Running Cable along house exterior or decks

[Residential-Allen]

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From: AL Hawkins < Allens1electrical@gmail.com >
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2020 9:23 PM
To: mike@mikeholt.com Subject: AskMike

I want to wire along the outside of a home to put a few receptacles on a deck, I wanted to know must I use something like pvc or can I use an outdoor or underground cable like UF like some say I can ?:

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[tom baker]

1. Certainly can use PVC, but if its a long run it will expand and droop. You need to look at how much it will expand in chpt 9 tables. Can you run pvc under deck put in a T and hit FS type PVC box?
2. For UF cable look in its article under uses allowed to see if it can be run exposed. Stripping UF is time consuming.
3. PVC can look good if time is taken with install.

 

[Residential-Allen]

Thank you for your reply Tom, I was concerned with attaching UF cable or equivalent to the side of a house, I have always thought conduit must be used. I have read some electricians say you can attach cable However I will relate to the chap. tables you recommended.

 

[tom baker]

Be careful with what some electricians say. the code can change, or they may have not looked up the information
"Is that what you think or what you know?" Mike Holt

 

[hbiss]

I was concerned with attaching UF cable or equivalent to the side of a house,

340.12 is your reference. As long as you run it so that it's not subject to physical damage you should be OK. But keep in mind, "subject to physical damage" is very subjective and what you think is fine an inspector may have a different opinion about.

So running conduit with either UF inside or preferably pulling individual conductors ensures against physical damage. You can't go wrong that way.

-Hal

 

[Residential-Allen]

Yes pvc is what my experience tells me is the safe way to go, Good advice "What you know" from code and experience.

Thanks Hal

 

[Coppersmith]

I rarely run PVC exposed outside more than a few feet due to it's expansion. It looks especially bad run horizontally. It gets droopy. EMT is the way to go.

 

[acin]

Dose pvc need to be sced 80 when subject to physical damage ?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Dose pvc need to be sced 80 when subject to physical damage ?

yes it does

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Just remember that "subject to physical damage" is a subjective term and only YOUR AHJ knows what it means for your application.

 

[Residential-Allen]

I rarely run PVC exposed outside more than a few feet due to it's expansion. It looks especially bad run horizontally. It gets droopy. EMT is the way to go.

Gave estimate already based on UF or pvc. Next time I may go EMT yes.