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pillschool

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Does the NEC allow unprotected SE cable from the outside meter to be run in the hollow space of the walls in a dwelling before it reaches the overcurrent protection?
 
The distance it can travel into a building before hitting the disconnecting means is basically up to the AHJ, there is no distance defined by the NEC.


230.70(A)(1)(1) Readily Accessible Location. The service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside of a building or structure or inside nearest the point of entrance of the service conductors.
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Roger
 
Not sure what they allow in MA but here in NJ once the SEU cable enters the house it has to be the shortest distance possible (length of which is at the discretion of the inspector). If you install a service rated disconnect next to the meter you can install all the SER cable inside the walls that you want.

I once upgraded a service and installed the SEU cable outside the house, straight up from the meter with a weather head at the top. The homeowner was putting stucco on the outside of the house and decided to build an enclosed channel around the SE cable so as to hide it. The channel was open at the top and bottom. Inspector failed the upgrade citing that the SE cable was now considered "inside the house".
 
Wenty4 said:
Article 338.10(B)(4)(a) sends you to Article 334 NM-B. Section 334.10 Uses Permitted(A)(1) for both exposed and concealed work
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I thought we were talking about Service Entrance Cable for non-fused service conductors. How does this section apply ?
 
As Roger points out in Post #2, 230.70 covers all service conductors regardless of wiring methods.
338.10(B)(4) does allow you to run in the walls, 230.70(A)(1)(1) limits the distance.
 
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Wenty4 said:
We are, but SE cable has the same restrictions as NM cable. 9Follow the Code references)
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Please forgive me, I'm really not out to break anyone's chops here but I don't think we're all on the same page regarding this subject. The OP was asking about that unprotected piece of SEU cable from the meter to the first over-current device. We're not talking about SE cable used for branch circuits or protected feeders. So far I think Roger has the best answer.
 
Wenty4 said:
We are, but SE cable has the same restrictions as NM cable. 9Follow the Code references)
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Your code references would be correct if we were talking about branch circuits or feeders however, the disscussion is about service entrance conductors as Goldstar and Augie point out and the rules are the same for all wiring methods.

Roger
 
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