Is there something missing here?

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joe tedesco

joe tedesco

Senior Member
Location
Boston, Massachusetts
See My Bold:

300.4(F) Insulated Fittings.​
​
​
Where raceways containing ungrounded
conductors "or cables" 4 AWG or larger enter a cabinet, box
enclosure, or raceway, the conductors shall be protected by
a substantial fitting providing a smoothly rounded insulating
surface, unless the conductors are separated from the
fitting or raceway by substantial insulating material that is
securely fastened in place. ......​

 
Hey Joe, what are you doing with that gun in your hand?

IMO, I don't think that there is something missing. If the cable enters the box 1/4", then the conductors are protected. If the conductors are the only thing entering the box, then yes!

Jim
New Hampshire
 
I`ve read in this forum numerous times that 4/0 AL SER doesn`t need a plastic bushing on the NM connector.But that article directly refers to a cable IE: a cable assy or what ever you want to call it.I`ve been handed tags for just that, no bushing installed on a connector for SER.
I`ve read the argument that it is now within a raceway so it doesn`t need a bushing. But 300 .4 F only says where raceways enter a cabinet etc.....Wouldn`t a run of SER be equvilant to a raceway IE:pipe,emt ,etc.

Article 100 - Raceway - An enclosed channel of metalic or NON METALIC materials designed expressly for holding wires, cables, or buss bars.

CODE - Raceways include but are not limited to , rigid metal etc...........
 
The answer is simple, if you pull a cable into a raceway a bushing is required. If you enter a cable with a cable connector (i.e.- SEU) a bushing is not required.
 
3-34 Log #2230 NEC-P03 ​




Final Action: Reject​



(300.4(F))​

____________________________________________________________​
Submitter:


Donald A. Ganiere, Ottawa, IL​


Recommendation:​


Revise as follows:​

(F) Insulated Fittings. Where raceways or metal fittings containing ungrounded conductors 4 AWG or larger enter a cabinet, box enclosure, or raceway, the conductors shall be protected by a substantial fitting providing a smoothly rounded insulating surface, unless the conductors are separated from the fitting or raceway by substantial insulating material that is securely fastened in place.​


Substantiation:​


Under the current code rule only RMC and IMC containing ungrounded conductors require protection for those conductors, they are the only raceways that enter the enclosure. In the case of cables, ETM, or other raceways only the connector enters the enclosure. Potential for conductor damage also exists where the connectors enter the raceway and protection should be provided.​


Panel Meeting Action: Reject​


Panel Statement:
The present text ??the conductors shall be protected by a substantial fitting providing a smoothly rounded insulating surface,..? adequately addresses the submitter?s concern. In addition the substantiation is incorrect that this subsection only covers rigid metal conduit and intermediate metal conduit. It covers all raceways where 4 AWG and larger conductors enter a cabinet, box, enclosure, or raceway.​


Number Eligible to Vote: 13​

Ballot Results:
Affirmative: 13
____________________________________________________________


 
joe tedesco said:
See My Bold:​



300.4(F) Insulated Fittings.
Where raceways containing ungrounded​


conductors "or cables" 4 AWG or larger enter a cabinet, box
enclosure, or raceway, the conductors shall be protected by
a substantial fitting providing a smoothly rounded insulating
surface, unless the conductors are separated from the
fitting or raceway by substantial insulating material that is
securely fastened in place. ......​
​
​
Click to expand...


That's why my 2/3 aluminum ser going underground to my detached garage has bushings.:D
​
 
infinity said:
The answer is simple, if you pull a cable into a raceway a bushing is required. If you enter a cable with a cable connector (i.e.- SEU) a bushing is not required.
Click to expand...

Trevor read my previous post.The definition of a raceway in 100 says non metalic materials designed expresley for holding wires,cables or bussbars.Now you can interpet this as being non metallic in the scense of RNMC but it can also be interpeted as the sheathing that surrounds SER.I would agree if there was an exception that took a cable connector out of the picture,but there isn`t.

Why would a cable connector with lets say 4/0 AL SER not need a connector,but a 2 in. PVC conduit with 4/0 AL wire and an MA need one.
 
allenwayne said:
Trevor read my previous post.The definition of a raceway in 100 says non metalic materials designed expresley for holding wires,cables or bussbars.Now you can interpet this as being non metallic in the scense of RNMC but it can also be interpeted as the sheathing that surrounds SER.I would agree if there was an exception that took a cable connector out of the picture,but there isn`t.

Why would a cable connector with lets say 4/0 AL SER not need a connector,but a 2 in. PVC conduit with 4/0 AL wire and an MA need one.
Click to expand...


Regardless of how you read the definition of a raceway in Article 100, a cable isn't a raceway.

Say I have a 100' run of 2' PVC and I'm feeding the 4/0 SER through the terminal adapter at one end. There is a chance that as the 100 or so feet of cable that passes that fitting, that the outer jacket of the cable could be damaged. Sliding the connector over a few feet of cable or the cable through the connector pretty much eliminates the possibility of damage. The bushing is required on a raceway not on the connector.


300.4(F) Insulated Fittings.

Where raceways containing ungrounded conductors or cables 4 AWG or larger enter a cabinet, box enclosure, or raceway, the conductors shall be protected by a substantial fitting providing a smoothly rounded insulating
surface, unless the conductors are separated from the
fitting or raceway by substantial insulating material that is
securely fastened in place.​
Click to expand...
​
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
And the only raceways that enter the enclosure are rigid and IMC.
Don
Click to expand...

Does the word "enter" in 300.4 mean that it must physically enter the enclosure? If so, than I agree with your interpretation. However the word "enter" doesn't have to mean that the raceway goes into the enclosure in a physical sense. With a connector on a piece of EMT the raceway enters the enclosure.
 
Trevor,
Does the word "enter" in 300.4 mean that it must physically enter the enclosure?
Click to expand...
That is how the words read to me. It says "where raceways...enter enclosures". The section does not apply unless the raceway enters the enclosure and the raceway contains ungrounded conductors #4 or larger. Just another example of poor wording that makes the code section invaild. Yes, I know the intent of the section, but when the code is adopted by a unit of government it becomes law, and only the actual wording of the law can be enforced.
Don
 
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