Extend service with 250 MCM direct burial shipboard cable.

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junkhound

junkhound

Senior Member
Location
Renton, WA
Occupation
EE, power electronics specialty
Anyone ever used this for residential service? How difficult to work with? Would probably use for 400 feet for 200 A service.

Any NEC concerns? WA state.

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It is UL listed, is it a NEC recognized wiring method? I’d like to see a picture of the cable on the spool. 3c 250 would be heavy! The shipboard cable used on my navy ship and on WA state ferries is armored, looks like a braided ss hose.
 
tom baker said:
It is UL listed, is it a NEC recognized wiring method? I’d like to see a picture of the cable on the spool. 3c 250 would be heavy! The shipboard cable used on my navy ship and on WA state ferries is armored, looks like a braided ss hose.
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I read the label again and its listed as MC-HL which is a recognized method.
 
Years ago I ran into a contractor who was using some crazy expensive cable that had a teflon insulation on it. He told me he had bought it at a military surplus sale and had several skids of it left. Got it for less than the value of the copper as I recall him saying. These days I would wonder if it is a NEC recognized cable.
 
This is metal-clad cable. The CLX has a continuous extruded aluminum sheath with overall PVC jacket - suitable for direct burial. It seems like overkill for this application, but should be fine. Generally, a special saw is used to cut the armor back. Three #1 AWG ground wires in the cable.
 
electrofelon said:
I was pondering whether to ask junkhound where he got this cable from.....
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the auction site is listed at the bottom of the photo - please do not bid, I'm alreaady up a bit over open price <G>

I dont own it yet, but might be lower cost than the 5kV 800 ft poco run in 2" pvc, 2 vaults, and one transformer - price of that has DOUBLED since July!!! (thanks brandon)
 
One thing you need to verify is if the POCO will accept it, which I don't see any logical reason why not, but POCO specs can defy logic.
 
5 spools at the auction, did win one for about 5 bucks a foot. Tried to buy 2 but last minute bidding went crazy on last 4 spools.
POCO cannot use it per their rules, but it will be AFTER the meter so just NEC and WA state codes.
Probably need a separate enclosure to splice to 3/0 copper to terminate at service panel and meter, but do have some 250 MCM lugs I can add to meter and service panel. Very limited experience with 3/C 250 MCM, but figure 15 inch boxes will work if nothing else to transition to a few feet of 3/0 copper. 800 ft feed gives 6% volt drop at full 200A, but never see that much load anyway and no NEC limit on voltage drop, just the 5% recommendation.
 
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