George's "Which Is Right" of the Day

[George Stolz]

Who's the keenest MC Cowboy? Which picture shows a violation?

 

[Sierrasparky]

Is one connector not rated for the cable.

 

[John120/240]

I say the top picture is in violation. I would pigtail both grounds plus one to the box. But I've been wrong before.

 

[Sierrasparky]

No bushing?

No Make-up

 

[George Stolz]

It's not makeup, assume I am kneeling in front of the box fixing to make it up directly.

Edit to add: Sierra, it's not Jeopardy, you don't have to phrase your answer in the form of a question.

 

[electrofelon]

what on earth is the thing spiral wrapped around each cable in the top picture? Is this HC MC?

 

[fmtjfw]

AL sheath, set screw clamp?

 

[texie]

It looks to me like the set screws on the second one are turned wrong and sticking out past the sheet rock.

 

[p real]

Picture 2 is a violation. The inner tracer wire on the hcf mc has to be spiralled as it is in pic 1. It is my understanding that the tracer ground is redundant to ensure constant grounding on the cable sheath.

 

[flatlander]

How can you tell if the tracer is not spiral ed that connector is tall.

 

[ActionDave]

I'll take Get Me Another Fitting for $500 Alex.

First picture is the violation.

 

[p real]

spiralling it is tricky. To get the mc split, antishort bushing installed, tracerwire spiral (going with the ridges on the sheath, and then put into a connector is a bit more time consuming than normal mc. the tracer wire, if properly wound around the cable to allow the connector to fit properly on it, would be visible above the connector. I have seen where guys cut them off inside the connector and it makes for a very poor mechanical connection between the connector andmc.

 

[ActionDave]

.... I have seen where guys cut them off inside the connector....

This is a problem why?

 

[p real]

I believe the tracer has to be visible to prove it is there and has not heen cut off... (which i have also seen guys do...)

 

[infinity]

On MC-ap the aluminum conductor should be cut off as it exits the armor. Nothing more is required. My 2 cents, I hate spiraling especially on AC cable, it's unnecessary and a waste of time.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I see 3 possible answers

1) the duplex connector is not rated for hospital grade. I will assume the single ones are however I have never seen that style connector.

2) the aluminum strip is twisted on the first pic and is required for hospital grade-- I never worked with hospital grade so this is a bad guess. LOL I know that with reg. mc the strip just gets cut off. I can't imagine why twisting it around the sheath is required for hospital grade

3) The single connectors are not rated as hospital grade

 

[wirebender]

From Southwire

Field Inspection Guidelines for MCAP cable
Here is a list of details to verify for when inspecting
installations of MCAP and HC MCAP cables.
? Aluminum ground conductor cut flush with armor
? MC Cable Fitting packaging marked MCI-A

 

[iwire]

From Southwire

Thank you, I went looking for that but could not find it.

 

[pjholguin]

MC does not need an anti-short bushing.

Picture 1 not supported within 12" from box termination.

spiralling it is tricky. To get the mc split, antishort bushing installed, tracerwire spiral (going with the ridges on the sheath, and then put into a connector is a bit more time consuming than normal mc. the tracer wire, if properly wound around the cable to allow the connector to fit properly on it, would be visible above the connector. I have seen where guys cut them off inside the connector and it makes for a very poor mechanical connection between the connector andmc.

 

[Jljohnson]

I'm going with pic # 2 being the violation, set screw connector and aluminum sheath do not go together. Although, it is hard to tell from the pic if these connectors are actual set screws that contact the sheath or if there is a wedge that the set screw traps against the sheath. The latter would negate my guess