 00:42:05,199 And that was actually added for clarity in the twenty twenty three edition of the 523 00:42:05,280 --> 00:42:09,199 National Electrical Code. Okay, now let's talk a little bit about securing and 524 00:42:09,239 --> 00:42:16,719 supporting of MC cable Securing unless otherwise permitted in this code, cable shall be 525 00:42:16,840 --> 00:42:22,559 secured at intervals not exceeding six feet. Okay, So that's your general So 526 00:42:22,840 --> 00:42:29,639 you're going to be securing it at intervals of every six feet along its run. 527 00:42:29,719 --> 00:42:35,239 Okay. Now, interesting it says cables containing four or fewer check us 528 00:42:35,239 --> 00:42:37,280 out. A lot of people don't know this. Cables that are four or 529 00:42:37,320 --> 00:42:42,920 fewer conductors size no larger than ten Okay, So if they're not longer, 530 00:42:43,119 --> 00:42:47,599 not they're not bigger than ten. So you have a you know ten, 531 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:54,480 three, ten, four, yeah, ten, two, twelve, three, 532 00:42:54,639 --> 00:42:58,400 twelve two, all those under ten, okay, and it's got to 533 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:04,440 have four or fewer conducts, right, shall be secured within twelve inches of 534 00:43:04,440 --> 00:43:13,159 every box, cabinet fitting, or other cable termination. So wherever you terminate 535 00:43:13,400 --> 00:43:17,239 that cable, okay, So you're gonna have to have a you know, 536 00:43:17,559 --> 00:43:23,280 you're gonna be securing it within twelve inches. Now, it says in vertical 537 00:43:23,360 --> 00:43:30,199 installations listed cables with ungrounded conductors of two fifty kcy mill and larger shall be 538 00:43:30,199 --> 00:43:36,360 permitted to be secured at infos not exceeding ten feet. So this is vertical 539 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:40,199 running up because typically between floors it's ten foot spanning and as long as it's 540 00:43:40,320 --> 00:43:45,800 two fifty kcmil. Now that's kind of ironic to most people because the bigger 541 00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:47,639 the cables, the more the weight you're running it vertical, you have a 542 00:43:47,639 --> 00:43:52,480 bigger, great, bigger risk of slippage of those conductors. But remember, 543 00:43:53,039 --> 00:44:00,480 securing the cable really is irrelevant to the conductors inside of it. So unless 544 00:44:00,480 --> 00:44:02,760 you have a product that's designed for those conductors not to slip, and normal 545 00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:07,400 MC cable has to go through a pullout test, so it shouldn't slip if 546 00:44:07,400 --> 00:44:12,719 the convolutions are compressed onto the conductors like they're supposed to be. Sometimes it 547 00:44:12,719 --> 00:44:17,000 can get a little loosey goosey, but it's supposed to be in a situation 548 00:44:17,039 --> 00:44:21,840 where the normal changes of direction in the run of an MC is going to 549 00:44:21,880 --> 00:44:24,679 add enough frictions so those conductors do not slip. If you're running a pure 550 00:44:25,199 --> 00:44:30,800 vertical run from a box to a box and it's extended run, say one 551 00:44:30,280 --> 00:44:35,639 hundred and fifty feet, then be careful. You have to use a product 552 00:44:35,679 --> 00:44:39,920 that will secure those conductors inside or put some offsets in it in order to 553 00:44:39,960 --> 00:44:46,519 keep from slippage taking place. Sometimes that's easier said than done. But people 554 00:44:46,639 --> 00:44:51,480 like to refer back to the rules in three hundred nineteen. I think for 555 00:44:51,920 --> 00:44:57,280 supporting conductors that only applies to race ways. That doesn't apply to cables. 