CFrick
Member
OK, I'm up n the Bakken again and my client is trying to run Ethernet IP from a GP Electrical Module via cable tray to various Class I Division 2 modules. Their prefered wiring method has been MC-HL cables for power and control. Labor rates are high in the Bakken and schedule time is a premium, so RMC is not their preference. Sealing is handled with TMCX fittings where required. Even the 480 volt cables in the same tray as the lower voltage control and signal cables w/o dividers should be fine since Everything is in armored cables hense effectively their own conduits.
OK so far so good. Now we come to Ethernet I/P communications for the control system:
Per NEC 501.10 (B), I can use RMC, MC/MC-HL, ITC/ITC-HL, PLTC/PLTC-ER and TC/TC-ER as wiring methods. Seems easy right? Lots of choices besides RMC. Div 2 does not need continuous armor so just pick an interlocked armored "MC Ethernet cable" right? Yeah, By NEC 330.1 definition, MC cable must be 18 AWG or larger. Hmm well that's why i can't find a 22 or 24 AWG "MC Ethernet cable". hunh.... Well there are some MC looking cables the Belden 121700R seems nice, but since it is a communication cable it is labeled as type CM and is not suitable for Class I Division 2 unless i put it in RMC per 501.10 (B). At least in the US. (It actually looks as if it might be approved for the application if I was an hour North in Canada because it has a CEC: CMG, HL rating. This is assuming that in Canadian the HL still means Hazardous Location and not "Harsh Location". Does anyone know that by the way. I am curious.) Belden does have an unarmored, unshielded Ethernet cable that is labeled PLTC that I could use but I wuld still have to run it in conduit to get from the Roxtec wall penetration to the control cabinet for support and physical protection.
Any way it looks like my only approved method here is to lay CM or PLTC in the tray and install conduit in the hazardous location buildings (This would be all new and a retrofit of well over a hundred existing ones). Unless one of my colleges here has another recomendation.
Thank you for your consideration of my post.
OK so far so good. Now we come to Ethernet I/P communications for the control system:
Per NEC 501.10 (B), I can use RMC, MC/MC-HL, ITC/ITC-HL, PLTC/PLTC-ER and TC/TC-ER as wiring methods. Seems easy right? Lots of choices besides RMC. Div 2 does not need continuous armor so just pick an interlocked armored "MC Ethernet cable" right? Yeah, By NEC 330.1 definition, MC cable must be 18 AWG or larger. Hmm well that's why i can't find a 22 or 24 AWG "MC Ethernet cable". hunh.... Well there are some MC looking cables the Belden 121700R seems nice, but since it is a communication cable it is labeled as type CM and is not suitable for Class I Division 2 unless i put it in RMC per 501.10 (B). At least in the US. (It actually looks as if it might be approved for the application if I was an hour North in Canada because it has a CEC: CMG, HL rating. This is assuming that in Canadian the HL still means Hazardous Location and not "Harsh Location". Does anyone know that by the way. I am curious.) Belden does have an unarmored, unshielded Ethernet cable that is labeled PLTC that I could use but I wuld still have to run it in conduit to get from the Roxtec wall penetration to the control cabinet for support and physical protection.
Any way it looks like my only approved method here is to lay CM or PLTC in the tray and install conduit in the hazardous location buildings (This would be all new and a retrofit of well over a hundred existing ones). Unless one of my colleges here has another recomendation.
Thank you for your consideration of my post.