Crossing Service Entrance Cable - Type SE

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darunedefig

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Location
HV, New York
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Electrician
I have never had any metallic conduit that houses feeders or branch circuits or solar DC or solar AC wire cross over a Service Entrance Cable without bending a saddle bend or using layered strut. I always try to avoid crossing the SEC. My AHJ allows SE cable from service drop to utility meter without being in rigid conduit. Some houses have the SE cable running half way around the house from the utility meter before penetrating into the building to an interior main service panel. I am on 2017 NEC, but welcome code from future editions that might shed some light on subject.

I was at a job recently where there was a gap between the SE cable and the wall that if I ran 3/4" EMT the SE cable would barely be touching the EMT. The conduit run would look really nice, but I ended up not going this route.

I know SE cable can deteriorate in time, so best practice is to avoid anything touching that cable, but is there a code in the NEC that actually prohibits conduits/cable from crossing/touching SEC?
I was looking at the code and this forum for several hours last night and didn't see a mention.
 
I know SE cable can deteriorate in time, so best practice is to avoid anything touching that cable, but is there a code in the NEC that actually prohibits conduits/cable from crossing/touching SEC?
None. It's not a concern for SE cable to touch anything or to be touched. Even without the jacket, the exposed neutral conductor strands are electrically equal to a metallic service conduit.
 
I have never had any metallic conduit that houses feeders or branch circuits or solar DC or solar AC wire cross over a Service Entrance Cable without bending a saddle bend or using layered strut. I always try to avoid crossing the SEC. My AHJ allows SE cable from service drop to utility meter without being in rigid conduit. Some houses have the SE cable running half way around the house from the utility meter before penetrating into the building to an interior main service panel. I am on 2017 NEC, but welcome code from future editions that might shed some light on subject.

I was at a job recently where there was a gap between the SE cable and the wall that if I ran 3/4" EMT the SE cable would barely be touching the EMT. The conduit run would look really nice, but I ended up not going this route.

I know SE cable can deteriorate in time, so best practice is to avoid anything touching that cable, but is there a code in the NEC that actually prohibits conduits/cable from crossing/touching SEC?
I was looking at the code and this forum for several hours last night and didn't see a mention.
I am also in the absolutely no issue camp. I know some people and places are very hand-wring-ee about SE cable, but we have it all over the place here, I use it a lot, never had a problem.
 
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