Dressing AC cable

[flashlight]

So, forty years ago when I was 18, an older guy showed me how to dress AC cable. We call it BX around here.

Some of the old timers were still cutting it with a hacksaw. But he used a roto split tool. Made the cut, nipped the little sharp point of the metal wrapping, put in the red head, wrapped the drain wire neatly back along the grooves in the cable. You guys know the drill.

So thats how I've been doing it for forty years.

Recently another electrician told me he got flagged on inspection (in another state I should add) for nipping off the sharp point.
Says the inspector said the roto split tool was designed to cut the cable and the resulting cut should not be modified.

Due to the fact that I have seen more than a handful of shorts over the years that were caused by that sharp edge of metal, I will continue to do it as I was taught. I know around here many people do it this way, but many do not also.

Just curious how many other sparkies do this.

 

[infinity]

I see no reason why anyone would question cutting off the sharp tip left by the roto-split. Hate to see what they would say to the guy who breaks the jacket and snips the armor with diagonal pliers. :roll:

 

[flashlight]

Yeah I've seen guys do that. IMO not a good method, stresses the conductors a lot.

 

[MD84]

Yeah, I like to crack it open and snip it. Quick and easy. No lugging around that rotocontraption. I always like how smooth the jacket comes out with a couple well placed snips.

 

[flashlight]

I agree that you can get the jacket nice and smooth with the crack/snip method.

However, sometimes you have to put a really sharp bend in it to crack it which IMO is unhealthy to the conductors.

 

[peter d]

I always square the edge of the MC cable, AC cable is no longer used here unless it's modifying an older installation. In that case, I simply cut off the bonding wire.

 

[peter d]

Yeah, I like to crack it open and snip it. Quick and easy. No lugging around that rotocontraption. I always like how smooth the jacket comes out with a couple well placed snips.

You would be sent off the job or at the very least given a talking to if you were using that method on a production MC cable job in my area. There is no way that method is faster than a roto-split.

 

[MD84]

I agree that you can get the jacket nice and smooth with the crack/snip method.

However, sometimes you have to put a really sharp bend in it to crack it which IMO is unhealthy to the conductors.

Thank you. I will consider that insight. The solid wires are not quite as forgiving as stranded.

 

[MD84]

You would be sent off the job or at the very least given a talking to if you were using that method on a production MC cable job in my area. There is no way that method is faster than a roto-split.

I suppose the method we use the most becomes efficient. I am not running MC in large quantities. Perhaps if I was running more MC and I was required to use a roto split then I would become more efficient at that method.

 

[JFletcher]

First time I was using MC, I had no idea really how to cut it. I cracked it about where the conductors needed to be on OAL, then unspiralled the jacket about 10", snipped there, stuck in the red head, put it in the snap fitting.

First time I tried that with old AC, I basically created razor wire out of the metal jacket and cut the hell out of myself. :happysad:

Never heard that you cant dress the end. To me that sounds as absurd as cutting EMT and not deburring the end before attaching a fitting.

 

[GerryB]

So, forty years ago when I was 18, an older guy showed me how to dress AC cable. We call it BX around here.

Some of the old timers were still cutting it with a hacksaw. But he used a roto split tool. Made the cut, nipped the little sharp point of the metal wrapping, put in the red head, wrapped the drain wire neatly back along the grooves in the cable. You guys know the drill.

So thats how I've been doing it for forty years.

Recently another electrician told me he got flagged on inspection (in another state I should add) for nipping off the sharp point.
Says the inspector said the roto split tool was designed to cut the cable and the resulting cut should not be modified.

Due to the fact that I have seen more than a handful of shorts over the years that were caused by that sharp edge of metal, I will continue to do it as I was taught. I know around here many people do it this way, but many do not also.

Just curious how many other sparkies do this.

I am curious as to why the inspector would be watching the installation. Are you talking about a city building/electrical inspector? BTW I still use my hacksaw, mc is very easy. Wonder what this inspector might say to that.