In what instances are redheads/anti short bushings required/not required?

Status
Not open for further replies.
quogueelectric

quogueelectric

Senior Member
Location
new york
I had an inspector today who was particularly adamant to see all redheads installed and I thought I had seen somewhere that they are sometimes not need. It was not my job to engage in conversation with him but he started a conversation with me looking for his other contact person. What was that line about mud wrestling again??
 
iwire said:
AC cable requires them ,..MC does not
Click to expand...

You may get a lot of answers but the truth is, AC requires them MC,..does not.

Roger
 
its still a good practice to use them in my opinion. what does the UL white book say about MC connectors and duplex connectors? i still use redheads even if i use an appropriate fitting. just a habit
 
Thanks it is crystal clear now. I would like to figure a way to present this to him tactfully without getting fired for butting in where it wasnt any of my buisness. He was on a mission and I am sure with good intentions However.......
 
frizbeedog said:
I get that part. But why?
Click to expand...

For myself that is more of a 'why not?'

Cheap insurance against shorts. There are some nice bushed MC connectors that I would feel fine without red heads but usually we get low end fittings so I go with the red heads.
 
quogueelectric said:
Thanks it is crystal clear now. I would like to figure a way to present this to him tactfully without getting fired for butting in where it wasnt any of my buisness. He was on a mission and I am sure with good intentions However.......
Click to expand...

Print the bulletin and hand it to him tell him it is for informational purposes ,..tell him

" not looking to put a dog in the fight ,.. dude the world is changing we got to go along man ,..you know what I'm saying ,...dog??"

Cause,.. Lord help him if he runs into that Larry guy:grin:
 
iwire said:
For myself that is more of a 'why not?'

Cheap insurance against shorts. There are some nice bushed MC connectors that I would feel fine without red heads but usually we get low end fittings so I go with the red heads.
Click to expand...

I use them too....habit.

I think it's funny, not required, but every new roll of MC off the shelf has a bag of anti shorts attached.

Are they trying to tell me something?
 
Friz, they tried to not attach that bag ,..but us grey hairs or no hairs wigged out so they reluctantly ,.as they do cost money,.. attach them..
 
frizbeedog said:
Are they trying to tell me something?
Click to expand...

Who is they? :grin:

If they are the manufacturers then NEMA is their mouth piece and it was NEMA that put out the document saying they are not needed.

Check out the link.
 
This article identifies it as a cost saving feature,.. could print this too

http://www.edi-nc.com/edi/featured/SouthwireMCAP.asp



Quote:

As an alternative to conventional AC cable, MCAP cable yields significant benefits. To begin with, it reduces termination steps, compared to AC.

? More conductors than AC
Types AC and AC cables for health care facilities are limited to four current-carrying conductors. MCAP and HCF MCAP cables have no limits on the number of conductors in a cable. That means you may see multiple neutrals and home run cables where MCAP cable is used, even in health care facilities.
? Equipment grounding conductor capacity
The armor of MCAP cable delivers 350 percent more effective ground-fault current path capacity than AC. This is based on the UL maximum permitted armor resistance for MC and AC cables. With the addition of a green insulated grounding conductor, HCF MCAP cable meets NEC 517.13 requirements for health care facilities.

? No bushings, less support than AC
Because MCAPP and HCF MCAP cables are Type MC products, they require no anti-short bushings where the armor has been cut. For more information regarding the use of anti-short bushings, refer to NEMA?s Engineering Bulletin No. 90, ?Use of Anti-Short Bushings for Terminating Type MC Cable? (available at www.NEMA.org). In addition, they require less securing and supporting than Type AC cables. Like
conventional MC, MCAP and HCF MCAP cables need support only every six feet, compared with 4.5 feet for the AC constructions.

First Interlocked Armor Type MC Cable for Health Care Facilities
HCF MCAP cable is the first interlocked armor MC cable that meets NEC 517.13 requirements for redundant equipment grounding conductor paths in health care facilities, and, as noted above, HCF MCAP cable has a 350 percent better ground-fault current path in the armor than the armor of AC cable suitable for use in health care facilities. Figure 5 shows a comparison of HCF MCAP cable with AC cable suitable for use in health care facilities.
 
M. D. said:
Friz, they tried to not attach that bag ,..but us grey hairs or no hairs wigged out so they reluctantly ,.as they do cost money,.. attach them..
Click to expand...

Thanks. :smile:

Sometimes I see guys using the "bend and cut with dykes (dikes?) method" to remove the armor. I hate that.

....First, do no harm. Some profession's motto, but I forget which.
 
The bottom line on this issue is that AC cable requires them ,..MC does not.

It's installer's choice to use them on MC. Most opt to use them. I use them on occasion...the real deciding factor for me is if they are close by or not. ;)
 
frizbeedog said:
Thanks. :smile:

Sometimes I see guys using the "bend and cut with dykes (dikes?) method" to remove the armor. I hate that.

....First, do no harm. Some profession's motto, but I forget which.
Click to expand...

This is from the NEMA document and a beter way to say it,..


The inclusion of
anti-short bushings with coils or reels of MC cable is based on historical practice relating to the
requirements of 320.40 of the NEC, which mandates the use of anti-short bushing or its
equivalent protection for Type AC Cable
Click to expand...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top