Ok I had an inspector NOT allow me to use tri-plex in an over head service from the meter to the wheather head (in a 2" pipe of course) He said the tri-plex is not sun light resistant! WTF!!! It's a URD everyone I know uses it in over head services it's cheaper!!!!!!!
Tri-plex
- Thread starter dcooper
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
dcooper said:
URD is meant for underground. It may not be sunlight resistant.
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
I think that inspector is probably 100% correct. It will come down to the actual markings on the conductors in the consist of the URD cable.
dhducati
Member
- Location
- Pennsylvania
dcooper said:
Is it listed/marked as USE, and/or RHW?
76nemo
Senior Member
- Location
- Ogdensburg, NY
I just recently had a big box employee tell me I could only use SE if it was piped in. I got pretty upset. It's NOT my job to instruct them otherwise. I go in to get my gear and leave.
When it comes to inspectors, it's so hard to bring up an arguement if you plan on doing future work where you are living. Local amendments can deem quite ridiculous when you are used to going by the NEC. These local inspectors have more pull. You have to ammend to their call, or p*iss someone off who you really don't need/want to. Check for the local's before you start the job. I personally have lost money by not doing so, ecspecially when you work with a couple different inspectors.
This is very, very frustarting in my eyes!
When it comes to inspectors, it's so hard to bring up an arguement if you plan on doing future work where you are living. Local amendments can deem quite ridiculous when you are used to going by the NEC. These local inspectors have more pull. You have to ammend to their call, or p*iss someone off who you really don't need/want to. Check for the local's before you start the job. I personally have lost money by not doing so, ecspecially when you work with a couple different inspectors.
This is very, very frustarting in my eyes!
dhducati
Member
- Location
- Pennsylvania
augie47 said:
I see Southwire's URD (which is listed USE-2) used around here for overhead services, and I don't think it should be.
dhducati
Member
- Location
- Pennsylvania
nakulak said:
Right, USE is for underground use, not above ground, so unless it is also listed as something else it isn't likely to need to be sunlight resistant. Southwire's RHW (and mobile home feeder) is sunlight resistant, but you're right, it doesn't have to be.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
His reasoning may be wrong but the "U" stands for underground (I believe) so it probably is not sunlight resistant.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
The only triplex that you could use for an overhead run is the one with the bare messenger conductor like the utility uses, however most of that is not listed and some areas only permit the use of listed products.
Why isn't it listed
Why isn't it listed
Don,
why isn't it listed? If it's sunlight resistant ( I am waiting for on email from the manufact.) then why can't I use it? I have done several services under ground and run tri-plex up the riser out of a wheather head. So there is direct sun light on the drip loop ......The only specific reason I was given that I cannot use it is "It's a URD cable. At some point it has to be run underground. That is the intent of the Tri-plex... to be run underground."
That's BULL !!!!!
Why isn't it listed
Don,
why isn't it listed? If it's sunlight resistant ( I am waiting for on email from the manufact.) then why can't I use it? I have done several services under ground and run tri-plex up the riser out of a wheather head. So there is direct sun light on the drip loop ......The only specific reason I was given that I cannot use it is "It's a URD cable. At some point it has to be run underground. That is the intent of the Tri-plex... to be run underground."
That's BULL !!!!!
LawnGuyLandSparky
Senior Member
I thought the drip loop was exempt from the Sunlight resistant requirement?
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
dcooper,
Around here that isn't called triplex. That term is only used for the overhead type cable like that used for service drops and that is what I was talking about.
You are talking about a cable assembly with all insulated conductors. That would be type USE and the inspector is correct.
Around here that isn't called triplex. That term is only used for the overhead type cable like that used for service drops and that is what I was talking about.
You are talking about a cable assembly with all insulated conductors. That would be type USE and the inspector is correct.
The above is from the UL Guide Information (White book) for "Service-entrance Cable" (TYLZ).
Mark Twenhafel
Member
I'm a little confused, now. I've seen this used as feeder to subpanels inside premises. Comments?don_resqcapt19 said:
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Mark,
I have seen it used that way too. It is and has been a code violation to use it that way. It cannot enter the building, even in conduit.
I have seen it used that way too. It is and has been a code violation to use it that way. It cannot enter the building, even in conduit.
Mark Twenhafel said:
Unless that USE was cross rated as RHH or RHW, it's not allowed to be used inside a dwelling.
As far as using USE (Tri-Plex) in a service mast, I've done it in the past, without question....
I've only recently considered the question of the sunlight resistance rating of the cable when used this way, and understand that technically, it's not allowed for this use.
I will say that I've never seen or experienced any problems with this type installation,
I used USE for the service on my own shop.
It's now 20 years old, and looks as good as new, although it's in direct sunlight.
But.....rules being rules....I won't use it for this purpose any more.
steve
- Status