AC cable vs. MC cable

[wayne123]

If I were to use one which one would be the best all around to keep on the truck?

 

[ryan_618]

Re: AC cable vs. MC cable

Probably MC.

 

[rcarroll]

Re: AC cable vs. MC cable

MC, it's a little easier to work with. Unless you do alot of health care facilities.

 

[mc5w]

Re: AC cable vs. MC cable

Type AC is also a pain in the rear end because the #16 aluminum ground strip has to be connected to the equipment grounding conductors and not just laid back along the cable and then depend upon cable clamps to make contact. The easiest way to do that is to go over to www.inspect-ny.com and save the web page for the alternate method of pigtailing small aluminum wires using dilicon carbide paper, penetrox(R) A, and Soctchloks(R). Even if you are certified for the Copalum(R) repair system, Copalum is not rated for #16 wire.

If I were installing type AC or MC I would only get the kind that has an insulated green copper wire inside. Ground faults heat the h#!! out of type AC that uses only the ground strip and the cable armor for the equipment ground.

Corruclad(R) brand type MC cable with a green wire inside can be used in health care facilites because the corrugated aluminum sheath is a listed grounding path. You do not have to fool around with a pesk grounding strip and you only have to clean the outside of the sheath with silicon carbide paper and treat the outside of the sheath with antioxidant. Corruclad is really easy to install and you only need to nick the sheath with a hacksaw or cable whackers and then break off the sheath.

 

[celtic]

Re: AC cable vs. MC cable

Originally posted by mc5w:
Type AC is also a pain in the rear end because the #16 aluminum ground strip has to be connected to the equipment grounding conductors and not just laid back along the cable and then depend upon cable clamps to make contact.

HUH?
Since when?

If you have the handbook...have a look at:
- 320.40
- 320.100
(I see it plain as day in the 2002 handbook)

 

[iwire]

Re: AC cable vs. MC cable

Here is the section from the handbook

The armor of Type AC cable is recognized as an equipment grounding conductor by 250.118. The required internal bonding strip can be simply cut off at the termination of the armored cable, or it can be bent back on the armor. It is not necessary to connect it to an equipment grounding terminal. It reduces the inductive reactance of the spiral armor and increases the armor's effectiveness as an equipment ground. Many installers use this strip to help prevent the insulating bushing required by 320.40 (the ?red head?) from falling out during rough wiring.

[ May 12, 2005, 01:02 AM: Message edited by: iwire ]