
Originally Posted by
MAC702
As both an electrician since 1998 and a weldor since childhood, I admit I am torn, and may not be presenting my case well.
I'm really trying to see IF there is a real problem with this beyond the "how dare they?" concern. I see a lot of disdain for the practice, but from us as electricians. Aside from this issue with the MC, have there been incidents? And while this MC arcing was not kosher, it also got noticed and fixed and no damage was done. There is always the possibility of something during construction causing fires or damage, but is this one of the ones that's been to blame?
I've posed the question on the forum at Miller Welding, where I've been a contributing member since its inception. My welding experiences are not usually on the kinds of jobs that posed the OP.
The cases I have worked on were where there was LFMC in part of the circuit that was carrying the welding current. In most cases it was just the LFMC and the wire in it that were damaged. In some cases, the internal EGC in the conduit also carried enough current to melt the insulation and make removal of the conductors impossible requiring conduit replacement. I don't think I have seen any issues where just the metal conduit itself was the welding current path, but I can see where it could be if someone had not tightened the couplings. Have also had to replace load cells where the load cells became part of the path because of the remote welding lead connection.
Don, Illinois
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity. Dr. Rick Rigsby
(All code citations are 2017 unless otherwise noted)
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