12/3 PVC coated HCF....

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don_resqcapt19

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There would be no way to use it for Article 517 applications. The outer surface is required to be conductive and cannot be covered with PVC.
 

emahler

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There would be no way to use it for Article 517 applications. The outer surface is required to be conductive and cannot be covered with PVC.

It would still be conductive, no? The pvc would just protect it from moisture. The specific application would be a rewire of dialysis stations.
 

don_resqcapt19

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It would still be conductive, no? The pvc would just protect it from moisture. The specific application would be a rewire of dialysis stations.
No, the PVC would cover the conductive surface. The actual outer surface of the wiring method must be suitable for use as an EGC. The outer surface of a PVC coated wiring method is not suitable for use as an EGC.
 

infinity

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There would be no way to use it for Article 517 applications. The outer surface is required to be conductive and cannot be covered with PVC.


Don, where can we find that requirement in 517? Couldn't a manufacturer take HCFC and simply put it inside of a PVC jacket like parking deck MC or does the non-conductivity of the outer jacket become an issue? Seems that if the cable inside the jacket was made to HCFC standard the cable would function the same way with or without the jacket.
 

celtic

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Is this the section Don?

2005 NEC said:
517.13 Grounding of Receptacles and Fixed Electric Equipment in Patient Care Areas.
Wiring in patient care areas shall comply with 517.13(A) and 517.13(B).

(A) Wiring Methods.
All branch circuits serving patient
care areas shall be provided with a ground path for fault
current by installation in a metal raceway system, or a cable
having a metallic armor or sheath assembly. The metal
raceway system, or metallic cable armor, or sheath assembly
shall itself qualify as an equipment grounding return
path in accordance with 250.118.
 

celtic

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But wouldn't HCFC cable wrapped in a jacket satisfy that requirement?


In the '02, it seemed a bit clearer:
2002 NEC said:
517.13 Grounding of Receptacles and Fixed Electric Equipment in Patient Care Areas.
Wiring in patient care areas shall comply with 517.13(A) and (B).

(A) Wiring Methods.
All branch circuits serving patient care areas shall be provided with a ground path for fault current by installation in a metal raceway system, or a cable armor or sheath assembly. The metal raceway system, or cable armor, or sheath assembly, shall itself qualify as an equipment grounding return path in accordance with 250.118. Type AC, Type MC, Type MI cables shall have an outer metal armor or sheath that is identified as an acceptable grounding return path.
 

celtic

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yep....it would seem to me that in an HFC flavor, the outer sheathing would still be suitable as an EGC...

Wouldn't the outer sheathing now be PVC and not "an outer metal armor or sheath that is identified as an acceptable grounding return path. "?
 

emahler

Senior Member
Wouldn't the outer sheathing now be PVC and not "an outer metal armor or sheath that is identified as an acceptable grounding return path. "?

i don't see how it would be any different than PVC coated rigid....if I take HFC and dip it in PVC, is the outer armor suddenly not the same armor as it was before I dipped it?
 

don_resqcapt19

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It is my understanding that part of the reason for the sheath to be an EGC is to provide the multiple parallel paths that will result when the outer sheath is in contact with other conductive objects. If you coat the outer sheath with PVC you lose these parallel paths.
 

emahler

Senior Member
It is my understanding that part of the reason for the sheath to be an EGC is to provide the multiple parallel paths that will result when the outer sheath is in contact with other conductive objects. If you coat the outer sheath with PVC you lose these parallel paths.

don, you may be correct...the issue is that there does not seem to be a definitive answer...
 

don_resqcapt19

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The word "outer" was removed from the code section as a result of the action on proposal 15-17 (for the 2005 cycle) without any substantiation or comment. There were no comments on the ROC that addressed this issue. Maybe the intent was to permit an outer non-conductive coating, but if that is the case there should have been some substantiation to support that action. I guess that under the current code wording, I am wrong, however it is still my understanding that the intent it to require the multiple parallel paths that result when the outer covering of the wiring method it conductive.
 
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celtic

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Thanks Don...I couldn't find my ROC/s....[even my ROP/s seem to gotten "misplaced"]


i don't see how it would be any different than PVC coated rigid....if I take HFC and dip it in PVC, is the outer armor suddenly not the same armor as it was before I dipped it?

So do it in PVC coated GRC ~ :D


I can't answer the question emahler ....what we do know is the flavor of MC you desire is not available ~ maybe there isn't a strong enough demand for it?
 
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