556 00:44:57,360 --> 00:45:01,280 So again we might tell you to follow that and where to put your off 557 00:45:01,320 --> 00:45:07,719 sets, but that's not even really applicable to the MC cable, to be 558 00:45:07,760 --> 00:45:12,639 honest with you, let's see. Oh, the other thing that people ask 559 00:45:12,719 --> 00:45:15,280 me with this question is and the obvious is okay, Well, I understand 560 00:45:15,320 --> 00:45:21,679 if it's cables containing four or fewer conductors and they're not larger than ten, 561 00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:28,079 that they have to be secured within twelve inches. Well what if it's more 562 00:45:28,239 --> 00:45:31,079 What if it's larger than that, or it's a ten with more than four, 563 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:35,960 then you can go all the way up to six feet. You don't 564 00:45:36,000 --> 00:45:38,679 have to do it within twelve inches. Okay, makes sense because the general 565 00:45:38,760 --> 00:45:43,760 rule is to secure at every six feet. Okay, this is only talking 566 00:45:43,800 --> 00:45:47,360 about securing a cable within twelve inches of a box. Win it's four or 567 00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:52,920 fewer conductors and they're no larger than ten, awg, Okay, that's when 568 00:45:52,960 --> 00:45:57,480 you have to do it within twelve inches. So quite interesting that people don't 569 00:45:57,519 --> 00:46:01,000 know that when they're doing feeder applications and they're running MC cable and they are 570 00:46:01,079 --> 00:46:07,000 told to secure that within twelve inches and they not necessarily have to, although 571 00:46:07,000 --> 00:46:10,480 it, you know, probably easier to get all your folks on the same 572 00:46:10,559 --> 00:46:14,519 page. Anyway, you're gonna do it within twelve inches, but most people 573 00:46:14,559 --> 00:46:15,760 don't know that you could go up to six feet on that. So if 574 00:46:15,800 --> 00:46:20,360 an inspector fails you because you're not secured within twelve inches, and it's a 575 00:46:20,519 --> 00:46:23,880 larger MC than you're like, dude, I can go up to six feet. 576 00:46:24,119 --> 00:46:30,000 These aren't four or fewer conductors sized ten and less. So just just 577 00:46:30,079 --> 00:46:34,320 so you know, still gotta put a strap in your ownwhere and so, 578 00:46:34,480 --> 00:46:36,840 hey, you want to stop an argument, put it at twelve inches and 579 00:46:36,840 --> 00:46:38,440 nobody's going to argue. But I just want you to know the rules there. 580 00:46:39,159 --> 00:46:43,119 Now, what about that was securing. Now, let's talk about supporting. 581 00:46:44,519 --> 00:46:47,559 Now. It says unless otherwise permitted in this code, and it will 582 00:46:47,599 --> 00:46:52,559 give you when it says unless otherwise permitted, you're gonna see in a second, 583 00:46:52,599 --> 00:46:57,039 we have what's called unsupported cables. So that's a that's an area where 584 00:46:57,039 --> 00:47:02,679 it's otherwise permitted. It's it's given you some allowances to have unsupported cable. 585 00:47:04,119 --> 00:47:06,880 So, but the general rules are what we're talking about when it comes to 586 00:47:06,960 --> 00:47:10,559 supporting, unless otherwise forbidden in this code, cable shall be supported at intervals 587 00:47:10,679 --> 00:47:16,639 not exceeding six feet, so every six feet, okay. It also goes 588 00:47:16,679 --> 00:47:21,679 on to say horizontal runs of MC cable like running through framing members, things 589 00:47:21,719 --> 00:47:24,480 like that, running it through joys, things like that. It says installed 590 00:47:24,480 --> 00:47:30,239 in wood or metal framing members, or similar supporting means, like maybe across 591 00:47:30,320 --> 00:47:36,119 the let's say, webbing of the ceiling, webbing joists, or whatnot. 592 00:47:37,119 --> 00:47:44,400 It says that running across that shall be considered supported and secured means you don't 593 00:47:44,400 --> 00:47:46,079 have to do any it's if you're running it through board holes or you're running 594 00:47:46,079 --> 00:47:52,639 through metal framing members, it's considered supported and while it's not physically secured, 595 00:47:52,119 --> 00:47:57,599 it's not going anywhere. So it's considered to be secured as well, as 596 00:47:57,679 --> 00:48:00,519 long as he supports don't exceed six feet. So if they're if they're eighteen 597 00:48:00,559 --> 00:48:05,159 inches on center, no big deal. Twenty four inches on center, no 598 00:48:05,199 --> 00:48:08,599 big deal. But if you have running through framing members or running through joists 599 00:48:08,599 --> 00:48:14,000 and the ceiling or the eye beams metal