Well, I’m finally getting my shop built. I’ll have a service run to it, but won’t have any electrical run inside. Most of the shops that I’ve been seeing have the electrical hard piped. I’m a little nervouse about taking that job on myself so I was interested in some alternatives. Is Bx a acceptable alternate? What about some of this flexible blue pipe?
If I do use Bx, I have to figure out the correct way to cut it. There just has to be a better way. I’ve been using a hacksaw to cut the one section and then would twist the jacket apart. This is dangerous to both the wire and my hand. How do you guys do it?
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as Wilson would say.."AAHHH Tim, they make a BX cutter, a little wheel does the work while the holder clamps the sheathing"
Try Greenlee.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Even better than the Greenlee version is the Roto-Split. Be sure to imsert those little red things or bushings in the cut ends to protect the wires.
The technical name for BX cable is, I think, AC cable and it has a layer of kraft paper and a small bare aluminum bonding wire. Our practice is to spiral about six inches of it back on the casing but this is not necessary and is fun, in its' own way. For short lengths, the casing of AC cable can be used for the ground bit I would prefer using a version that includes a dedicated ground wire.
MC cable is very similar to AC cable except that it has a touch, transparent mylar sheathe instead of paper and always has a green ground wire and no bonding wire. With both of these, there is a certain "grain" to the corrugations which means that it is a little easier to pull one direction than the other -- sort of like a barb effect. This is more noticeable when pulling thru metal studs. Both types are treated pretty much like Romex as far a drilling thru joints and supporting. There are sprecial connectors avalable.
~Peter
little red things = anti-shorts
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Easy for you guys is intimidating for me. I actually have the benders already, so there really is no reason I couldn't do the job in emt. I just thought the bx would be faster and easier (read fewer screwups thus less cost).
If I reading you guys, I am correct that if the wire is surface run or exposed that must be enclosed in something? What about that blue raceway?
Never heard of "blue raceway". Do you have a commercial name for it? Perhaps WireMold?
I'm not clear on whether you want to run on the surface or if you have open studs. If running on the surface, than EMT would be the way to go. WireMold type stuff would be more expensive.
If you need help, aid, assistance and/or advice on EMT bending, be sure to ask. [Hint hint.]
~Peter
If you feed a starving dog, he won't bite you. This is the fundamental difference between an Iraqi and a dog. -- Mark Twain
bx would be faster and easier
Faster and easier.... If you have stud walls why not romex. I have it in my shop and have zero problems.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
The walls are open right now, but will be closed. This is technically "commercial", so I think everything has to be piped.
The blue piping I've seen on a couple of commercial jobs. It's a flexible blue corrugated tube. Cuts easily with a utility knife and snaps into plastic joiners. Proably faster to run than Bx because you don't have to worry about cutting it. Definetly faster than hard pipe.
That would be Smurf Conduit. The real name.....is....oh gee....I forget! It is quick to cut and install, although I prefer EMT for it's rigidity and easier wire pulling.
PJ
Electrical non-metallic tubing perhaps or ENT perhaps?
Tim,
Either MC cable or Electrical Non-Metallic Tubing would suit you well.You could install either in your stud walls,and either can be run exposed per NEC where"... not subject to physical damage".MC cable would be a little faster and easier,ENT would give you more versatility in the future for changing the size and number of circuits.
Barry
Thanks for your help guys!
Hey Barry-that compressor you helped me wire up is still running strong! Thanks!
Running pipe is not brain surgery. Get a bender and a stack of it and go for it..
You can run romex in the attic and pipe from there down to the boxes.
If by hard-piped you mean conduit (EMT, electrical metal tubing), it really isn't that bad. It doesn't take that long to get good enough at bending to get by. An advantage of EMT is that you can change circuits around much easier by just doing a new wire pull, say, upgrading a 20A to a 30A circuit. The cost of a bender is not much more than a half dozen pre-formed 90 degree bends.
Edited 5/17/2004 1:17 pm ET by Jet Boy