USE vs. USE-2

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Srv52761

Senior Member
Location
lowa
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Energy Manager
NEC 2017
True or false,
USE may not be used indoors in any case.

USE-2 may be used indoors if in conduit.

URD quadplex
Doesn’t seem right. Says assembled from USE-2 And says #2 aluminum is rated for 155 amps
 
I'm under the impression that the -2 suffix means same ampacity rating wet as dry, like other wire types.
 
This question is very academic, but uncommon for it to impact what you can do in practice. The short answer to the academic question is "False", as neither wire types are permitted indoors if USE or USE-2 is all that we know about the wire type. The long answer is, it is most probable that you can use it indoors in conduit, but you have a burden of proof to look for other ratings that it also carries.

Most USE wire and USE-2 wire, that you will find manufactured today, also carries ratings of RHH/RHW/RHW-2, that allow it to be used according to the uses permitted of these wire types. I.e. inside buildings in conduit, as well as other uses such as aerial cable on messenger wires. I have never seen wire that exclusively carries ratings of either USE or USE-2, without also carrying ratings in either the RH-family or the XH-family (XHH, XHHW, & XHHW-2). These ratings permit you to use it just like any other building wire, once you account for its larger diameter due to significantly thicker insulation.

If you did find wire in the USE-family, that didn't also carry ratings in either of the other two aforementioned families, then you would be restricted to exclusively using it as underground service entrance wire as the name implies. It is only permitted underground, and only permitted above ground where necessary to terminate on service equipment. The -2 rating indicates dual rated for both 75C and 90C, and therefore the 90C rating can be used as a starting point for derate calculations. Straight USE is 75C rated, while USE-2 is 90C rated. Both are wet-location rated, but neither is permitted inside buildings without also carrying other ratings to override this restriction (which is the case for most USE and USE-2 wire made today).
 
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USE is rated 75C in dry or damp conditions, 90C in wet.
USE-2 is 90C in wet,dry, or damp.
neither are permitted indoors, conduit or not
 
Thank you.
Why is #2 alum rated at 155 amps?

A cable needs to have an NEC designation to be used in applications governed by the NEC. When you use it for applications governed by the NEC, the ampacities in the NEC for that designation, will override larger ampacities indicated on the product datasheet. URD is not one of these designations. It would have to carry additional designations to be used where governed by the NEC.

URD stands for underground residential distribution, and is used by utilities for distributing power underground on the utility's side of the service point. URD secondary cable is what the utility would use, for feeding a neighborhood of homes from a common pad-mount transformer that the utility owns. The utility isn't governed by the NEC, and has different standards for what ampacities they can use on their wires. The NEC ampacities are more conservative, because of the greater risk of burning down buildings, if there is a failure of the wiring.
 
In general, you can't use the 90C column for wire ampacities due to 110.14(C)1(b). Only the 75C column can be used, unless you're talking NM/UF, etc which use the 60C.

That said, you need 3/0 AL for 150 amps. I'll tell you right now, I'd switch it all to a 200 amp service and use 4/0 AL. 150A services are kind of a redheaded stepchild, 200A are FAR more common. Price it both ways, I bet you'll be surprised how close the costs compare.
 
supply houses here still get some straight USE rated assemblies, mostly in sizes/types that are common on agricultural applications.

Common sizes that are used for entering buildings they will have in dual rating or even both dual and straight USE. Straight USE usually cost less, why IDK. Seems likely it is same product with different label, though the dual rated often is also compact conductor where the straight USE is not compact conductor, maybe even different alloy, haven't paid too close attention to that.
 
What do you mean shenanigans? My point was just that there exists USE that is not also RHH. I never said there does not exist USE that is also RHH.
There may be, but you didn't provide such an example. URD is not USE, even if the second and third letters are cleverly only one shift away in the alphabet. Hence, "shenanigans," since you were claiming to provide such evidence. Load up a picture of your sample if you think that will settle it.
 
There may be, but you didn't provide such an example. URD is not USE, even if the second and third letters are cleverly only one shift away in the alphabet. Hence, "shenanigans," since you were claiming to provide such evidence. Load up a picture of your sample if you think that will settle it.
Originally URD was primarily a multiplexed set of USE conductors. Commonly used by utilities. 30+ years ago that was about all we seen around here, until inspectors started figuring out it can't enter a building, then once people began demanding it supply houses began to stock it with conductors with multiple ratings, at least in most commonly requested sizes such as #2 triplex, 1/0 triplex, 2/0 triplex, 4/0 triplex and 250 triplex.
 
There may be, but you didn't provide such an example. URD is not USE, even if the second and third letters are cleverly only one shift away in the alphabet. Hence, "shenanigans," since you were claiming to provide such evidence. Load up a picture of your sample if you think that will settle it.


Yes I provided an example of USE that is NOT also marked RHH. Yes encore and I also called it "URD" but that is irrelevant. The point is if you have a piece of this encore stuff, URD/USE/fluffy duffy teddy bear cable - whatever - it says USE-2 on it with NO OTHER NEC recognized rating. That is how this came up was a discussion on whether there was cable marked USE that wasnt also marked RHH.
 
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