beams, and you have a span 600 00:48:14,159 --> 00:48:17,000 that's more than sea six feet, then you have a problem, right, 601 00:48:17,079 --> 00:48:21,199 But if the spans aren't more than six feet, then they're considered secured and 602 00:48:21,239 --> 00:48:25,800 supported. You don't have to do anything different to that. Let's see now, 603 00:48:25,920 --> 00:48:37,480 let's go, let's see here. Unsupported cables D. It says type 604 00:48:37,599 --> 00:48:45,920 MC cable shall be permitted to be unsupported and unsecured where the cable, where 605 00:48:45,920 --> 00:48:51,159 the cable complies with any of the following. All right, we're we got 606 00:48:51,199 --> 00:48:54,199 three conditions that we don't have to support and secure it. Well. The 607 00:48:54,199 --> 00:49:01,320 first one is if you're gonna fish this cable between access points through concealed spaces 608 00:49:01,519 --> 00:49:06,960 in finished buildings or structures, and supporting is impracticals. So this is not 609 00:49:07,079 --> 00:49:10,440 a new installation application. This is remodel retrofit. Whatever you're trying to fish 610 00:49:10,480 --> 00:49:14,559 it in. It just doesn't make sense. You can get from point A 611 00:49:14,639 --> 00:49:17,360 to p A to B through these voids, then this is going to allow 612 00:49:17,360 --> 00:49:21,079 you to do it. Now, here's what's interesting. And I got to 613 00:49:21,119 --> 00:49:22,880 ask this question, and I, you know, I really know how to 614 00:49:22,880 --> 00:49:28,480 answer it because the manufacturers don't test for this. How far can you do 615 00:49:28,519 --> 00:49:30,400 that? And is there a size limitation? What if I want to run, 616 00:49:30,679 --> 00:49:37,559 of shit, I don't know to fifty kc MC through a void? 617 00:49:37,360 --> 00:49:42,960 How far can I run this fished MC cable from point A to point B 618 00:49:43,119 --> 00:49:47,800 before I have a to worry about the weight and the convolutions pulling loose or 619 00:49:47,840 --> 00:49:55,320 whatever. The code doesn't say it really doesn't give us that distance. Okay, 620 00:49:57,440 --> 00:50:02,360 so common sense has to be your here. This is clearly a retro 621 00:50:02,760 --> 00:50:07,719 fit at kind of application. Not I would think not in a new construction, 622 00:50:07,760 --> 00:50:10,440 because to be a finished building or structure, I would think it already 623 00:50:10,440 --> 00:50:14,400 has to be commissioned. CEO is shoot and this is just somebody coming back 624 00:50:14,400 --> 00:50:15,519 trying to add and this is an easy way to get from point eight to 625 00:50:15,559 --> 00:50:22,519 point big A. D two says is not more than six feet in length 626 00:50:22,599 --> 00:50:25,519 from the last point of cable support. And remember we talked about that was 627 00:50:25,559 --> 00:50:30,480 the reason I had to make it clear that the fitting can be considered a 628 00:50:30,599 --> 00:50:35,039 support. Okay, So it says not more than six feet in length from 629 00:50:35,079 --> 00:50:38,920 the last point of cable support the clamp to the point of connection to a 630 00:50:39,039 --> 00:50:45,000 LUMINAIIR or other electrical equipment. Okay, so it's not just luminaires. Might 631 00:50:45,039 --> 00:50:50,000 have another piece of electrical equipment in the space where you're going to be doing 632 00:50:50,000 --> 00:50:54,400 this from and the cable end point of connection are within. An accessible ceiling 633 00:50:54,760 --> 00:50:59,760 doesn't have to be readily accessible, just has to be an accessible ceiling, 634 00:51:00,360 --> 00:51:04,480 right it's above a suspended ceiling, for example, is an accessible ceiling? 