Allowable Conductors for Services

[bilbo336]

I have a question about what type of cable is allowed for service entrances. Article 230.43 clearly allows type SE, USE, MC, MI and IGS cable types as acceptable wiring methods. It also allows for various conduit types as acceptable wiring methods and that's where my question begins. Can you use conduit as an allowed wiring method and use any type of wire not specifically prohibited by Article 300 for service entrances (i.e. Article 340.12 specifically prohibits Type UF cable from being used for Service Entrances) or can you only use wire that is specifically permitted by Article 300 for service entrances (i.e. Type USE and SE cable is specifically permitted to be used for service entrance cable by Article 338.10)? Any and all help is appreciated.

 

[jumper]

Most types of wire with a "w" rating are acceptable for outside services, for interior runs it also would need to be rated for the application, most wire is acceptable or dual rated now.

 

[augie47]

230.43 list a few "cable type wiring methods" such as SE, MI, IGS, MC and it also lists several raceways such as IMC, EMT, etc.
If you elect to use a raceway, you can use conductors listed in 310.13 following the limitations on each.
For instance, if your service conductors are going to be outside or in an outside raceway you would need conductors rated for wet locations such as THWN, XHHW, etc.