338.10

[ALLELECTRIC95]

Look at section 338.10 and in the 2005 book the blue section has wording as follows....

"branch circuits using service entrance cable as wiring method are permitted only if.............."

does this cable have to be copper or aluminum? or is either permitted? Any opinions??? Thanks a million!!

 

[LarryFine]

Opinion: conductor material not mentioned; either is allowed.

 

[al hildenbrand]

From the 2005 NEC Handbook 338.10(B) Commentary:

Branch circuits using service-entrance cable as a wiring method are permitted only if all circuit conductors within the cable are fully insulated according to 310.13. The equipment grounding conductor is the only conductor permitted to be bare within service-entrance cable used for branch circuits.

Commentary is explanatory, but it is not enforceable.

I can use a bare concentric conductor of aluminum or copper SE for the EGC. . .

If I want to run a neutral through the copper or aluminum cable, the neutral has to be insulated.

Again, as in this thread, there is nothing specific about aluminum that separates it from copper with respect to branch circuits for a "AC/Furnace/Range".