Sleeving PVC

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M4gery

Senior Member
Let's say you want to put a receptacle or switch on the wall in a basement with block walls, you will be running romex thru the joists and around the sill plate, but when you run down the wall to the switchbox you want to sleeve the romex for protection.

In order to do this code compliantly, what should you do?

Run a PVC connector out of the box with a piece of PVC up the wall and have the romex come in the top without a connector and "from-to" setup? Or do you need said connector and from-to?

Or do you have to run the PVC down the wall and stop short of the box so that a romex connector can be used at the box?
 

Smart $

Esteemed Member
Location
Ohio
Whatever conduit you use, it is connected to the device box, run up and secured to wall. The Code says "Conduit or tubing shall be provided with a suitable insulating bushing or adapter at the point the cable enters the raceway." A bell-end adapter would suffice, but IMO if a bell-end adapter is suitable so is reaming the PVC... but the latter does not comply with Code. There are those that would contest the compliance of adapting over to a cable connector. The cable is also required to be secured not more than 12" from the entry to the conduit.
 

M4gery

Senior Member
Whatever conduit you use, it is connected to the device box, run up and secured to wall. The Code says "Conduit or tubing shall be provided with a suitable insulating bushing or adapter at the point the cable enters the raceway." A bell-end adapter would suffice, but IMO if a bell-end adapter is suitable so is reaming the PVC... but the latter does not comply with Code. There are those that would contest the compliance of adapting over to a cable connector. The cable is also required to be secured not more than 12" from the entry to the conduit.

Thanks!

There are those that would contest the compliance of adapting over to a cable connector.
Yeah, I'd be one of those people. You have to secure the cable going into the box, but not if it's going into a conduit and then into the box. One of the many NEC mysteries :grin:
 

ceb58

Senior Member
Location
Raeford, NC
Whatever conduit you use, it is connected to the device box, run up and secured to wall. The Code says "Conduit or tubing shall be provided with a suitable insulating bushing or adapter at the point the cable enters the raceway." A bell-end adapter would suffice, but IMO if a bell-end adapter is suitable so is reaming the PVC... but the latter does not comply with Code. There are those that would contest the compliance of adapting over to a cable connector. The cable is also required to be secured not more than 12" from the entry to the conduit.

I have never seen/had a problem using PVC with out a bell or coupling on the end the romex enters from. Now if it were EMT then I would say you needed to install a adaptor or coupling to suffice the suitable bushing issue.
 

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
You need to staple the nm within 12" of where it enters the conduit.

Read 334.15(C)

(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. NM 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 NM cable sheath shall extend through the conduit or tubing and into the outlet or device box not less than 6 mm (? 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.
 

Smart $

Esteemed Member
Location
Ohio
... You have to secure the cable going into the box, but not if it's going into a conduit and then into the box. One of the many NEC mysteries :grin:
As Dennis pointed out, you have to secure the cable going into the conduit the same as if it were going into a box... within 12" of its entry into the conduit.
 

Smart $

Esteemed Member
Location
Ohio
I have never seen/had a problem using PVC with out a bell or coupling on the end the romex enters from. ...
I agree it is acceptable without adapter... but the code requires an insulated bushing or adapter, for which the conduit itself does not qualify. As for having a problem without anything, that's going to depend on the inspector. I'd say most would be on board without for PVC... but there's always that possibility of one that is not :roll:;)
 

roger

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Fl
Occupation
Retired Electrician
Here's an illustration.

1100551339_2.jpg


Roger
 
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