Light whip bends

[hbeery10]

We installed several lights on an exposed ceiling room. The fixtures were hung from the ceiling with cables about 3' down. We wired to them with prefabed whips that were 6' long so we put a loop in the whip. The inspector said we weren't allowed to have a 360 degree bend in the whip (greenfield) and had to take out the loop. Is there any validation to that in the NEC?

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[infinity]

Technically FMC is limited to 360 degrees of bend but a whip already has the conductors in it so IMO the 360 requirement for pulling purposes should not apply.

 

[K8MHZ]

Wouldn't the whips be MC or AC and not be subject to the 360 degree limitation?

 

[K8MHZ]

Also, if the whips are conduit and not cable, to be code the conduit would have to be installed as a complete system before the conductors were pulled in.

 

[infinity]

Wouldn't the whips be MC or AC and not be subject to the 360 degree limitation?

He said "greenfield" which is FMC.

 

[hbeery10]

The whips were prefabricated so they are purchased as a complete input with conductors already pulled in.

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[K8MHZ]

He said "greenfield" which is FMC.

I have heard the term 'Greenfield' used for any type of corrugated metal wiring system.

I am having a hard time visualizing a 6' whip made from FMC with a full 360 degree circle+

Nonetheless, we ARE allowed 360 degrees, just no more than that.

 

[hbeery10]

So this is interesting. I see that mc cable had no 360 degree rule (the .26 section), presumably because the conductors are already in the sheathing. FMC does have the .26 section (348.26). I wonder if a premade whip would not fall under either section but because it's an assembly would just fall under manufacturers recommendations? Maybe I'm nit picking a bit much but I'm just trying to figure out what is really allowed and what isn't.

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[ActionDave]

Pre made whips are not covered by the NEC, the are a manufacturer item.

 

[K8MHZ]

So this is interesting. I see that mc cable had no 360 degree rule (the .26 section), presumably because the conductors are already in the sheathing. FMC does have the .26 section (348.26). I wonder if a premade whip would not fall under either section but because it's an assembly would just fall under manufacturers recommendations? Maybe I'm nit picking a bit much but I'm just trying to figure out what is really allowed and what isn't.

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You need to determine if the whips are cable or conduit. Can you post a pic?

 

[ActionDave]

You need to determine if the whips are cable or conduit. Can you post a pic?

Have you never seen a fixture whip? They are not cable or conduit.

 

[hbeery10]

Sure, I'll try to do it tomorrow.

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[K8MHZ]

Pre made whips are not covered by the NEC, the are a manufacturer item.

Can you show me that exception?

 

[hbeery10]

Have you never seen a fixture whip? They are not cable or conduit.

I would agree. There are tags that have been added to them during the assembly process.

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[K8MHZ]

Have you never seen a fixture whip? They are not cable or conduit.

They looked like MC cable to me.

If they aren't cable or conduit, what's that leave?

 

[Little Bill]

They looked like MC cable to me.

If they aren't cable or conduit, what's that leave?

A pre-made Mfg whip

 

[K8MHZ]

A pre-made Mfg whip

What chapter are they covered by?

 

[hbeery10]

This might have been what we were using:

http://www.southwire.com/products/SteelFlexFixtureWhips.htm

The standards section of the spec sheet says:

Lite-Whip is UL Listed under the Wiring Assemblies (QQYZ) category.

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[K8MHZ]

This might have been what we were using:

http://www.southwire.com/products/SteelFlexFixtureWhips.htm

The standards section of the spec sheet says:

Lite-Whip is UL Listed under the Wiring Assemblies (QQYZ) category.

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That's not FMC. Where in the NEC does it say that 'wiring assemblies' are restricted to 360 degree bends?

 

[infinity]

This might have been what we were using:

http://www.southwire.com/products/SteelFlexFixtureWhips.htm

The standards section of the spec sheet says:

Lite-Whip is UL Listed under the Wiring Assemblies (QQYZ) category.

Although the armored portion may be FMC this is not being used as a raceway it's a factory wiring assembly so no 360° limit. Why would someone call this out for a whip in the first place? :slaphead: