Romex Cable

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explorer136

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I would like to know if anyone here has ever seen some #4 Copper AWG / 3 wire with ground Romex or NM Cable, where the bare grounding wire is only #10 copper? I seen some on a job, but could not read the jacket, it was very new looking. I can't see how this could be a legal cable. If you fused it at 70 amps the equipment grounding wire would be to small. Anyway, I'm trying to find out more about this. If anyone has seen this wire before or know who makes it please let me know........

Thanks
John
 
Re: Romex Cable

This may not be correct, but I think the drop in size for EGC is once the OCPD is 100A Look up 250.122 to be sure.

Mike
 
Re: Romex Cable

To the best of my knowledge a # 10 bare copper grounding wire is only good as an equipment grounding conductor up to 60 amps. 70,80 or 90 amp OCPD would require a #8 copper EGC.
 
Re: Romex Cable

explorer136, I think you're right, now that you say that. No idea who the manufacturer is though?

Edited to say sorry.
I forgot to say Welcome Aboard.

[ January 06, 2005, 11:49 PM: Message edited by: hey_poolboy ]
 
Re: Romex Cable

Dont know what brand you saw but acording to the Southwire catalog, their 4/3 with ground NM-B has an AWG 8 ground wire.
 
Re: Romex Cable

I think you are talking about a # 4/3 Romax as we use it alot and does have a # 8 bare wire in it.

Atleat I believe it is romax...hmmm...we get into a mode of asking for things like this at the supply house and they have it..lol....now I am having to think about it...lol

Well...atleast the bare is correct.

[ January 09, 2005, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: radiopet ]
 
Re: Romex Cable

This had a bare EGC, however, it was solid. To may knowledge #8 copper in any romex cable is stranded. Believe me, I looked 3 times to make sure. #4 AWG Copper with #10 solid grounding wire. Because I have never seen it before, it really caught my eye. Anyway, Any help finding this manufacturer or anything will help.
 
Re: Romex Cable

a quick call to your local electrical supply house should be able to find this for you. When I am looking for something specfic I call the guys who stock things like this...in our area they are ECK and Tri-State Electric and they let me know what they have simply by me describing what I want.
 
Re: Romex Cable

explorer.

IMO you either saw an old cable or you where mistaken as to the size.

ARTICLE 334 Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable

334.108 Equipment Grounding.
In addition to the insulated conductors, the cable shall be permitted to have an insulated or bare conductor for equipment grounding purposes only. Where provided, the grounding conductor shall be sized in accordance with Article 250.
Click to expand...
This basically tells us the grounding conductor must be sized to 250.122, which would be an 8 AWG.
 
Re: Romex Cable

Bob,
All things being equal, I would agree totally. However I checked this 3 times. It was #4 AWG copper with a #10 bare solid grounding wire. It totally proplexed me.....however this has happened many times before...ha ha.

I will check with the suppliers in my area.
 
Re: Romex Cable

I don't want to use, I want to stop it from being used in my area. I wonder if it is a batch of that China wire. I am an Electrical Inspector and I'm trying to find the source of this wire......
 
Re: Romex Cable

Originally posted by explorer136:
[QB] I don't want to use, I want to stop it from being used in my area. I wonder if it is a batch of that China wire. I am an Electrical Inspector and I'm trying to find the source of this wire......
Click to expand...
China wire??? :roll: I've never seen any.

Wire is one thing that's still mostly American made, with some stuff coming from Mexico.

But if someone can prove me wrong, I'll eat my words.

I have seen coaxial cable from China, but not building wire.
 
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