MC cable connectors

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MasterTheNEC said:
Yes, there are many.....The Snap In MC/MCI-A Connector # 560MCIA from Bridgeport for example...is listed only for those uses and not AC.
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I seem to recall having more difficulty verifying a particular connector had MCI-A rating when needed then I ever had verifying plain MC/AC rating - just my experience though.
 
kwired said:
I seem to recall having more difficulty verifying a particular connector had MCI-A rating when needed then I ever had verifying plain MC/AC rating - just my experience though.
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Actually we have the catalogs of all the major connector suppliers in my office. When we produce a cable we do so with many iterations of it from oversized neutrals to multi neutrals to multiple branch circuit options with individual neutrals (200.4) and so on...and with our Smartground (SG) type which require the MCI-A products. We develop the O.D. and then one of my jobs is to match up various connectors for our products to offer as suggesting to our users of the products.

So we keep a long list of compatible connectors in all uses handy.
 
MasterTheNEC said:
Actually we have the catalogs of all the major connector suppliers in my office. When we produce a cable we do so with many iterations of it from oversized neutrals to multi neutrals to multiple branch circuit options with individual neutrals (200.4) and so on...and with our Smartground (SG) type which require the MCI-A products. We develop the O.D. and then one of my jobs is to match up various connectors for our products to offer as suggesting to our users of the products.

So we keep a long list of compatible connectors in all uses handy.
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Some of us almost never use any AC/MC cables that are not in the basic 14-2 to 10-3 conductor ranges - that possibly makes some difference in what we may be encountering for connectors.
 
kwired said:
Some of us almost never use any AC/MC cables that are not in the basic 14-2 to 10-3 conductor ranges - that possibly makes some difference in what we may be encountering for connectors.
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Yes, the MCI-A is limited to a specific O.D. range. The problem is that manufacturers of cable are expanding their product development and that leaves less of a connector selection out there. For example, we along with the other cable manufacturers are presenting at the CMP meetings a new type of MC Cable that is kinda like Teck 90 cable but has the bonding AL conductor like you would see in the SmartGround type MC products....now it will probably not pass for use in 517.30 as we intended but the bigger issue is that it would require a MCI-A connector that actually does not exist in that O.D. range...well it might but it is a close call.....but yes the selection is limited in terms of the MCI-A connectors....

Also since Type AC is limited to the amount of conductors and sizes that sometimes dictates the larger connectors since MC does not have the same limitations in both conductors and size...

With that said....I again have catalogs and keep them updated on a wide variety of connector options for our products but it does get challenging at time.
 
MasterTheNEC said:
Yes, the MCI-A is limited to a specific O.D. range. The problem is that manufacturers of cable are expanding their product development and that leaves less of a connector selection out there. For example, we along with the other cable manufacturers are presenting at the CMP meetings a new type of MC Cable that is kinda like Teck 90 cable but has the bonding AL conductor like you would see in the SmartGround type MC products....now it will probably not pass for use in 517.30 as we intended but the bigger issue is that it would require a MCI-A connector that actually does not exist in that O.D. range...well it might but it is a close call.....but yes the selection is limited in terms of the MCI-A connectors....

Also since Type AC is limited to the amount of conductors and sizes that sometimes dictates the larger connectors since MC does not have the same limitations in both conductors and size...

With that said....I again have catalogs and keep them updated on a wide variety of connector options for our products but it does get challenging at time.
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This may kind of get us back to the OP's question - if you only use smaller OD cables it does seem stupid that some rules apply to AC but not to MC or vice versa as they are nearly the same thing. But if you use larger OD cables some of these differences may be easier to see. Just a thought, like I said I haven't really been around anything but small OD cables.
 
kwired said:
This may kind of get us back to the OP's question - if you only use smaller OD cables it does seem stupid that some rules apply to AC but not to MC or vice versa as they are nearly the same thing. But if you use larger OD cables some of these differences may be easier to see. Just a thought, like I said I haven't really been around anything but small OD cables.
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Indeed....all I know is we make it...ship it and people install it. We even ( as everyone who makes MC Cable does) ship it with anti-short bushings even if Type MC doesn't require it, it just avoids confusion in the field to already provide it.
 
Greg1707 said:
Why are we not allowed to use the MC cable connectors on AC and thus avoid using the anti short bushings? That seems to be the question.
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And the answer to why Type AC Cable requires the anti-short bushing and why Type MC Cable does not lies in the construction of both cables...

