what is MCM?

Status
Not open for further replies.
G

goldenco

Member
I'm looking at a set of plans where it is proposed to install 4-500 MCM THHN CU conductors in a 3 -1/2" conduit, which I presume will be RMC. I'm familiar with AWG and KCMIL, but MCM is new to me.
 
MCM is precisely the same as KCMIL. It is the older version. I believe the initial "M" comes from the Roman numeral that represents 1000. Some have said that it comes from the French word, "Mille," which also means 1000.

Welcome to the forum.
 
I am getting old!

I am getting old!

I can't believe kcmil has been around so long that some people do not know what MCM means. This is a mix of Roman Numerals and abbreviations, M = 1000, C = circular, and the second M = mils (0.001 diameter). I am getting old right before my eyes! :rolleyes:
 
charlie said:
I can't believe kcmil has been around so long that some people do not know what MCM means. This is a mix of Roman Numerals and abbreviations, M = 1000, C = circular, and the second M = mils (0.001 diameter). I am getting old right before my eyes! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...


If it makes you feel better, T310.16 used MCM up through the '87. In the '90, it was changed to KCMIL.
wink3.gif
 
480sparky said:
If it makes you feel better, T310.16 used MCM up through the '87. In the '90, it was changed to KCMIL.
wink3.gif
Click to expand...

In '87 I was in the 2nd grade. By '90, I had made it all the way to 5th grade. If it didn't have to do with Legos or Transformers (the robots, not the electromagnetic devices) I didn't care about it. However, the wire manufacturer that I worked for up until mid-November used MCM even more than kcmil, so I don't have any problem with either of them. :) :D
 
It makes me feel old and I am only 29. It took me time to get MCM out of my head, and get use to Kcmills.
 
480sparky said:
Now you need to let loose of 'fixture' and substitute 'luminaire'. :cool:
Click to expand...
Probably not going to happen but some one nailed me one time when I called a 8 foot t-12 lamp a "bulb" so now when I discuss lamps and bulbs I stop to think who I am talking to. If I am talking to a tradesman then I use the correct name. If it anyone else then I call everything (HID lamps, flourescent lamps, or an A19 bulb) light bulbs so I don't confuse them.

I need to go re-lamp some 'luminaires' :cool:
 
i too feel old at 30. In an earlier post just today I refered to it as mcm Ive never head it anything else Is it just a regional thing perhaps as is unistrut to kenorff?
 
480sparky said:
Now you need to let loose of 'fixture' and substitute 'luminaire'. :cool:
Click to expand...
That's a good point!! I can't stand that word "luinaire". Why can't the code just call it what it is? It's a light fixture. That sounds alot better than luminaire. Luminaire sounds stuck up, arrogant and kind of frenchish. :)
 
I still some new conductors come to the job site with xxx MCM on the conductors.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top