DanBaLam
Member
- Location
- Norfolk, VA
- Occupation
- Electrician
Firstly, Virginia is currently going by the 2014 NEC Code and the 2015 Building Code; and will not adapt the 2017 NEC Code and 2018 Building Codes until July of next year. Or so I've been told.
A new Inspector almost failed an in-wall residential panel change of mine today for using a 2" SER connector to bring several branch circuits into a panel. Said it's not UL Listed for that application. I was not at all sarcastic with him, but it's literally called a non-metallic sheathed cable connector.
Now, I did read through several threads and I saw that folks have described it as lazy and whatnot, but I only do that for the 120V circuits, 20A and less. Everything else goes in it's own plastic NM connectors. I do this, as a means of securing the cables and strain relief.
I always thought that the derating rules only apply on entering an enclosure with a nipple 24" or more. Shorter than that, all is well. Connectors included.
I discussed all this with the inspector and he couldn't cite me a Code reference but what he did say, is that he would accept a chase nipple (or a PVC connector) so long as the cables didn't take up more than 60% of the space. Which honestly, blew my mind even further. No securing of the cables at all, save the staples.
The more I think about it, I wondered what he would want to see coming into the back of an outdoor panel.
I really would like Code references or Code changes I've not yet learned as, of course, we should never stop learning. But this is a super common practice for residential applications in my area and have never had an issue about it until today.
Thanks for any input in advance.
A new Inspector almost failed an in-wall residential panel change of mine today for using a 2" SER connector to bring several branch circuits into a panel. Said it's not UL Listed for that application. I was not at all sarcastic with him, but it's literally called a non-metallic sheathed cable connector.
Now, I did read through several threads and I saw that folks have described it as lazy and whatnot, but I only do that for the 120V circuits, 20A and less. Everything else goes in it's own plastic NM connectors. I do this, as a means of securing the cables and strain relief.
I always thought that the derating rules only apply on entering an enclosure with a nipple 24" or more. Shorter than that, all is well. Connectors included.
I discussed all this with the inspector and he couldn't cite me a Code reference but what he did say, is that he would accept a chase nipple (or a PVC connector) so long as the cables didn't take up more than 60% of the space. Which honestly, blew my mind even further. No securing of the cables at all, save the staples.
The more I think about it, I wondered what he would want to see coming into the back of an outdoor panel.
I really would like Code references or Code changes I've not yet learned as, of course, we should never stop learning. But this is a super common practice for residential applications in my area and have never had an issue about it until today.
Thanks for any input in advance.
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