Machine Tool Wire

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ECTech

Member
I could not find Machine Tool Wire insulation wire in the Annex C tables for number of conductors in conduit. My question is can you run MTW in a conduit?
 

ike5547

Senior Member
Location
Chico, CA
Occupation
Electrician
I could not find Machine Tool Wire insulation wire in the Annex C tables for number of conductors in conduit. My question is can you run MTW in a conduit?


If you look at a roll of THHN you will probably notice the following designations:

THHN or THWN or MTW

Use the THHN column for pipe fill.
 

winnie

Senior Member
Location
Springfield, MA, USA
Occupation
Electric motor research
IMHO table 310.13 tells us where a particular type of wiring can be used, and lists MTW for wiring per NFPA 79 and in Machine tools per article 670.

On the other hand, the text of 310.13 (2002) says 'These conductors shall be permitted for use in any of the wiring methods recognized in Chapter 3......', and if you look at the entry for SIS wiring it says 'switchboard wiring only', but the entry for MTW doesn't say 'Machine tool wiring _only_'. So perhaps it is allowed.

One caution: in my experience, wire that says 'MTW' only is more finely stranded than wire that is rated THxx/MTW; this may cause problems with respect to the ratings of terminals.

-Jon
 

petersonra

Senior Member
Location
Northern illinois
Occupation
engineer
IMHO table 310.13 tells us where a particular type of wiring can be used, and lists MTW for wiring per NFPA 79 and in Machine tools per article 670.

On the other hand, the text of 310.13 (2002) says 'These conductors shall be permitted for use in any of the wiring methods recognized in Chapter 3......', and if you look at the entry for SIS wiring it says 'switchboard wiring only', but the entry for MTW doesn't say 'Machine tool wiring _only_'. So perhaps it is allowed.

One caution: in my experience, wire that says 'MTW' only is more finely stranded than wire that is rated THxx/MTW; this may cause problems with respect to the ratings of terminals.

-Jon

MTW insulation is often thicker as well, and harder to pull.
 

TOOL_5150

Senior Member
Location
bay area, ca
MTW seems to be very "sticky" not in the litteral sence, but I was trying to pull out 3 #8's [solid] out of a 3/4 pipe and they almost didnt budge. The pipe was less than 20'

~Matt
 
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