Pulling two #2, one #8 thru 150 feet of FMC

Status
Not open for further replies.
Regarding the specific question in the OP, yeah I was in a pinch once and needed to do something ASAP, couldn't wait, couldn't get MC cable on the weekend, ended up pulling THHN through like a hundred feet of FMC. It was an absolute nightmare. Relatively small wire to I think it was four number six. That sad, I didn't think it would be as hard as it was so I didn't have it all laid out completely straight,
I think I had some of it strapped up with a few bends and I was working alone. With a few extra hands and it laid out and held nice and straight I don't see why it would be difficult. But I would still go with aluminum MC over that any day.
 
petersonra said:
I don't believe the code allows you to pull the wires first before installing the FMC in place
Click to expand...
WHAT?! I'm not trying to take this discussion off track, but... WHAT?!?!?!
That has to be the dumbest rule I've ever heard. That takes the cake.
What's the point of this rule? And how else are you supposed to fish FMC?!

Can you provide a code reference? Is it in the FMC section??
 
wwhitney said:
See Post #9 in this thread.

Wayne
Click to expand...
Roger that. Doesn't make a lick of sense to me. If you got an exposed run, I don't know why you would run FMC in the first place, unless it was to provide flexibility off a disconnect to an appliance or something.

But still... WHAT?! lol 🤯🤯🤬🤬 They need an exception in 348 because every residential sparky that's ever lived just racked up numerous violations. Love for code fading... fading... fading...
 
petersonra said:
Not accessible? Are you allowed to fish FMC?

I think it's supposed to be regularly supported and secured.
Click to expand...
See 348.30(A) Exception #1.
Not a fan of this personally. I always demand we open it up and apply the proper strapping. Better installation, IMO.

Just sloppy and lazy to pull it loosely through a concealed space, but I believe this exception exists for the few times where it is absolutely impossible to secure and it is widely abused by people who don't know what they're doing and just want to slop a whip through 100ft of ceiling, call it a day, and charge high end prices.
 
Jerramundi said:
See 348.30(A) Exception #1.
Not a fan of this personally. I always demand we open it up and apply the proper strapping. Better installation, IMO.

Just sloppy and lazy to pull it loosely through a concealed space, but I believe this exception exists for the few times where it is absolutely impossible to secure and it is widely abused by people who don't know what they're doing and just want to slop a whip through 100ft of ceiling, call it a day, and charge high end prices.
Click to expand...
I've never quite understood why fishing is allowed at all. If it is okay to fish a cable in some cases, why are you required to go to all the trouble to secure and support it in other cases? How do the electrons know any difference?

It's like places that don't allow Romex, except when they do.
 
petersonra said:
I've never quite understood why fishing is allowed at all. If it is okay to fish a cable in some cases, why are you required to go to all the trouble to secure and support it in other cases? How do the electrons know any difference?

It's like places that don't allow Romex, except when they do.
Click to expand...
I prefer a combination of both. I'll fish, but then I'll insist on small opening to secure it as well.
They wanna get all worked up on having to patch a small opening then let 'em.
No other way to do mechanical work. It goes behind the wall. Deal with it.

I'll also sometimes fish excess, strap within min. required distance, loop, and terminate. I've toyed with some pretty handy ways to get a strap on a piece of flex behind a gem box. The things you can achieve with a few extensions and right angle adapter, lol.
 
petersonra said:
How do the electrons know any difference?
Click to expand...
You could make the same argument in regards to EMT... and I suppose that would be your answer - to prevent damage to the wiring within and of course, workmanship. Also, if its' serving as the EGC, you can't risk FMC or EMT coming apart.
 
Jerramundi said:
You could make the same argument in regards to EMT... and I suppose that would be your answer - to prevent damage to the wiring within and of course, workmanship. Also, if its' serving as the EGC, you can't risk FMC or EMT coming apart.
Click to expand...
If fishing causes damage, why is it ever allowed at all? If it doesn't cause damage, why is it generally banned?
 
It would be tough to get a fish tape through that, maybe a fiberglass one might go.
AC\DC said:
With enough lub you can pull anything through anything. like James said make a very good “head”.
Click to expand...
I worked with an electrician many years ago that if you asked him how many 3/0 could you pull in a 2”? He would reply “How many do you need?” In a loud voice! LOL!
 
petersonra said:
If fishing causes damage, why is it ever allowed at all?
Click to expand...
Why were grandfather clauses ever enacted?
You have to give people multiple options or else the only people that can afford safe electrical infrastructure are the wealthy. Full stop.
We all know how expensive this trade is, especially when done right. So let's not kid ourselves about the issue of things being cost prohibitive.

You could probably find your answer by looking up when that aforementioned exception was introduced.
I imagine fishing was common practice to keep costs down and eventually, enough complaints about code
warranted a legal solution for instances of remodeling.

It is common practice, despite the rules previously quoted by others in 300.
Yet another instance of SOP versus Code.

petersonra said:
If it doesn't cause damage, why is it generally banned?
Click to expand...
Don't get me started. You know the answer to that question being from Illinois, lol.
Too many people getting into the trade with it. Too many GC's and DIY'ers that think they know electrical because they can pull a 2-wire prefab whip from the Depot.

Don't get me wrong, fishing takes some skill. Getting that metal fish to the right location, hooking it (sometimes with 2-3 different pieces, setting it up without losing it, making the right head, knowing how to set your whip up so it doesn't just yank the wires out, etc.
But it also opens the door that some don't want open.
 
Last edited:
You want to know what failure feels like, spend 30m fishing a steel tape and then losing it right as you go to hook the whip up, hahaha.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top