Advantages of Metal Clad Cable (Why Electricians Love This Stuff!)
- No need for electrical conduit with indoor applications (since it has its own metal “armor”)
- Cable is flexible
- Cable cuts easily
- Many varieties useful for different applications (wet locations where corrosion can take place, direct burial, hospital settings, etc.)
- Indoor and outdoor use!
- Permitted in buildings with an unlimited height requirement
- Commercial and residential use
What are the uses of metal clad cable?
Uses Permitted for Metal-Clad Cable (Type MC) (1) In branch circuits, feeders, and services (2) In power, lighting, control, and signal circuits (3) Indoors or outdoors (4) Exposed or concealed (5) Directly buried (if identified for the purpose) (6) In a cable tray (7) In a raceway (8) As aerial ...
Can MCMC cable be used outside?
MC cable can be used inside and outside, in wet locations when specified, and in concealed or non-concealed areas. Advantages of Metal Clad Cable (Why Electricians Love This Stuff!) No need for electrical conduit with indoor applications (since it has its own metal “armor”)
What does the Code require when installing metal-clad cable in exposed work?
What does the Code require when installing metal-clad cable (Type MC) in exposed work? A. Exposed runs of Type MC cable must closely follow the surface of the building finish or running boards. Type MC cable installed on the bottom of floor or ceiling joists must be secured at every joist and not be subject to physical damage [Sec. 330.15].
Where do you put MC Cable on a floor?
A. Exposed runs of Type MC cable must closely follow the surface of the building finish or running boards. Type MC cable installed on the bottom of floor or ceiling joists must be secured at every joist and not be subject to physical damage [Sec. 330.15].
What Is Metal-Clad Cable?
How to cut MC cable?
What is a greenfield cable?
What is the most common size of FMC cable?
Do metal boxes need to be grounded?
Can you use MC cable with plastic box?
Can you attach a connector to a MC cable?
See 4 more
About this website
Where can I use metal clad cable?
Type MC cables are widely used in 600 volt and MV power, lighting and fixture whip control applications. They are permitted for use on services, feeders and branch circuits for power, lighting, control and signaling circuits in accordance with Article 330 and 725 of the NEC.
What cable is suitable for outdoor use?
For outside use, Steel Wired Armoured (SWA) cable is used to move power underneath the ground by burying the cable, or overhead using a catenary wire. The number of cores within the cable can range from two to four, depending on the purpose.
Is MC cable weatherproof?
330.10 Uses Permitted. The metallic covering is impervious to moisture. A jacket resistant to moisture is provided under the metal covering. The insulated conductors under the metallic covering are listed for use in wet locations.
Can armored cable be installed outside?
Feeder MC is primarily used in commercial construction, while jacketed MC is widely used in industrial applications. It is permitted for indoor or outdoor service, feeder, or branch circuits and can be exposed or concealed.
Can I use normal cable outside?
You should only consider running electrical cable outside if you're running power less than 10 feet from your home to the new outlet. You may also be interested in armoured cable for the shed. An option for above-ground wiring is to run the armoured cable from an adaptable junction box from your house to the shed.
How do I protect my cable outside?
Protection can come from placing the cables in metal conduit, plastic ducting, or where directly buried, through steel wire armouring. Unprotected outdoor cables must, as a minimum, be weather resistant, which includes protection against the typical ambient temperature range, UV light, ozone and water.
Can you use MC cable in wet locations?
Options for wet and damp location cable In order to comply with the NEC for use in wet locations, interlocked Type MC Cable must have a corrosion resistant jacket and wet location rated conductors. A common style cable that is rated for wet locations is a standard MC Cable with a PVC jacket.
What wire Cannot be used in wet locations?
THHN is thermoplastic, highly heat-resistant (up to 90 degrees C.), and nylon-jacketed. It is not suitable for wet locations. THWN is similar to THHN but is rated only for a maximum of 75 degrees C and it is suitable for wet locations.
What is metal clad cable used for?
Metal clad cable can be installed for service, feeder, and branch circuitry. In other words, MC is useful for wiring your main electrical panel from your service head, your sub panel (if applicable) to your main electrical panel, and your individual outlets and lighting circuits from your main electrical panel.
Does armoured cable need to be in conduit?
Every time you install an electrical cable in a place where it can be damaged (workshop, etc) NEC (National Electric Code) stipulates that the cable is to be put in a conduit. Armoured cable is no exception to this, as armour is not considered sufficient protection.
Can you bury armored cable?
Armoured cables and cables having an earthed metal sheath suitable for use as a protective conductor may be buried directly in the ground without further protection, except against corrosion, which may be negated by the provision of a plastic covering. Surface fixed cables may be fixed to permanent structures.
Where is MC cable not allowed?
330 of the NEC mentions that MC cable can be used indoor and outdoor but does not make mention of it being allowed or disallowed for use in damp environments. It does state that when used in wet locations there must be a corrosion-resistant jacket to protect the conductors.
Can I use Cat 5 cable outdoors?
