New MC Cable FYI

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sandsnow

sandsnow

Senior Member
Location
Southern California
Southwire is now aggressively marketing a new MC Cable designated as MC-AP here in So Cal. According to the rep, it has been installed quite a bit in New York and other eastern areas.

It is the new version of the MC Smart that was announced about two years ago by Alflex. Alflex has been aquired by Southwire.

It has a large internal bonding strip. Only a limited number of MC connector are acceptable at this time.

Cetain Raco and Steel City boxes with internal clamps are also acceptable.

It is available in HCF version.

Instructions on the tag on each roll specifically show cutting off the internal bond strip before inserting cable into connector.
 
I like the stuff. We had a rep from Southwire give a presentation on the new MC cable at a recent IAEI meeting. I also like the EZ connectors that basically thread onto the cable like a nut. Say goodbye to Type AC cable ...
 
ron said:
I don't understand. If it has a bonding strip instead of a insulated EGC, then why isn't it AC cable?
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Good point! But maybe it has both, so than it would be the same as HCFC.
 
ron said:
I don't understand. If it has a bonding strip instead of a insulated EGC, then why isn't it AC cable?
Click to expand...

I asked that question of the rep. He pointed out that the NEC req's are different from AC to MC for grounding. Look at 250.118(9) and (11).

Grounding for AC is performance based while MC is prescriptive.

AC must satisfy 250.4, while MC must be listed and identified for grounding. Grounding is accomplished by the combined sheath plus a grounding conductor. That is why the "bonding strip is so large - #10 AL.

Seems to boil down to semantics in a way.
 
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