635 00:51:05,559 --> 00:51:10,320 I know? Number three D three says is type MC of the is type 636 00:51:10,400 --> 00:51:16,800 MC of the interlocked armor type in length not exceeding three feet from the last 637 00:51:16,880 --> 00:51:22,239 point where it is securely fastened that would be at the connector at the box, 638 00:51:22,920 --> 00:51:28,960 and is used to connect equipment where flexibility is necessary to minimize the transmission 639 00:51:29,000 --> 00:51:35,239 of vibration from equipment, or to provide flexibility for equipment that requires moving after 640 00:51:35,320 --> 00:51:38,719 installation. So you might have a motor application or something like that piece of 641 00:51:38,760 --> 00:51:46,000 equipment that needs that flexibility, or maybe it's gonna creates a vibration and whatnot 642 00:51:46,039 --> 00:51:50,920 and you need that. Well here you as long as it's of the interlocks 643 00:51:50,960 --> 00:51:54,400 type right, and it's not longer than three feet, then it can go 644 00:51:54,519 --> 00:51:59,920 unsupported from the connector, which is considered a support to the piece of equipment, 645 00:52:00,119 --> 00:52:06,800 and that would be perfectly acceptable. Okay, all right, we're gonna 646 00:52:06,840 --> 00:52:12,079 jump to to H three thirty dot eighty and we're almost done. And for 647 00:52:12,079 --> 00:52:14,800 those that are over were watching on TikTok, if you had any questions and 648 00:52:14,840 --> 00:52:19,119 you're posting them in there, I will answer your questions after this session. 649 00:52:19,559 --> 00:52:23,239 So again, for those out there that are following along, this is something 650 00:52:23,280 --> 00:52:27,559 new we're doing and we will answer those questions on TikTok. So post your 651 00:52:27,599 --> 00:52:30,840 questions. I will do my best to answer them after our our podcast. 652 00:52:31,920 --> 00:52:37,079 All right, so three thirty dot eighty ampacity. The ampacity of mc cable 653 00:52:37,159 --> 00:52:43,280 shall be determined in accordance three ten dot fourteen or three fifteen dot sixties. 654 00:52:43,320 --> 00:52:45,639 So three ten dot fourteen's gonna be a thousand volts or least three fifteen's gonna 655 00:52:45,639 --> 00:52:52,039 be over a thousand volts for fourteen and larger conductors, and in accordance with 656 00:52:52,159 --> 00:52:57,199 table four zero two dot five for eighteen and sixteen. So that is going 657 00:52:57,280 --> 00:53:04,280 to be these smaller gauges and dealing with like chords and things like that. 658 00:53:05,679 --> 00:53:10,400 Let's see here, and I don't know that that table is for fixture wire, 659 00:53:10,719 --> 00:53:15,360 by the way, so there's an ampacity associated with that, and that's 660 00:53:15,360 --> 00:53:16,920 what you know. That's just giving you a reference of where you need to 661 00:53:16,960 --> 00:53:22,320 go if you're looking for ampacities for those type of conductors. Most of the 662 00:53:23,280 --> 00:53:29,119 eighteens and things like that that are used in like an mc PCs are you 663 00:53:29,159 --> 00:53:31,960 know, the ampacities are pretty low anyway, they're being used for zero to 664 00:53:31,960 --> 00:53:38,480 ten vote control, and so that's why they're in there, so you're not 665 00:53:38,599 --> 00:53:43,360 really any issue with ampacities for most of the uses for that type of product. 666 00:53:43,400 --> 00:53:46,440 That's called an MCPCS by the way, Uh some companies call it MC 667 00:53:46,639 --> 00:53:54,480 luminary. We call it a donc are. We call that MC LED And 668 00:53:54,599 --> 00:54:00,840 you know what I think. I think South Wire calls it MC duo. 669 00:54:00,440 --> 00:54:05,679 Okay, so all of the same thing. But they're gonna have zero to 670 00:54:05,719 --> 00:54:08,000 ten volt. That's just for the control aspect of it, kind of utilizing 671 00:54:08,039 --> 00:54:12,199 the allowances in seven twenty five to be able to do that, because typically 672 00:54:12,239 --> 00:54:15,800 you can't have class two class three in the same raceway with a power and 673 00:54:16,079 --> 00:54:22,559 power so you have to have a separation. Well, this exploits that by 674 00:54:22,639 --> 00:54:30,760 using MC that complies with seven twenty five because it has thirty mills of sheathing 675 00:54:30,840 --> 00:54:37,840 wrapped around those those zero to ten vault conductors, and so that creates a 676 00:54:37,880 --> 00:54:39,639 separation and that's how we you know, that's how you get around that. 677 00:54:43,039 --> 00:54:47,079 Let's see here. Okay, so MC cable and a cable tray three thirty 678 00:54:47,119 --> 00:54:50,840 dot eighty again is going to send you up to three ninety two dot eighty, 679 00:54:51,280 --> 00:54:53,239 no problem there. Ultimately it's still probably going to send you to three 680 00:54:53,280 --> 00:54:57,679 ten to sixteen anyway, but that's depending on how you install them in a 681 00:54:57,719 --> 00:55:04,920 cable tray. Single type MC cables we talked about earlier. It talks about 682 00:55:04,960 --> 00:55:08,599 that and tells you how you have to center them and all that type of 683 00:55:08,639 --> 00:55:15,320 thing and the configurations and whatnot, and give you some guidance on that and 684 00:55:17,199 --> 00:55:23,360 basic thing I can tell you about ampacities. So the impacity of MC cable. 