Above ground in conduit service entrance conductors

[fun ee]

Am I reading right that NEC 230.50 requires above ground service entrance conductors that are below 10' above grade must be SE cable. So XHHW-2 single conductor wiring in conduit is not allowed? NEC 230.50 used the word "shall be" did not use "shall be permitted", "shall be" to me doesn't give me much wriggle room.

What makes SE cable better than tray cable? What particular test does UL 854 have that delimits it from other cables.

Thanks Again

 

[Little Bill]

Am I reading right that NEC 230.50 requires above ground service entrance conductors that are below 10' above grade must be SE cable. So XHHW-2 single conductor wiring in conduit is not allowed? NEC 230.50 used the word "shall be" did not use "shall be permitted", "shall be" to me doesn't give me much wriggle room.

What makes SE cable better than tray cable? What particular test does UL 854 have that delimits it from other cables.

Thanks Again

Don't know what code cycle you are reading from but the 2011 doesn't say what you're saying. the 10' is for "other than SE cables".

(B) All Other Service-Entrance Conductors. All other
service-entrance conductors, other than underground service
entrance conductors, shall be protected against physical
damage as specified in 230.50(B)(1) or (B)(2).
(1) Service-Entrance Cables. Service-entrance cables,
where subject to physical damage, shall be protected by any
of the following:
(1) Rigid metal conduit
(2) Intermediate metal conduit
(3) Schedule 80 PVC conduit
(4) Electrical metallic tubing
(5) Reinforced thermosetting resin conduit (RTRC)
(6) Other approved means
(2) Other Than Service-Entrance Cables. Individual open
conductors and cables, other than service-entrance cables,
shall not be installed within 3.0 m (10 ft) of grade level or
where exposed to physical damage.

 

[fun ee]

Sorry I am sure I wasn't clear, so my interpretation of 230.50(B)(2) is that if you are not using SE cable then your wiring needs to be 10' above grade. So a RMC conduit with XHHW-2 single wire conductors is not acceptable if it is run attached to a building 4' above grade. Is that your understanding from reading.

 

[c gat]

Am I reading right that NEC 230.50 requires above ground service entrance conductors that are below 10' above grade must be SE cable. So XHHW-2 single conductor wiring in conduit is not allowed? NEC 230.50 used the word "shall be" did not use "shall be permitted", "shall be" to me doesn't give me much wriggle room.

What makes SE cable better than tray cable? What particular test does UL 854 have that delimits it from other cables.

Thanks Again[/QU

IMO I think your interpreting this the wrong way 230.50 b 2 says individual OPEN conductors and cables, other than SE cable shall not be installed below 10' above grade. 230.50 b 2 exception say that type MI and MC shall be permitted within 10' of grade level where not exposed to physical damage or where protected in accordance 300.5 d. If i am understanding you, your wanting to use single conductors in conduit as permitted by 230.43, that should be just fine.