Using Regular MC Cable in Unfinished Basement
- Thread starter Tainted
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
If that were true we would be allowed to run nm cable in basements. It is installed all over the country even in damp crawl spaces. I have never heard of anyone being rejected for using mc in a basement. If the basement is dripping wet that is one thing.
Look at definitions of Locations/ wet dry and damp in art. 100
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
A normal unfinished basement is a dry location.
Here’s what I found:
Location, Damp. Locations protected from weather and not subject to saturation with water or other liquids but subject to moderate degrees of moisture. Examples of such locations include partially protected locations under canopies, marquees, roofed open porches, and like locations, and interior locations subject to moderate degrees of moisture, such as some basements, some barns, and some cold storage warehouses.
as you can see, it mentions basements
How would you know if a “normal” unfinished basement is a dry location, is that subjective?
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Notice the definition says some barns, basements etc. That is why I stated if the basement is very wet then it is an issue but it will be a subjective call as to what is damp.
At what percent humidity is it considered damp? It would have to be very damp to be an issue imo. You may very well have an inspector who thinks all basements are damp.
I lived in NYC and our basement wasn't damp in fact most basements in the city had furnace down there that kept things fairly dry
At what percent humidity is it considered damp? It would have to be very damp to be an issue imo. You may very well have an inspector who thinks all basements are damp.
I lived in NYC and our basement wasn't damp in fact most basements in the city had furnace down there that kept things fairly dry
Ok, so mc cables in basements are installed everywhere in NYC? Reason I’m worried is because I am gonna spec out MC cable feeders with cable tray located in basement where I will be terminating to meter banks
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
When I worked there it was ac cable but that is an armored cable also but that was 50+ years ago.
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Lol, ok I get it
@infinity
what’s your take on this infinity? Have you seen or worked with MC cables in unfinished basements in NYC?
hbiss
EC, Westchester, New York NEC: 2014
- Location
- Hawthorne, New York NEC: 2014
- Occupation
- EC
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
I didn't even see that Infinity responded in post #3. A basement is a dry location.
Fred B
Senior Member
- Location
- Upstate, NY
- Occupation
- Electrician
This is a new concept, I hope most basements are dry or installation near 100% of residential here in upstate illegal, almost none are MC, let alone piped, almost all are NM. Most older basements around here have stacked stone wall with sumps or perimeter trench drainage, only new pours seemed to be somewhat no planned water ingress.
MyCleveland
Senior Member
- Location
- Cleveland, Ohio
I tried implying in an earlier thread you needed help with this project.
Now it seems others are selecting just to mock you without any advise.
Recall the job Infinity shared with you where the original design was scraped and the ECs ideas were taken. This is where your job is headed. Keep in mind, you will get to redraw everything with the new design.
And I appreciate everyone for trying to help, isn't this forum what this is for? I don't understand the reason to mock me. I'm just looking for different options and different ideas and I took a lot of the advice from here which I'm grateful for...
Not all ECs are the same. Some give you what you tell them and if there is a change here and there, so be it because I'm not the one installing anything.
AC\DC
Senior Member
- Location
- Florence,Oregon,Lane
- Occupation
- EC
I don’t see anyone mocking him! Post # 2,3,16 gave them their interpretation of the question he posed. Seems like they posted valid reason for the basements to be a dry location.
Mdsparky
Member
- Location
- massachusetts
- Occupation
- electrician
Judgment call .
But, and correct me if I'm wrong , it wasn't all that long ago that M.C. ,as long as either the conductors OR the outside jacket was rated for a wet location, it could be used outside . My guess the conductors are rated . Still it's a Judgment call .
But, and correct me if I'm wrong , it wasn't all that long ago that M.C. ,as long as either the conductors OR the outside jacket was rated for a wet location, it could be used outside . My guess the conductors are rated . Still it's a Judgment call .
- Status