CONDUCTORS AND COMPACT conductors

[brother]

Never noticed this before, but in the NEC 2005 annex table C8 i notice that thhn 2/0 will get 6 conductors in 2" RMC, but in table C8(A) COMPACT conductors 2/0 wil get 7 conductors in 2" RMC. Whats the real difference in compact conductors and just plain ole conductors here. ??

 

[quogueelectric]

The price of the copper.

 

[480sparky]

The price of the copper.

No, the diameter of the conductor.

Compact conductors are called that because they are compacted. In other words, smaller in diameter.

 

[infinity]

If you look at Sparky's graphic you'll see that all of the interstitial spaces between the strands have been removed by compressing the strands together. This makes the conductor compact but allows the ampacity to remain the same.

 

[480sparky]

If you look at Sparky's graphic you'll see that all of the interstitial spaces between the strands have been removed by compressing the strands together. This makes the conductor compact but allows the ampacity to remain the same.

Now there's a word I haven't heard or seen since high school.....:smile:

 

[infinity]

Now there's a word I haven't heard or seen since high school.....:smile:

It doesn't come out very often.

 

[480sparky]

It doesn't come out very often.

First time in 30 years......:grin:

 

[quogueelectric]

No, the diameter of the conductor.

Compact conductors are called that because they are compacted. In other words, smaller in diameter.

Duh are they the same price?? That is what Im talking about.

 

[480sparky]

Duh are they the same price?? That is what Im talking about.

I don't know... I've never used them. But the OP was asking about raceway fill. Money doesn't factor into it.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

The first compact strand conductors were aluminum. In many cases this permitted you to use the same size raceway for a circuit that you would use with the smaller cross sectional area copper conductors. If you did not have to increase the raceway size to get the same ampacity circuit when using aluminum, then the aluminum had an even greater economic advantage over copper.

 

[acrwc10]

The first compact strand conductors were aluminum. In many cases this permitted you to use the same size raceway for a circuit that you would use with the smaller cross sectional area copper conductors. If you did not have to increase the raceway size to get the same ampacity circuit when using aluminum, then the aluminum had an even greater economic advantage over copper.

At the price of CU over AL, it still may have a greater economic advantage. :smile: Remember the more money compressed in your wallet the less interstitial space between the dollar bills. :grin:

 

[weressl]

Duh are they the same price?? That is what Im talking about.

More expensive to manufacture.

 

[hillbilly]

I don't know... I've never used them.

I'll bet that you have if you've ever used SER cable.:smile:

steve

 

[480sparky]

I'll bet that you have if you've ever used SER cable.:smile:

steve

Maybe, but it was so long ago it may have pre-dated the common use of compact conductors.

 

[LarryFine]

I'll bet that you have if you've ever used SER cable.:smile:

Yep. Even the bare EGC is obviously made of CC's.

 

[tom baker]

interstitial

Thats a word we don't hear too much!