MC Cable, Conductors in conduit markings ect..

T

Therealcrt

Senior Member
Location
Kansas City
Occupation
Electrician
We ran MC cable “stabiloy” from the service disconnect into the tenant space coming into the back of a junction box and then I’m gonna pipe out of the junction box down into a panel is it code compliant to strip off the sheeting of the MC enter into the back of the junction box and have those wires long enough to go down inside of the conduit into the panel? If so, where is that code reference at and if not, where is the code reference stating that I cannot run those conductors inside of the conduit and know the conductors don’t have any markings on them.
 
The MC Feeder cables I installed had identified conductors (THHN/THWN-2). Are your conductors not identified ?
 
infinity said:
These are already installed? If so not much you can do now other than splice in the junction box.
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No, I haven’t set the junction box yet what I’m saying is that my boss said that I can come into the back of the junction box with the MC Stallo and take those conductors that are unidentified within that MC cable and take them straight down the conduit into the panel without making a splice
 
Therealcrt said:
No, I haven’t set the junction box yet what I’m saying is that my boss said that I can come into the back of the junction box with the MC Stallo and take those conductors that are unidentified within that MC cable and take them straight down the conduit into the panel without making a splice
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Well even though it makes sense to do it that way it's not code compliant.
 
infinity said:
These are already installed? If so not much you can do now other than splice in the junction box.
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Which seems crazy since unlike NM cable, MC does use THHN/THWN or XHHW conductors that if not marked on the conductors are marked on the Mylar wrap. If I was inspecting it I think I would be willing to overlook the lack of individual marking vs making the contractor add unnecessary splices.
 
roger said:
310.8
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Also 310.just requires all cables and conductors to be marked and shows what is to be marked on them if this MC cable that I pulled in the conductors don’t have any markings on them whatsoever. Are you saying that they’re not applicable to even use because in 310.8 it doesn’t say anything about not being able to enter in conduit. That was my whole question.
 
If the individual conductors are not identified on their own they are not compliant. The same with NM, when the sheath is removed there is no identifying information on the individual conductors.
Is it a bogus rule, yes but it is what it is.
 
roger said:
If the individual conductors are not identified on their own they are not compliant. The same with NM, when the sheath is removed there is no identifying information on the individual conductors.
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Again, I understand that, but I want backing proof where it explicitly says in conduit. I’m on your side. I don’t think that those wires not having any markings on them can be sleeved down the conduit into the panel and feed the panel. I think they need to be spliced in the junction box and THHN needs to be ran from the junction box to the panel. I’m just trying to prove a point to the guy I call boss who thinks he knows the code front to back
 
I believe that the code requirement is implied, not explicit.

You are only allowed to install specific conductor types in conduit, and all of the allowed conductor types are required to be marked. So if you have an unmarked conductor, then it by definition is not a conductor type permitted in conduit.

Remember that the AHJ can grant special permission, and IMHO if you can document that the conductor in the MC is one of the allowed types (with the exception of the required marking) then the AHJ _should_ give permission. On the other hand, it seems pretty clear that some MC cable is manufactured with conductors that are not clearly an allowed 'conductor in conduit' type.

Take a look at https://www.southwire.com/medias/sy...676010526/MC-Installation-Guide-Southwire.pdf ; some MC has THHN conductors, some has XHHW conductors, and some have conductors without specific conductor types. I don't know enough to understand what the differences are, or if the differences are anything more than conductor marking; perhaps some MC has conductors that don't have sufficient mechanical protection to be pulled in conduit or some such.
 
310.8 says that each conductor and cable must be marked. It doesn't mentioned anything about stripped NM cable or MC cable not being allowed in a conduit.
 
Ponchik said:
310.8 says that each conductor and cable must be marked. It doesn't mentioned anything about stripped NM cable or MC cable not being allowed in a conduit.
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When they are stripped the conductors aren't marked are they? Don't get me wrong, in some cable assemblies they are but in those that aren't is where the problem is. If the whole cable assembly is in the conduit there's no problem. Do search for this topic for more.
 
roger said:
When they are stripped the conductors aren't marked are they? Don't get me wrong, in some cable assemblies they are but in those that aren't is where the problem is. If the whole cable assembly is in the conduit there's no problem. Do search for this topic for more.
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No argument. I understand that they are not marked. But where in the book does it say "when installing in a conduit" it has to be marked.
 
Ponchik said:
No argument. I understand that they are not marked. But where in the book does it say "when installing in a conduit" it has to be marked.
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When you have stripped off the cable sheath, do you still have a cable or do you now have individual conductors?
 
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