ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area EMT question

The first time I ever heard much about smurf it was from a Carlon guy doing a road show for inspectors. One thing he made a point of saying was that you need to hear 2 clicks when you snap on the connectors. If they bite 2 corrugations, they are not coming apart.

I do find it interesting that they amended around article 362 in California.

I am also curious why people think this offers inferior protection than Romex. For example you can use ENT in steel stud punch outs without a grommet. (although it is tough to pull through)

Greg,

Around here the smurf tube isn't too popular either. I don't know why, but most EC's will use RX in houses, PVC in ground, EMT where subject to physical damage. Almost never see EMT inside closed wall construction around here. Maybe they will use MC or AC, sometimes I see smurf for low voltage but not a lot of it there either.

I really came from the commercial world and I appreciate a raceway. Romex is fine if you are sure that is the last thing you will ever want before you nail up that wall.

Did I ever tall you about my wife?

I like being able to say, no problem honey, I will shoot in another wire if I need it.

I know of at least one (significant player) EC that does not ship 12-2 to commercial jobs.

They, by policy, run only 12-3.(!)

This solves the need for the occasional extra ciruit in a stud wall. It bails them out of partially damaged cables -- a constant bane with the hacks out my way.

It also permits much dumber/ greener troops. Cable becomes just cable. There's no way they can install the wrong stuff.

The way they build up their D&B circuits drives everything towards 12-3 -- as against 12-4, which they shun.

If the job warrants, this rule is broken. (large tight bid)

It also permits them to stay 'on color' -- in the main. C phase loads are shifted to as many piped runs as possible, particularly back near the panel. Staying mostly on color makes circuit de-bug much quicker. Green troops are normally confounded by the idea of phases -- no matter how slow the instructer goes. They have to do it with their hands and over time finally pick it up. (Or maybe not)

You can run 10, 12/3 and someone will bunk it up. I'll put money on it...

Now you're talking odds.

You're right, of course. Somewhere out there someone is going to screw the pooch.

But, typically, the 12-3 cable is going to carry the day.

The contractor I'm talking about has done ALL of the calculations -- and concluded that 12-3 it is.

Take that for what it is.

I'm not questioning you. Wasn't my intention.

Finished wall, Greg?
The guy I was paired with when I first started my time, insisted I worked with 3/4" steel conduit.
In a house, this was in the late 1980's.
What we had back then was really strong arms and what we did was bend things a "bit" at a time, check it, if it looked good, we sent it up the wall.
Horizontal runs of anything back then were pretty much frowned on.
But then the TV aerial installer would come in and blast an RG-59/U co-axial cable across the same wall you'd just run steel conduit.
Sometimes they'd even knock a whopping great hole in the wall, to bond off our conduits, after the plasterers and painters had been in, of course.

This will be covered with T1-11 and then split bamboo. (at least the current plan. I think we are on plan #3 right now.