ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (Scott35), 273 guests, and 22 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#212056 12/05/13 08:28 PM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 15
B
boora2 Offline OP
Member
We rewired a house recently that had been subject to rodent damage,they chewed the rubber wires,which were in RMC,unusual in Australia,used 4mm 2 core romex for power ground terminal just pigtailed to the box,inspector says we should have used 3 core,pigtailing to the box at every j box or outlet,etc,i disagreed,who is right.

boora2 #212057 12/05/13 09:42 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 984
Likes: 1
G
Member
He is.


Ghost307
boora2 #212059 12/05/13 11:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 7
Member
boora:
Please placeyour posts in the 'Non-US Electrical Systems Area".

Practice here in US is that any metal box, as well as the device be bonded to an equipment bonding conductor. That is either a bare, or green insulated conductor.

12/2 NMC(Romex) is 1-black insulated (hot); 1-white insulated (neutral); and 1-bare conductor. All are 12AWG.



John
boora2 #212060 12/06/13 12:20 AM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 15
B
boora2 Offline OP
Member
Thank you guys,when I worked in the US only EMT had to have a ground wire ,Most RMC used the conduit as the ground,but I suppose will know next time.

boora2 #212061 12/06/13 11:23 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member

EMT is recognized as a grounding conductor, and always has been, in the US.

No ground wire is required.

boora2 #212062 12/06/13 12:26 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 984
Likes: 1
G
Member
Although EMT is indeed recognized as a grounding path, I have seen many jobs where an additional ground conductor is required for the specific job.
Be sure and check what the Specifications and local amendments to the Code may say.


Ghost307
boora2 #212064 12/06/13 10:07 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,273
T
Member
ONE reason that a bonding conductor is mandated is the real world experience of looking at loose set-screw fittings.

I've seen rush jobs where it became obvious that the original installer was never returning back to tighten half of the set screws! He'd slap on a coupling, tighten it, slam the bare end into the running stub, strap it, and move on. Going back ten feet to hit the other setscrew was just too tedious for this fellow.

Needless to say: the bonding to ground was terrible.

This sloppy method is NOT at all rare. You'll see a lot of it on non-union, rush-paced work. (Big box retail, grocery stores, etc.)

I just witnessed a code violating EMT job at the local auto parts house. The EC didn't EVER strap EMT running from purlin to purlin when they ran square to the purlins. Instead, they just settled for a naked, unsupported run from box to box -- all in plain view -- this was an open ceiling scheme.

In similar situations, my EC would always use back to back nineties so that the EMT could be strapped to the purlins before being sent over to the other side.

As installed, the EMT is going to separate in any earthquake -- and this is California.

The EC did do a bang-up job straping LV flex runs to the F/A system, though. So he has that going for him.


Tesla
boora2 #212065 12/06/13 10:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
I always wonder at the difficulty some places seem to have in running EMT- and I marvel at the religious fervor of those who like seeing a green wire!

The Steel Tube Institute has a link to a UL grounding study of EMT. The amount of fault current EMT can carry is awesome. I was there for some of the tests- and, trust me, there were plenty of loose connections in the test set-up. (They didn't plan it that way, it's just that their techs are not electricians!)

Somehow Chicago seems to get along just fine without that redundant green wire. About the only time Chicago electricians like the green wire is when they can use it as a pull string smile

Adding a few more lines to the NEC is not going to help, when the issue is careless or incompetent installation.

I recently worked on a 20A circuit that had a #10 feeding the box, a #12 to the appliance, and a #14 ground wire - all run in EMT. One could see from afar that whoever ran the pipe was not very practiced in either running pipe, or in mounting to industrial construction.

Some folks could mess up a one-piece puzzle.

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,273
T
Member
I've seen RTU EMT runs that were -- literally -- falling apart. Yep, no bonding conductor.

And, yes, set screws for outdoors, roof top HVAC installations.

With experience, I just started to insist on green for EVERY exterior run. It's a trivial expense in the over all scheme of things.


Tesla
boora2 #212076 12/09/13 02:04 PM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 134
D
Member
Boora
Think you'll need to consult AS3000:2007 assuming that is the current issue in Oz.
Here in the UK BS7671 still permits the use of screwed steel conduit, trunking, SWA & MI sheath to be used as a circuit protective conductor (ground wire) in final circuits subject to compliance with EFLI values. A fly-lead tail from mounting boxes to wiring accessories and light fittings is required as you describe.
However although our regs permit this use most specifications call for the installation of a separate green & yellow conductor for each circuit.
It would be pretty much unheard of to rewire an old steel conduit installation and not run an earth along with the circuit conductors. Most sparks would not trust the integrity of old steel conduit - which is typically black enamelled & prone to corrosion - especially where it is concealed within the building fabric.

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5