685 00:55:23,519 --> 00:55:29,440 The inner conductors are typically going to be rated ninety degree from all manufacturers 686 00:55:29,440 --> 00:55:32,960 that make MC cable. It's ninety degree, but you really can't use the 687 00:55:34,039 --> 00:55:37,840 ninety unless all terminals are all equipment it's rated ninety, So we end up 688 00:55:37,880 --> 00:55:44,119 being stuck with the seventy five rated insulation. Now people will say, well 689 00:55:44,199 --> 00:55:47,079 does it one ten, fourteen c one say that it's one hundred amps are 690 00:55:47,199 --> 00:55:52,920 less or fourteen through one that it's got to be under the sixty degree. 691 00:55:53,039 --> 00:55:57,960 That's true. So if I was using that product and I had a weakest 692 00:55:58,000 --> 00:56:01,920 link like a sixty degree rated terminal or sixty degree rated terminal on a piece 693 00:56:01,920 --> 00:56:07,119 of equipment, then that's the weakest link theory. Now, since those conductors 694 00:56:07,159 --> 00:56:14,880 inside of it are actually rated per seventy five really ninety, but since we're 695 00:56:14,880 --> 00:56:17,480 going to realize that we can't use ninety except for adjustment and corrective purposes, 696 00:56:19,000 --> 00:56:22,440 then typically it's gonna be seventy five. Because if you look at one ten 697 00:56:23,159 --> 00:56:29,400 dot fourteen C one, I can't remember if it's C one three or whichever 698 00:56:29,400 --> 00:56:30,880 it is, and I don't feel like going to looking, but that's gonna 699 00:56:30,920 --> 00:56:36,519 tell me. Hey, if the insulation is rated higher than sixty, if 700 00:56:36,519 --> 00:56:39,679 it's at least seventy five, then I can use it at the seventy five 701 00:56:40,960 --> 00:56:45,639 capacities. Again, considering that we have to worry about the terminals and what 702 00:56:45,719 --> 00:56:51,280 their ratings are, but typically the breaker is going to be at least seventy 703 00:56:51,280 --> 00:56:54,639 five, and typically to day the lug on the equipment's going to be seventy 704 00:56:54,639 --> 00:56:58,920 five. So even if it was under one hundred amps, I'm still gonna 705 00:56:58,920 --> 00:57:04,760 be able to use the seventy five five in mccable because of the allowances in 706 00:57:04,840 --> 00:57:09,079 one ten fourteen, C one three or C one A three shiit I can't 707 00:57:09,119 --> 00:57:15,039 remember, but it's it's in there, and go look at it, and 708 00:57:15,039 --> 00:57:19,880 then it's okay to use it at the seventy five it's all about the weakest 709 00:57:19,920 --> 00:57:22,239 link. And we have a video on that called de Rating Demystified. If 710 00:57:22,239 --> 00:57:25,440 you have not watched that video yet, we have a three point zero edition 711 00:57:25,519 --> 00:57:29,960 coming out in a couple of weeks. You definitely want to check that out. 712 00:57:30,000 --> 00:57:34,320 But it's still relevant in the de Rating Demystified. It's probably only available 713 00:57:34,480 --> 00:57:40,480 now over on fasttrackstube dot com. Hey, you know what fasttrackstube dot com 714 00:57:40,519 --> 00:57:46,079 is. That's our exclusive video platform where we have videos that we've all vetted 715 00:57:46,400 --> 00:57:52,079 from different educators and even myself that's available for you to watch up there. 