SER CABLE In an unfinished garage.

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smileyboy

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I had a home inspector complain about the cable. He told me it should be in conduit. I've never heard that before and I'm not sure which code article to use. I'm fixing a few inspection corrections for the homeowner.IMG_4049.JPG


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Se cable would follow the same rule in this matter as nm cable

(C) In Unfinished Basements and Crawl Spaces. Where
cable is run at angles with joists in unfinished basements
and crawl spaces, it shall be permissible to secure cables
not smaller than two 6 AWG or three 8 AWG conductors
directly to the lower edges of the joists. Smaller cables
shall be run either through bored holes in joists or on running
boards. Nonmetallic-sheathed cable installed on the
wall of an unfinished basement shall be permitted to be
installed in a listed conduit or tubing or shall be protected
in accordance with 300.4. Conduit or tubing shall be provided
with a suitable insulating bushing or adapter at the
point the cable enters the raceway. The sheath of the
nonmetallic-sheathed cable shall extend through the conduit
or tubing and into the outlet or device box not less than
6 mm (1⁄4 in.). The cable shall be secured within 300 mm
(12 in.) of the point where the cable enters the conduit or
tubing. Metal conduit, tubing, and metal outlet boxes shall
be connected to an equipment grounding conductor complying
with the provisions of 250.86 and 250.148.
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If that SE connector on the right is going into the back of the meter around here you would have a problem with the length of the SEC's inside of the structure.
 
Just frame in some sheeting in the stud bays where the wire is exposed so it isn't accessible anymore and not subject to physical damage. No reason to redo it in conduit.
 
infinity said:
Good point but I do see two bare conductors that appear to be GEC's.
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That looks like it could be 4 conductor cable, so there may be other problems as well if there is a breaker outside and the bond is outside and the GEC's are out of that panel.
The length of the cable unfused would be fine in this area. Some areas not so much.....
 
crtemp said:
Just frame in some sheeting in the stud bays where the wire is exposed so it isn't accessible anymore and not subject to physical damage. No reason to redo it in conduit.
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I agree. And shouldn't those walls have some kind of fire rated covering on them anyway?
 
infinity said:
Good point but I do see two bare conductors that appear to be GEC's.
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qcroanoke said:
That looks like it could be 4 conductor cable, so there may be other problems as well if there is a breaker outside and the bond is outside and the GEC's are out of that panel.....
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I see the same thing and share the same opinion.
 
Just to clarify. The ser is going from a main panel to a sub. The sub is in the garage.


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Dennis Alwon said:
Se cable would follow the same rule in this matter as nm cable
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But this is within a garage and has nothing to do with an unfinished basement or crawl space as referenced in your post. (probably just for clarification i'm sure)

But on that notion you are on base my friend with the notion as it would indeed have to meet the installation requirements found in Part II of Article 334, excluding section 334.80 of course.

So on that notion it appears the inspector is taking to heart section 334.15(B) and considers it subject to physical damage within this garage. Now does he choose to fight with the inspector or simply come and place a piece of gypsum board over the exposed areas and now call it concealed and not subject to 334.15(B) and pass the inspection and move on (in the eyes of that inspector) or argue the merits of being in the wall cavity and still exposed to physical damage?

Again it's interpretation and battles to which one choose to pick. We see plenty of garages wired in Type NM-B and the cables remain exposed without much inspector resistance (we some do) so again it's all about the fight in my opinion. Personally, knowing Type SE- Style R can be installed outdoors exposed plays into an argument to which one could say...Indeed, but only where not subject to physical damage. In the eyes of THIS inspector the aspect of being damaged played into his ruling.
 
Are we looking at the main panel here? Is the SER going to a sub-panel on the other side of the wall, not in view? Hard to tell if there might be an SEU cable coming in to the top of the panel.
 
I agree to covering the wall spaces with sheet rock as the best solution at this point. To the left of the panel, there is a horizontal cable and what looks like a bare copper wire that are somewhat supporting the boards stored in the space. A perfect example of why the inspector made his/her judgement on the larger cable.
 
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