Armored Cable inside EMT?

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barclayd

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Some 4/c #12 Armored Cable feeds surface raceway. The AC is routed up, inside a sheetrock wall to about a foot below a hard ceiling. It is then inserted in 1/2" emt which exists the wall and 45's up into the attic, where the AC is routed 'normally' to the panel. They did this 'so it would look better'. Can AC be installed in conduit?
db
 
Is this AC cable or MC cable?

MC cable is specifically permitted to be installed in any raceway. (See 330.10(A)(7)

There is nothing in 320 that specifically permits AC cable to be installed in a raceway but I also don't see anything that prohibits it either.

Keep in mind though if you install a cable into a raceway the cable can't exceed the conduit fill.

Chris
 
barclayd said:
Some 4/c #12 Armored Cable feeds surface raceway. The AC is routed up, inside a sheetrock wall to about a foot below a hard ceiling. It is then inserted in 1/2" emt which exists the wall and 45's up into the attic, where the AC is routed 'normally' to the panel. They did this 'so it would look better'. Can AC be installed in conduit?
db
Click to expand...

A chase, for protection and routing, is not the same thing as a raceway. Based on your description the AC is not actually installed in the conduit.
 
I reckon it's ok then.
When I first looked at the installation, I saw the EMT at the top, and the AC coming out the bottom - told the electrician that the transition had to be accessible. He told me about the sleeve.
thanks
db
 
cowboyjwc said:
I just had this same situation in a Wal-Mart remodel and I told them no.

The MC or AC cable is not terminated properly. 320.40 & 330.40
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320.40 uses the phrase At all points where the armor of AC cable terminates. I don't see how it applies unless the armor stops at some point. Merely passing though the EMT does not terminate the armor.
 
If it is simply passing through the EMT then I have no problem, but if the EMT is teminating in a box, as it was in my case, then mollydodger is correct that 300.18(A) would apply.
 
cowboyjwc said:
If it is simply passing through the EMT then I have no problem, but if the EMT is teminating in a box, as it was in my case, then mollydodger is correct that 300.18(A) would apply.
Click to expand...

300.18(A)
Exception: Short sections of raceways used to contain
conductors or cable assemblies for protection from physical
damage shall not be required to be installed complete
between outlet, junction, or splicing points.
Click to expand...

I would argue there is a specific exception.
 
cowboyjwc said:
If it is simply passing through the EMT then I have no problem, but if the EMT is teminating in a box, as it was in my case, then mollydodger is correct that 300.18(A) would apply.
Click to expand...

I think you are right because the MC cable is not being terminated correcly. I don't know why people do it that way when there is a change over from MC to EMT that's sold almost everywhere. I think you can get it in both set screw and compression type fitting.
 
petersonra said:
I would argue there is a specific exception.
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And that would be true if the exception was necessary, which it was not in my case (it was above a t-bar ceiling).

You can't just pull an exception out of your hat because the wording sounds right. It needs to apply to a specific application.

" I didn't have an MC connector and the exception allows me to run it through EMT so that's what I did." Didn't really happen like that, but that would sure seem like a silly converstation to have.

I will say though that in the example I stated, he did not have a good argument and you did not see the installation, so it's not really fair to argue to much about who is right or wrong.
 
growler said:
I think you are right because the MC cable is not being terminated correctly. I don't know why people do it that way when there is a change over from MC to EMT that's sold almost everywhere. I think you can get it in both set screw and compression type fitting.
Click to expand...

That's my point exactly. In fact I might have even allowed an MC / RMC coupling / EMT connector combination. :grin:
 
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