716 00:57:52,079 --> 00:57:54,639 It's amazing deal. One hundred and twenty five dollars annually. You get unlimited 717 00:57:54,679 --> 00:58:00,480 access to it. We have blogs up there too, but you can get 718 00:58:00,519 --> 00:58:06,400 twenty five dollars off by using two five of all capitals now two five off 719 00:58:06,519 --> 00:58:10,280 at checkout, and you can get twenty five bucks off the annual subscriptions hundred 720 00:58:10,280 --> 00:58:15,840 bucks. Dude. There's a series in there for swimming pools that is worth 721 00:58:15,840 --> 00:58:20,960 the money, just that series with me and Vince Della Croach and also we 722 00:58:21,000 --> 00:58:24,079 are scheduled to do a new series for the twenty twenty three on that Here 723 00:58:24,079 --> 00:58:27,480 in a couple of months, he's coming out to the studio and we're gonna 724 00:58:27,519 --> 00:58:30,400 record it like we did. That's gonna be awesome to have him out here. 725 00:58:30,239 --> 00:58:34,440 But we're also have a grounding and bonding series in there that's like twelve 726 00:58:34,559 --> 00:58:38,360 hours long. Okay, four episodes. Look, you're gonna get your money 727 00:58:38,400 --> 00:58:44,000 back and investing in fast Tracks Tube. Trust me. It's and it's getting 728 00:58:44,039 --> 00:58:47,360 better and better. It's we're excited about that platform. Okay, enough of 729 00:58:47,400 --> 00:58:52,760 that. So if you ever wanted to know, or you ever got confused 730 00:58:52,800 --> 00:58:57,880 about the construction of a product, you can always go if withinc you can 731 00:58:57,880 --> 00:59:01,320 go to Part three tells you what conductors are in there. So the hot 732 00:59:01,320 --> 00:59:06,280 conductors, the ground of conduction equipment ground conductors. The minimum conductor sizes shall 733 00:59:06,320 --> 00:59:10,679 be fourteen gauge copper nickel. Okay, how many nickel conductors they have you 734 00:59:10,719 --> 00:59:17,199 ever seen copper nickel, nickel coded copper, and twelve awg or copper clad 735 00:59:17,199 --> 00:59:23,119 aluminum. Okay. The control and signal conductors, minimum conductor sizes shall be 736 00:59:23,320 --> 00:59:31,840 eighteen gauge and a course copper nickel, nickel coded copper and course fourteen of 737 00:59:32,239 --> 00:59:42,960 copper clad aluminum and twelve awg aluminum. Okay, And so you can go 738 00:59:43,000 --> 00:59:45,559 there and look, and it kind of tells you what to expect in your 739 00:59:45,599 --> 00:59:51,800 ear MC cable equipment ground of conductors where type MC cable is used to provide 740 00:59:52,360 --> 00:59:55,280 is used to provide an equipment grounding conductor, it shall comply with two fifty 741 00:59:55,559 --> 01:00:01,039 one eighteen eight ten and two fifty one twenty two. Of course, one 742 01:00:01,119 --> 01:00:05,239 twenty two is what we do to size the equipment ground It's based on the 743 01:00:05,239 --> 01:00:10,639 overcurrent device, right, and in of course two fifty eight eight ten is 744 01:00:10,920 --> 01:00:19,480 part of that list that tells you what qualifies as an equipment grounding conductor, 745 01:00:19,880 --> 01:00:22,840 right, what can be an equipment ground and conductor? And it kind of 746 01:00:22,880 --> 01:00:27,639 gives a list of these items. Okay. Now with mc cable, it's 747 01:00:27,679 --> 01:00:31,039 pretty clear. It says mc cable should be provided with an effective ground fault 748 01:00:31,039 --> 01:00:37,719 current path in accordance with one or more of the following, right, And 749 01:00:37,760 --> 01:00:39,800 there's three here, there's an A B in a C number one. It 750 01:00:39,840 --> 01:00:45,719 says it contains an insulated or uninsulated equipment grounding conductor in compliance with two fifty 751 01:00:45,960 --> 01:00:49,800 one eighteen one. And that's just saying it could be bare covered or insulated, 752 01:00:50,360 --> 01:00:52,159 and that can be an equipment ground, and that's what you usually see 753 01:00:52,199 --> 01:00:59,920 inside of your mc cable. The next one that says the the combined metal 754 01:01:00,119 --> 01:01:07,679 sheathing and uninsulated equipment grounding slash bonding conductor of interlocked metal tape the mc cable 755 01:01:07,719 --> 01:01:12,320 that is listed identified as an equipment ground. So that's the specialty products like 756 01:01:12,519 --> 01:01:17,800 mcap Encore was a smart ground that's a specialty product now that can only go 757 01:01:17,880 --> 01:01:22,800 up to size six conductors, whereas obviously the one with the insulated or uninsulated 758 01:01:22,800 --> 01:01:27,719 equipment ground can go up to two thousand KC mills and larger if you if 759 