ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Photos for General Discussion Why is the cable taped?

It looks as though dishes are stacked there, and if they are placed there wet (Even though it has GFCI) what about contact with the box with standing water?

Is it possible for water to leak between the gaps in the spiral metal jacket?

I saw some similar armored cable yesterday....running along the floor line of a building and dissapearing into the pedestal of a phone booth. Yup....outside.

I'm hoping it's just armored telephone cable and not the wiring for the little light in the "PHONE" sign. However it looked just as fat as 14-gauge BX.

Iwire,
I agree with your comments on Grounding flexible metallic conduit.
I recieved a nasty electric shock a few years back, from a piece of this that was used on a Hot Water cylinder.
It had been taped at both ends, because the guy couldn't stop the fuse from blowing everytime he switched the cylinder on.
I removed it (after I had re-gathered my composure) and found a large section of bare, blackened Phase wire in the middle of the conduit.
I hate people that don't explain faults properly!.

Trumpy that is truly scary work, I am glad you are OK.


Enough knowledge to know how to isolate the fault but not any commonsense to fix it.

Bob

I see no hazard, or violation.
There are 2-screw connectors listed for MC/AC; you would have to be able to see the inside face of the connector, or the box, to determine if this is such a connector. The difference? The MC/AC connectors have "lips" to prevent the metal jacket from entering too far.
You are not required to use the red bushings (anti-short bushings) with MC, only AC.
Common trade practice is to wrap the end of the MC/AC with tape, as well as the wires within. This either anchors the bushing, or protects the wire in lieu of the bushing.
It appears that this tradesman was conscientious.

I see a violation of 250.86

2002 NEC

The armor of MC cable is a metal raceway and needs to be grounded even though it is not a grounded conductor.

It is certainly not an accepted trade practice in my area to wrap with tape, we do use red heads by choice but we do not tape them in place.