Type AC ( UL 4) calls for a paper wrap around the conductors where as Type MC (UL-1569) calls for a polymeric wrap which is typically mylar which offers a superior protection between the individual conductors and the metal sheathing...where as in Type AC cable you only have the paper as the protection...the anti-short bushings act the same as the mylar at the termination point of the armored cable.

Hope that explains it....also verified this with the VP of Bridgeport as well.
 
MasterTheNEC said:
And the answer to why Type AC Cable requires the anti-short bushing and why Type MC Cable does not lies in the construction of both cables...

Type AC ( UL 4) calls for a paper wrap around the conductors where as Type MC (UL-1569) calls for a polymeric wrap which is typically mylar which offers a superior protection between the individual conductors and the metal sheathing...where as in Type AC cable you only have the paper as the protection...the anti-short bushings act the same as the mylar at the termination point of the armored cable.

Hope that explains it....also verified this with the VP of Bridgeport as well.
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That answer noting the paper vs polymeric wrap has always been somewhat a suspicion from me as the reason we need the bushings on AC cable, but never has been confirmed.
 
kwired said:
That answer noting the paper vs polymeric wrap has always been somewhat a suspicion from me as the reason we need the bushings on AC cable, but never has been confirmed.
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MasterTheNEC said:
Makes perfect sense too me...lol
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It is a question that comes up here at this site from time to time, I often mention that one major difference between the two cable types is the paper vs. polymeric interiors and maybe this has something do do with the bushing requirement, but never have had anyone else confirm that be the reason, usually never even get anyone to agree it is a possible reason.
 
AdamS said:
The difference between the two cable types is.. The jacket for AC cable is listed as its ground while the jacket of MC cable is not. That's why AC cable has no EGC and MC cable does.
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Only partially correct. The traditional type of MC does have an EGG, but MC-AP has an aluminum bonding strip,like AC, so the jacket is listed as a EGC and that is printed on the neutral.
AC cable is made by AFC, MC by Southwire, by taking MC-AP and having an EGC, they can go after the health care market that AFC had with its green jacketed AC.
http://www.southwire.com/commercial/MCAPandHCFMCAP.htm
The big advantage of MC over AC is the support distance is support distance is 6 ft, no readheads, and for MC-AP, 30% savings on box make up.
 
tom baker said:
Only partially correct. The traditional type of MC does have an EGG, but MC-AP has an aluminum bonding strip,like AC, so the jacket is listed as a EGC and that is printed on the neutral.
AC cable is made by AFC, MC by Southwire, by taking MC-AP and having an EGC, they can go after the health care market that AFC had with its green jacketed AC.
http://www.southwire.com/commercial/MCAPandHCFMCAP.htm
The big advantage of MC over AC is the support distance is support distance is 6 ft, no readheads, and for MC-AP, 30% savings on box make up.
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And lets not forget Type MC-SG by Encore Wire as well....;)
 
tom baker said:
Only partially correct. The traditional type of MC does have an EGG, but MC-AP has an aluminum bonding strip,like AC, so the jacket is listed as a EGC and that is printed on the neutral.
AC cable is made by AFC, MC by Southwire, by taking MC-AP and having an EGC, they can go after the health care market that AFC had with its green jacketed AC.
http://www.southwire.com/commercial/MCAPandHCFMCAP.htm
The big advantage of MC over AC is the support distance is support distance is 6 ft, no readheads, and for MC-AP, 30% savings on box make up.
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Some key differences.........Both AFC and Southwire make Type AC Cable, as does Encore Wire. The aluminum bonding/grounding conductor (not actually a strip...technically speaking) of the Southwire's MCap or Encore's MC-SG (Smartground) is the basis for the HCF qualification in Section 517.13(A), the (B) provision (as I am more than sure you know) adds for the required insulated EGC. Ironically enough in the standard Type MC the EGC can be bare or insulated....some thing it must only be insulated...just figured I would throw that out their....since we all basically insulate it anyway.

I did want to speak on the Type AC anti-short bushing as well....many people who buy a insulated throat fitting that is listed for use with Type AC Cable think that when doing so that an anti-short bushing is not required. This is incorrect thinking as the provision of Section 320.40 covers the abrasion component and it then demands an insulated bushing "redhead" between the conductors and the armor..in addition to the insulated throat which is serving the protection against abrasion.

Also just as an FYI- there is nothing in NFPA 99 or NFPA 70 that requires the armor to be green, the fittings to be green, or any labels on the cable itself to be green...these are all proprietary ways to make HCF stand out for aid in the inspection process.
 
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