01:01:27,760 --> 01:01:32,119 you can get it, they'd be So this covers all of that. And 760 01:01:32,159 --> 01:01:37,360 of course the last one that says the metallic sheathing or the combined metal sheathing 761 01:01:37,519 --> 01:01:43,639 and equipment grounding conductor of the smooth and corrugated tube type mc cable that is 762 01:01:43,679 --> 01:01:50,400 listed and identified as an equipment grounding conductor. Okay, so you have just 763 01:01:50,519 --> 01:02:00,880 another allowance for a metal sheath or the combination metal sheath and equip mcgrantic conductor 764 01:02:00,960 --> 01:02:05,920 in the smooth or the corrugated so the metal sheathing in most of those products 765 01:02:06,599 --> 01:02:13,760 will also qualify as an equipment granting contorl Okay. That's most manufacturers again make 766 01:02:13,800 --> 01:02:20,119 the interlocked they don't make the smooth or cork gated. Although they're available, 767 01:02:20,320 --> 01:02:22,840 you can you can go out and get them the most certainly available in the 768 01:02:22,840 --> 01:02:28,199 market. All right, I think that's pretty much hopefully I answered all of 769 01:02:28,199 --> 01:02:32,559 your questions that you had. The only last one that probably need to cover 770 01:02:34,719 --> 01:02:39,639 is if you do have questions on UH insulations, the ratings or whatnot, 771 01:02:39,719 --> 01:02:45,000 then three thirty dot twelve talks about insulation. Three thirty one sixteen is talking 772 01:02:45,039 --> 01:02:47,719 about the sheathing, and that's where you can get kind of some additional information. 773 01:02:47,800 --> 01:02:52,440 That says metal sheathing schell be one of the following smooth metallic sheathing, 774 01:02:52,960 --> 01:03:00,199 corrugated metallic sheathing, or interlocked metal tape armor okay. And it goes want 775 01:03:00,199 --> 01:03:06,079 to tell you the metallic sheathings shall be continuous in close fitting. Says a 776 01:03:06,280 --> 01:03:12,119 non magnetic sheathing or armor shall be used on single conductor okay, so non 777 01:03:12,159 --> 01:03:17,840 magnetic aluminum. It says supplemental protection of the outer covering of corrosive resistant material 778 01:03:19,280 --> 01:03:23,920 shall be permitted and shall be required where such protection is needed. So that's 779 01:03:23,960 --> 01:03:29,119 PVC jacketed MC. So that's where you get your instructions for that. And 780 01:03:29,239 --> 01:03:32,719 at three thirty one sixteen and it says the sheathing shall not be used as 781 01:03:32,719 --> 01:03:37,639 a current care and conductor. That's a that should be a no brainer. 782 01:03:40,679 --> 01:03:46,480 And lastly, howzardous classified locations were required to be marked mc l HL being 783 01:03:46,519 --> 01:03:51,599 howzardous location, the cable shall be listed and shall be have a gas and 784 01:03:51,800 --> 01:04:00,239 vapor tight continuous corrugated metallic sheath, an overall jacket of suitable polymeric material plastic, 785 01:04:01,119 --> 01:04:06,320 and a separate equipment grunting conductor if you want to create an mc h 786 01:04:06,679 --> 01:04:13,840 L product. Okay, all right, hopefully I've answered your question on all 787 01:04:13,880 --> 01:04:17,199 the things to really know about MC cables. Obviously, if you have any 788 01:04:17,239 --> 01:04:19,880 follow up questions, you know what you can do. All you gotta do 789 01:04:19,960 --> 01:04:28,360 is go to Paul Abernati dot com and reference this episode and maybe rehash the 790 01:04:28,440 --> 01:04:30,039 question you want to ask me, because I don't go back and listen to 791 01:04:30,119 --> 01:04:34,400 episodes, and I'm a one take guy, so I don't do things multiple 792 01:04:34,400 --> 01:04:36,920 times. When I turn the MICA on, I'm just rolling. Okay, 793 01:04:38,159 --> 01:04:41,360 So if you have a question, just go to Paul Abernathy dot com and 794 01:04:41,480 --> 01:04:45,760 feel free to post it and I will answer your question either in a follow 795 01:04:45,800 --> 01:04:49,079 up email or it could be selected for an upcoming episode of Let's Ask Paul. 796 01:04:49,119 --> 01:05:05,199 Until next time, folks, stay safe, God bless Boo Boo booth 797 01:05:05,840 --> 01:05:18,960 as Boo Boo ask both. Nope,