Cat 6, Cat 5, or Cat 5e Ethernet cables can be run outdoors to network computers with a local area network (LAN) between homes or other buildings. Although ordinary Ethernet cables can be used, the better option is to use the more expensive weatherproof Cat 6 cables.
What is weather proof cable?
What is a Waterproof Cable? Waterproof cables or water-resistant cables typically come in multi-conductor constructions, designed for wet or aquatic applications. This is a difficult area to perform consistently as each aquatic environment brings its own set of obstacles.
Is 2.5 mm cable waterproof?
Can be used indoors, outdoors, underground, in concrete and in water.
Is Cat6 rated for outdoor?
Cat6 Shielded Cable is typically best for outdoor networking. This outdoor ethernet cable is best when placed underground. Most ethernet cable is laid indoors, but there are occasions where you will need your network to traverse outside areas, such as: Connecting two or more external buildings.
Installing MC Cable for Home Wiring
Methods for Installing MC Cable [ad#block]Electrical Question: When running MC cable inside the wall going from box to box does it need tied down? This electrical question came from: Tony, a Electrician from Irvine, California. See more about Electrical Wiring for California. Additional Comments: Very good website – very helpful.
What Is MC Cable Used For?
In other words, MC is useful for wiring your main electrical panel from your service head, your sub panel (if applicable) to your main electrical panel, and your individual outlets and lighting circuits from your main electrical panel. MC cable can be used inside and outside, in wet locations when specified, and in concealed or non-concealed areas.
What is MC wire?
Metal clad cable can be installed for service, feeder, and branch circuitry. In other words, MC is useful for wiring your main electrical panel from your service head, your sub panel (if applicable) to your main electrical panel, and your individual outlets and lighting circuits from your main electrical panel.
Is cable flexible?
Cable is flexible. Cable cuts easily. Many varieties useful for different applications (wet locations where corrosion can take place, direct burial, hospital settings, etc.) Indoor and outdoor use! Permitted in buildings with an unlimited height requirement. Commercial and residential use.
Can MC cable be outside?
The MC Cable itself can be outside but it can't terminate outside as the listed mc connectors say "DRY ONLY".
Is MC cable suitable for outdoor installation?
There is MC cable that is suitable for outdoor/wet installation and so are there suitable connections available. Just gotta find it......
Can MC cable be installed in wet areas?
As far as I am aware (I do not have my White Book here), standard MC cable that is commonly installed is not permitted to be installed in wet or damp locations. Typically we see "Parking Deck" MC cable installed outdoors. This cable has a nonmetallic covering over the metallic sheath. I will look later at the UL White Book, or some manufacturers sites to verify this.
Can MC be used outdoors?
MC can be used outdoors, wet (if conductors so rated), and direct buried (if cable so rated). Click to expand... The insulated conductors under the metallic covering are listed for use in wet locations and a corrosion-resistant jacket is provided over the metallic sheath. Click to expand... Not open for further replies.
What Is Metal-Clad Cable?
Metal-clad cable comes in several varieties, but the type you’ll find most commonly is three insulated wires (two circuit conductors and a green equipment grounding conductor) protected by a flexible armor usually made from aluminum. MC cable is identified by the gauge of the wire, not the diameter of the armor. The most common sizes are 14 gauge, 12 gauge, and 10 gauge.
How to cut MC cable?
If you just have one or two cuts to make and don’t want to invest in a cutting tool, bend the MC cable sharply until the armor pops open, and then use that opening to start the cut with a side/diagonal cutter. You only need to cut through one section in the armor. This method will leave a jagged edge that will need to be trimmed after the armor is separated and the cut ends of the MC cable will be sharp, so be sure to wear gloves.
What is a greenfield cable?
Flexible metal conduit (FMC) is commonly called “Greenfield.”. The main difference between MC cable and FMC is that FMC doesn’t have the insulated wires pre-installed; you have to pull them through instead. This requires more work but gives you the option of pulling, and protecting, more than one circuit in the same conduit.
What is the most common size of FMC cable?
It also allows you to add wires in the future, something you can’t do with MC cable. FMC is identified by its diameter; the most common sizes are 1/2-in., 3/4-in. and 1-in. 4 / 12.
Do metal boxes need to be grounded?
Whether it’s the first box in a line or the only one on an entire circuit, every metal box needs to be grounded. Grounding a box is as simple as connecting the incoming and outgoing ground wires to a pigtail, and then connecting the pigtail to the box with a grounding screw.
Can you use MC cable with plastic box?
Plastic or fiberglass electrical boxes aren’t designed to be used with MC cable. Even if you’re able to rig up a connection to a plastic box, you will fail the electrical inspection. Make sure the metal box has knockout holes located where you need them, and don’t rely on the spurs on the bracket to hold the box in place—add a couple of screws as well.
Can you attach a connector to a MC cable?
You can attach a connector to MC cable, then join it to the box, but it’s easier to mount the connector on the box before feeding the wires through. Connectors like those shown above are popular with electricians because the one screw secures both the connector to the box and the MC cable to the connector.
