I was told that I can use the jacket of an MC wire for a safty ground. (The application was using 12/2 on a switched lighting circuit, an EM light was to be added from another circuit and instead of changing the 12/2 to 12/3 I was told to use the jacket of the MC as the safty ground and reidentify the green wire.) Is this legal and if so where can I find it in the NEC ?
mc jacket as a ground?
- Thread starter kingnot2b
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quogueelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- new york
Welcome to the forum I see this is your first post. There is a type of mc cable which can use the jacket as a ground. It is called MC AP however if there is a green wire in the cable it is not MC AP and therefore not legal to to use as a ground.
Jim W in Tampa
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa Florida
Your working for the wrong kind of EC . Run don't walk. Anyone that would do this needs to flip burgers at Mc Donalds. Illegal and unsafe
It was my understanding, as quogueelectric stated, that MC that is starting to be used now (I wasn't aware it was called MC AP, thank you quogueelectric) has the sheathe as a listed ground. In fact it's being use alot in my neck of the woods (NJ).
What's everyone elses experience been regarding this?
E
What's everyone elses experience been regarding this?
E
Jim W in Tampa
Senior Member
- Location
- Tampa Florida
Does it have a green wire ?
MCAP has been discussed here a number of times but it is not "plain jane" MC as the OP is asking about, MCAP is another animal and discussion all together.
The same issue is AC and HCFC in that they are both AC type cables but are different conversations when it comes to applications.
Roger
quogueelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- new york
Mc is the only sheath not approved as a ground. I dont know why they made it this way. It seems very stupid on the manufacturers part to make the armor diferent in my opinion.
Pierre C Belarge
Senior Member
- Location
- Westchester County, New York
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
A white wire in a cable assembly may be re-identified; a green wire may not be.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Actually no. AFC makes AC with the armor listed as a conductive path. Southwire makes MC cable.
MC cable has the bigger market share than AC. AC had the Art 517 applications, now MC AP has got that market as well.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Instead of the term ground, which now means "the earth" I prefer the use of 'conductive path".
quogueelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- new york
The alluminum ground conductor will bring issues upon them unwanted it just needs time to root them out. Will installers have to use al rated wirenuts on the al ground conductors if they chose to use it??
dcspector
Senior Member
- Location
- Burke, Virginia
Why would you want to? The Al. bond strip #10 is in contact with the clad's entire length and simply cut it off after roto stripping the clad then install the listed connector.....no termination of bond strip required.
- Location
- Massachusetts
I think he believes it is necessary for a 'good ground' and those of us that do not believe that are just idiots.
dcspector
Senior Member
- Location
- Burke, Virginia
I think he believes it is necessary for a 'good ground' and those of us that do not believe that are just idiots.
Huh?.........I work very hard to be an idiot.....
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