Using EMT to create a path for flush mount panels

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JohnME

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I have 2 panels, flush with the finished wall, I cannot get behind, or to the side of these panels. I want to create future access, and plan on running a 2" EMT pipe up 2 feet with a stub 90 and hit a metal wireway (trough) above a suspended ceiling.

To make a long story shorter, Can I enter my metal wireway with MC, strip the metal jacket off, and then run the wire down the pipe to the panel? I would rather do it this way to avoid pulling THHN, and splicing, but cant seem to find a section in the book to tell me yes or no. I will also have to up my pipe size, or run a more than one.

Or, if anyone else has an easier way, without fishing all the MC cables down the wall, I would be up for that as well.
 
I do what you describe quite often but keep in mind if the raceways are longer then 24" you will have to derate which will catch up to you at about 9 current carrying conductors with 15, 20 and 30 amp circuits.

I get around this a few ways, one is I make as may home runs as I can multi wire branch circuits, this cuts down the number of current carrying conductors.

I also live in MA and we use a less restrictive dearting table.

Sometimes we will install a ground bar in the trough and leave the grounds in the trough, less to fit in the pipe and panel.
 
So you're going to terminate the MC into your can, but remove about 6' of armored jacket and stuff the wires straight through the box, down the 90 and into the panel below?

I can't think of any reason this would not work. Pretty cool solution.
 
iwire- yes indeed, a ground bar will be installed up there in the trough to save all that wire. I am going to try to hit JUST 2' to avoid the de-rate factor.

fire alarm- I think it will be a great solution, as I am sure you know, they always want things added and that is hard in a flush mount panel situation with the framing in the way and finished walls in place.

captain crab- Only if the run is over 2'

Thanks guys.
 
JohnME said:
Only if the run is over 2'
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JohnME said:
plan on running a 2" EMT pipe up 2 feet with a stub 90 and hit a metal wireway
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Your total raceway length including the 90 sweeps will be less then 24"?

I figure a 2" EMT 90 sweep is probably pushing 18" so that leaves 6" for the rise from the panel.
 
iwire said:
I get around this a few ways, one is I make as may home runs as I can multi wire branch circuits, this cuts down the number of current carrying conductors.
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Of course, you can combine circuits in the trough and run them as MWBC's down the stub into the panel.


Of course, that means making joints, at least in the neutral, but you knew that already. :wink:
 
LarryFine said:
Of course, you can combine circuits in the trough and run them as MWBC's down the stub into the panel.


But you knew that already. :wink:
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We can do a lot of things, to me splicing in the trough is a time killer. :smile:

The home runs would be already grouped, I use a lot of 4 wire. 12/4, 10/4, sometimes we go crazy and use 12/8 or 10/8.
 
JohnME said:
We shall see. Maybe I will just bump the pipe size up to 4" EMT :)
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John, this won't change the derating requirement.

Roger
 
Your right. De-rating has nothing to do with the number of conductors permitted in a conduit, just their ability to carry rated current. I am sick and on a heavy dose of flu syrup, thats my excuse this time.
 
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The way i see it unless it was in your bid to provide a conduit and gutter for the future then it is cutting into your profit, or someone elses, who knows the future electrician who works on this project may not be u, and from a totaly differant company. Hope u get over your illness, try some Tequlia, lime and honey, i think it works i tried that remedy but can't remember the results:grin:
 
j-box said:
The way i see it unless it was in your bid to provide a conduit and gutter for the future then it is cutting into your profit, or someone elses, who knows the future electrician who works on this project may not be u, and from a totaly differant company. Hope u get over your illness, try some Tequlia, lime and honey, i think it works i tried that remedy but can't remember the results:grin:
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Thanks- but I dont drink, yet!

I guess I need to clarify the story. The pipes are really for my use- I have a horizontal stud (read header, but laid down on the weak side, sitting on top of my panel leaving me a 1/4" gap) above my panels, and if I were to get all of the cables down through it, it would be swiss cheese. The other issue is, theres a stud sitting on the top of this header. I think im going to rip out the 20" 2x4 "header" and 2' stud sitting on it, and tell them to pound sand. They are worried about the drywaller, as it is not a load bearing wall of any type. Well the way its framed, makes my life hell, as the above question really proves. and makes getting any cable into it, a pita.
 
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brandon2177k said:
iwire, where do you get 12/8 or 10/8, never heard of more than 12/4???
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A local cable manufacturer.

AFC

They have a large variety of cables and if you need something custom they will do it for 10,000 minimum.

Complete AFC Cable Catalog- 5.2 Meg pdf

I used to do a lot of office building work and typically we would order cable that matched the modular office cube requirements.
 
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Just wondering ?

Just wondering ?

iwire said:
Sometimes we will install a ground bar in the trough and leave the grounds in the trough, less to fit in the pipe and panel.
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Now what size ground do run to the panel ? And not using EMT is a Ground !
 
John,

I find multiple smaller conduits a more efficent way to do what you have in

mind. Each conduit can have up to 9 CCC before derating kicks in. JMO
 
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