GEC allowed in FMC?

[al hildenbrand]

Yes, but cable armor is speaking of cable armor not cable. Cable in this instance is an adjective, not a noun.

And how does that change the definition of "cable"?

 

[quogueelectric]

Just run the ground externaly if that is what he wants see how he likes that look.

 

[Dan67]

Hello electrical gurus

I had a discussion recently with an inspector about the use of FMC over a GEC.
We ran a combination GEC/EGC sized to the GEC spec in EMT out of our solar inverter and bonded it at the entrance to the conduit run and transitioned from the conduit to an LB to FMC for about a 2 foot run inside a closed wall and then into the main service panel. We bonded the FMC connector with a grounding bushing in the box per GEC requirements.
The inspector said the GEC annot be in FMC even under a 6' run. is this correct? I can't find anything in the GEC section or FMC section of the code to disallow it.
thanks
K

I am looking at 348.12. Does this solarpower job have a battery room? Would this FMC be subject to physical damage?

 

[crossman]

And how does that change the definition of "cable"?

It doesn't change the definition of cable. However, 250.64 states that it is okay to have the GEC in cable armor. What we need is a definition of cable armor, not cable. Obviously the CMP feels that there is a such thing as cable armor and it is okay to install the GEC in it.

Now, if by cable armor, they are talking about the manufactured single bare wire in the armored jacket known as "armored ground" then I can accept that.

In my opinion, there is nothing philosophically wrong with placing a GEC in FMC considering it is okay to have a GEC using armored ground.

 

[solarpower]

the original post here was my first post and it's great to see the attention you guys are giving this subject, I'm glad I asked here.

to answer the post above, there are no batteries, it is a suburban grid tied system w/no battery backup.

As I'm sure you all know the JHA's interpretation of the code varies wildly from town to town and that is what we are having problems with as our company expands nationally. We are trying to just adopt the highest standards for workmanship and grounding (as it seems to be the biggest difficulty with most installs) but we are always running into someone somewere that throws out a completely new thing to fail us for that has been accepted everywhere else. We have on occasion worked with inspectors and showed them that they may have misinterpreted a section of the code but in the end it's their word that is law no matter what the intent of the code is (as we have been reminded several times!)

In short I guess we won't be able to have a single solution that works everywhere for the GEC.

 

[tom baker]

This is puzzling. 250.64 allows the installation of conductors in "cable armor". I cannot find a definition for what cable armor is. I cannot find where the term is used elsewhere in the code. I suspect that it was meant to cover FMC, Liquidtite FMC, etc., but with no definition, who knows?

I have a small length of 4 AWG with a cable armor. Its a steel cable very much like FMC. I belive it was common years ago, may still be required in some areas. Mfgs (T&B) still make fittings to terminate it, I saw a fitting on a junk table at the wholesale house and they gave it to me. Its got a clamp for the GEC and a clamp for the GECs armor.
In mid 1980s I removed some of this cable armor GEC that was installed during WWII.