Urd

[Cow]

Do your suppliers not stock any wire that's rated as USE/USE-2/RHH/RHW? Can you request it? All the URD we buy(sweetbriar) or individual conductor is labeled that way. It's Alcan cable I believe. I bet Southwire makes something similar.

 

[kwired]

URD cables are just a composite of 3 or 4 conductors. Type USE is commonly purchased around here by POCO's. they do not install anything inside so there is no problem with that. It is also available with USE/RHW/RHH conductors. since the RHW/RHH are a type of conductor allowed indoors we can use these for a service lateral and directly enter the building.

 

[220wire]

It doesn't cause that much controversy either, though. Why not just adopt the safest method?

The safest method as most know is often times not the most reasonable or cost effective. I like an inspector who is will to"bend" or interpret the code a little and use the NEC as professional guidelines. I'm not saying to disregard the NEC but adjust to the conditions. It's one of those things like putting more than 360* in a run of conduit that really isn't that big of a deal if it's within reason. Maybe we ought to just ban direct burial cable all together?

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

USE does not have a flame resistant insulation on it either.

Specify URD 1000 and you have a cable assemby that is flame retardant and can be run inside the building. It would still be required to in in a conduit however for physical protection.

 

[jap]

I'm not sure the 10' inside the house after the LB would meet the requirements of a disconnect at the "Closest point of Entry".
May be a good place for a disconnect and a Transition.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

I'm not sure the 10' inside the house after the LB would meet the requirements of a disconnect at the "Closest point of Entry".
May be a good place for a disconnect and a Transition.

Jap.....this is a feeder, not service entrance conductors. The disco in the structure could be placed anywhere.

 

[cowboyjwc]

If you can put an LB or a J-box at the house, why don't you just put in a weather head?

 

[cowboyjwc]

....then what is a man to do, there are not many options.

There are always options, you just may not like them.

Best quote I ever heard from an inspector, "you don't worry about how much it costs, we'll get it right if we have to spend every dime you've got."

 

[George Stolz]

Jap.....this is a feeder, not service entrance conductors. The disco in the structure could be placed anywhere.

See 225.32.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

See 225.32.

My bad.....however I don't see the logic since the feeders are protected by an upstream OCPD.

 

[George Stolz]

If the building is on fire, and you want the power off in a hurry, then it makes sense to treat it just like a service. At least, that's the theory.

 

[augie47]

Logic ? NEC ! oxymoron

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

If the building is on fire, and you want the power off in a hurry, then it makes sense to treat it just like a service. At least, that's the theory.

Ok....( Thanks for the Smiley, it eases the pain of shooting from the hip ) however if the feeder is emerging from the ground and passing through an LB right above ground level, surrounded by vegitation and whatever else, there is no way the feeder disco nearest the point of entrance would be easily found anyway. At least with a service, the meter socket would point someone in the right direction.

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

Logic ? NEC ! oxymoron

Agreed Augie........sometimes logic isn't required.

 

[lakee911]

Maybe we ought to just ban direct burial cable all together?

Sounds good to me!

 

[George Stolz]

...if the feeder is emerging from the ground and passing through an LB right above ground level, surrounded by vegitation and whatever else, there is no way the feeder disco nearest the point of entrance would be easily found anyway.

An LB is not a means of disconnect. Technically, you'd have to mount your disconnect at ground level immediately inside the point of entrance behind the LB. It would make more sense to mount the panel outside, and pipe straight into it, at normal working height, in most cases.

 

[Cow]

Best quote I ever heard from an inspector, "you don't worry about how much it costs, we'll get it right if we have to spend every dime you've got."

That made me laugh.:grin:

The jokes that are true, are always the funniest!:grin:

 

[A/A Fuel GTX]

An LB is not a means of disconnect. Technically, you'd have to mount your disconnect at ground level immediately inside the point of entrance behind the LB. It would make more sense to mount the panel outside, and pipe straight into it, at normal working height, in most cases.

Geo.....I was thinking with a basement scenario where the LB would be just above ground level on the outside and the panel on the inside would be at normal working height. Anyway, I stand corrected with the feeder disconnect scenario even though I think it is a bit marginal in logic.

 

[George Stolz]

...I think it is a bit marginal in logic.

Right alongside about 60% of the NEC.

 

[rwreuter]

ok lets say I LB it into the house and pipe about 10' to the panel. worse case scenerio what could go wrong, what is UNSAFE about the installation? remember that there is a disconnect about 170' from the LB.



rw