DPMin
Member
- Location
- Pennsylvania
This might be an obvious question, and I'm just not creative enough to find a solution!
I need to run about 40 branch circuits (all run with type MC cable) from above a suspended ceiling into a surface mounted panel board. The ceiling is at 12 feet and the top of the panel is at 6 feet, so I have a 6 foot gap to span.
I would love to run just one 2" conduit from a box above the ceiling down into the panel, but since it would be over 24" long I would need to apply a derating factor according to 310.15(B)(3)(a). My next idea was to install a two foot metal trough between two sections of conduit so I could keep them under 24", but as I understand a trough would be considered a "metal wireway" so I would need to apply a derating fator if I had more than 30 current carrying conductors running through it (which I would) (376.22(B)).
I would really like to avoid running 40 three-quarter inch conduits down into the panel (and its a finished room so running the MC straight down isn't an option)...what is the typical solution in a situation like this? I would imagine it would be a common issue (though this is the first time I am dealing with it so may be not...)
Thanks in advance for your help!
I need to run about 40 branch circuits (all run with type MC cable) from above a suspended ceiling into a surface mounted panel board. The ceiling is at 12 feet and the top of the panel is at 6 feet, so I have a 6 foot gap to span.
I would love to run just one 2" conduit from a box above the ceiling down into the panel, but since it would be over 24" long I would need to apply a derating factor according to 310.15(B)(3)(a). My next idea was to install a two foot metal trough between two sections of conduit so I could keep them under 24", but as I understand a trough would be considered a "metal wireway" so I would need to apply a derating fator if I had more than 30 current carrying conductors running through it (which I would) (376.22(B)).
I would really like to avoid running 40 three-quarter inch conduits down into the panel (and its a finished room so running the MC straight down isn't an option)...what is the typical solution in a situation like this? I would imagine it would be a common issue (though this is the first time I am dealing with it so may be not...)
Thanks in advance for your help!