Romex thru chase nipple in panels

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amptech

amptech

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Indiana
I ran into a situation yesterday where an electrician had done a panel change. The original panel, located in an unfinished basement, had all of the branch circuit NM cables entering the top of the panel using 1/2" nm clamps. The new panel had been installed and the electrician had used (2) 1-1/2" chase nipples to bring in all of the branch NM cables. None of these cables were staples to the floor joists within 3' of this panel. I'm writing up a report and am having some kind of brain fart as I can't remember the NEC reference that prohibits this installation method. Can anyone help me out here?
 
amptech said:
I ran into a situation yesterday where an electrician had done a panel change. The original panel, located in an unfinished basement, had all of the branch circuit NM cables entering the top of the panel using 1/2" nm clamps. The new panel had been installed and the electrician had used (2) 1-1/2" chase nipples to bring in all of the branch NM cables. None of these cables were staples to the floor joists within 3' of this panel. I'm writing up a report and am having some kind of brain fart as I can't remember the NEC reference that prohibits this installation method. Can anyone help me out here?
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As far as fastening methods for NM cable, how about 334.30 in the '05 NEC.
 
There is no sleeve. Just (2) chase nipples. I know there is a requirement for the cables to be secured to the enclosure but I can't recall it. I know what you are alluding to walkerj and I can't find that reference either.
 
They have a violation of 312.5(C).

There is an exception to 312.5(C) but it does not seem to apply here.

The sleeves have to be between 18" to 10'. Even if that applied the NMs must be secured within 12" of the sleeve
 
Thank you, Bob. I kept searching 334 and couldn't get my mind out of that rut. The exception doesn't apply. He's way shorter than 18" with his chase nipples and there isn't a staple in a cable within 6' of this panel. The cables run through holes in the floor joists and drop down, unsupported, about 12" to the top of this panel.
 
My brother's new house was wired with 2 2 1/2 inch pvc conduits about 12 inches long. These conduits were connected to to the top of the panel with 10 to 12 nm cables coming out. Is this actually legal? Suppose if the pvc was 18 inches long instead of 12 inches, does that make it legal?
 
Ken 6789 said:
My brother's new house was wired with 2 2 1/2 inch pvc conduits about 12 inches long. These conduits were connected to to the top of the panel with 10 to 12 nm cables coming out. Is this actually legal?
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No


Suppose if the pvc was 18 inches long instead of 12 inches, does that make it legal?
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It might, but there are a number of requirements along with the length. For one it has to be a surface mount panel and the PVC have to be exposed.
 
It may if the panel is surface mounted and the cables are properly secured within 12" of the raceway and all of the other conditions of the exception to312.5(C) are met.
 
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