Underground feeder for detached garage

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agbelect

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I have a customer who want's to install SER cable underground in conduit to a detached garage and needs to know if this is a code compliant application. I seached in the 2005 NEC and could not find anything that would not permit this installation. I have always used THHN/THWN or UF cable for underground installations. My initial instincts are this is not code compliant but cannot find a code article to support this. Any help would be appreciated.
 
agbelect said:
I have a customer who want's to install SER cable underground in conduit to a detached garage and needs to know if this is a code compliant application. I seached in the 2005 NEC and could not find anything that would not permit this installation. I have always used THHN/THWN or UF cable for underground installations. My initial instincts are this is not code compliant but cannot find a code article to support this. Any help would be appreciated.
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Why would they want SER in conduit? If you're putting in conduit, why not go with THWN or XHHW?

As for legalities, SER is not identified for underground use (unlike USE), so I could see an inspector vetoing SER in underground conduit on those grounds.
 
That question has been the subject of many posts here.

I use SER underground in conduit when wiring temp trailers on job sites.

However IMO that is certainly pushing the limits of 'if it does not say you can't, you can" argument.

I would suggest XHHW-2 or if the customer 'must' have a cable in conduit I would go with USE if possible or UF.

USE can not go inside so that would require some sort of termination outside at each end.
 
Aluminium SER has one bare aluminium conductor, and you can't use it underground. It is also a violation of its UL listing to use it that way.
 
mdshunk said:
Aluminium SER has one bare aluminium conductor, and you can't use it underground.
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Code reference please, I don't think it says what you remember it to say.


It is also a violation of its UL listing to use it that way.
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We had a long thread about this and it ULs stance was shifty, it went back and forth between not listed for direct burial and listed for above ground.
 
iwire said:
Code reference please, I don't think it says what you remember it to say..
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Well, crap. I guess there is none. I suppose that I believed that because of what I read in 250.64(A), but I aggree that it does not apply in this instance. I know that I have seen red-tags for SE and SER in underground pipe.

230.30, ex 4 does say that is has to be identified for use underground in a raceway, but I don't really see that in the white book for SER. I'll continue to not use SER underground in pipe, as I have field experience that shows me that the bare aluminium conductor will turn to white toothpaste-like mush. Many utilities are even abandoning the use of exposed concentric neutral cable.
 
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jeff43222 said:
Why would they want SER in conduit? If you're putting in conduit, why not go with THWN or XHHW?
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I have a customer who wanted it because he could run it through his basement, change over to pvc and go through the foundation (far enough below grade), and to the garage. He is going to finish the basement so didn't want a splice indoors. Didn't want splice box or even pipe showing outdoors. Panel was on opposite corner of basement, of course.

Turns out we are not doing it that way, but there was some merit in considering it. Wouldn't do it with aluminum, btw. The cost of copper alone would probably be enough to nix the idea, too.
 
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