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#44981 11/16/04 10:19 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
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Ok, this is not a joke. A contractor called me and told me an inspector in a neighboring jurisdiction had told him EMT connector locknuts were no longer acceptable for grounding when using the conduit as an equipment ground. All locknuts have to be replaced with the grounding type locknut with the little screw.
The inspector said he was told this at a seminar and no other info was forthcoming. I checked the UL info on EMT fittings and there were no restrictions. The KO's were cut accurately and there were no concentric or eccentric KO's. Voltage was 480.
Anybody heard of anything regarding this?


Larry LeVoir
Inspector
City of Irvine, CA
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,716
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Member
It sounds to me that this inspector had dosed off during the seminar and awoke to hear only a part of a conversation.

If this is truly the case, it is a secret to me as well as it is to you.

Roger

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,876
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e57 Offline
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Simularly, but not for Equipment Ground, around here SF, CA we must use grounding type lock-nuts, or ground bushiings on conduits for electrode, and bonding conductors. I don't see a problem for EG's.

But with 277/480, they want Ground bushings, or Ground lock-nuts on all concentric, and eccentric KO's. Something I dont see a point in.

Quote
250.97 Bonding for Over 250 Volts.
For circuits of over 250 volts to ground, the electrical continuity of metal raceways and cables with metal sheaths that contain any conductor other than service conductors shall be ensured by one or more of the methods specified for services in 250.92(B), except for (1).
Exception: Where oversized, concentric, or eccentric knockouts are not encountered, or where a box or enclosure with concentric or eccentric knockouts is listed for the purpose, the following methods shall be permitted:
(a) Threadless couplings and connectors for cables with metal sheaths
(b) Two locknuts, on rigid metal conduit or intermediate metal conduit, one inside and one outside of boxes and cabinets
(c) Fittings with shoulders that seat firmly against the box or cabinet, such as electrical metallic tubing connectors, flexible metal conduit connectors, and cable connectors, with one locknut on the inside of boxes and cabinets
(d) Listed fittings that are identified for the purpose
Bonding around prepunched concentric or eccentric knockouts is not required if the enclosure containing the knockouts has been tested and is listed as suitable for bonding.
The methods in (a), (b), and (c) of the exception to 250.97 are permitted for circuits over 250 volts to ground only where there are no oversize, concentric, or eccentric knockouts. Note that method (c) permits fittings, such as EMT connectors, cable connectors, and similar fittings with shoulders that seat firmly against the metal of a box or cabinet, to be installed with only one locknut on the inside of the box.

[This message has been edited by e57 (edited 11-17-2004).]


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
Either I have had the same inspector, or they both attended the same seminar.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, and when I laughed and told him he was crazy, it did not endear me to him much.

Soare's Book on Grounding (8th Edition, pp129) has a report on a test conducted on conduit fittings and locknuts.
"Conduit Fitting Ground-Fault Current Withstand Capability" , issued by UL, 6/1/1992
In a nutshell,[my paraphrasing] of Over 300 assemblies tested, from 10 manufacturers, 7 were deemed as insufficient. Yes, 6 were EMT fittings with zinc die cast locknuts without serrations installed on painted surfaces. (an example of the test, 3/4" fittings were subjected to 1530 amps for a 6 second period).

The conclusion made--
"5. As a result of the tests, it was observed that if the fitting provides good electrical contact to both the enclosure and the conduit, the fitting will provide a suitable equipment path for fault current."


Good enough for me unless it's been superceded


My Mickey Mouse inspector wanted grounding locknuts, bonding bushings, or Myers hubs for all the EMT fittings. He wouldn't write it up when I asked him to. I just made sure that there was no paint under the locknuts, and left it.
I think the TI electrical contractor told me that he wanted them on the 4-S boxes, too.
He also wouldn't final the building shell because I had a bad light bulb.

It prompted me to (of course) bring it to ECN
https://www.electrical-contractor.net/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000678.html


I think he needs to get his money back for the seminar.

PS, sandsnow, I do mostly service & warranty, & small TI's. We've not been "formally introduced". My last trip into your town was to advise the girls at your new Chamber of Commerce office (our company did the work) to just leave the occ sensors alone. They were trying to use them like the wall switches in their homes, with "frustrating" results [Linked Image] (& I know some old AJS guys)



[This message has been edited by electure (edited 11-17-2004).]

Joined: Sep 2004
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electure
AJS, now that brings back memories. I still see guys from there.
Anyway, what you posted from the Soare's Book was just what I needed. [Linked Image] I suspected something like that. He only heard half of the story.

My conclusion to the test is then to make sure the locknut cuts through the paint. I need to read that portion of the Soare's Book first.

Thanks again.


Larry LeVoir
Inspector
City of Irvine, CA
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 265
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The inspector Electure is talking about made us run ground wires in ALL EMT conduits. I had 7' lengths of EMT running from 4s bracket boxes for switches to a J-Box in the ceiling. All of them needed grounds with bonds to the back of the box. Also, I fully tightened down all set screws and used a hammer and a screw driver on all lock nuts. So it wasn't an issue of a poor install.

I wonder what he is going to say when the 2002 NEC is adopted here in Cali with the new addition explicitly adding EMT as a EGC.

2002 NEC
358.60 Grounding. EMT shall be permitted as an equipment grounding conductor.

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e57 Offline
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Oh did you not know.... the "hammering a screw driver on the locknut is not an acceptable method. The Code says wrenchtight, not hammered with a screwdiver tight."

I was told that by an Inspector once, and luckily I had a little pair of Knipex channel locks on me... So I could make the lock-nuts "wrenchtight".

He nearly quoted a something I saw on an add for Klien "lock-nut pliers" something about to conform to the NEC all lock-nuts must be "wrenchtight", So now Klien makes the handy dandy not available anymore pliers, specificaly for the purpose.

Do you think I own a pair of "lock nut pliers"? NO!

I hammer them with a screwdriver (The Beater), and a pair of linemans, like everyone else.


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,391
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Moderator
Quote
"hammering a screw driver on the locknut is not an acceptable method. The Code says wrenchtight, not hammered with a screwdiver tight."

[Linked Image] LOL [Linked Image]

I wonder what that inspector would say if he saw me use a Bosch Bulldog set on hammer to tighten larger steel locknuts?

Try it before you laugh to much. [Linked Image]

Tighten a locknut with handtools as tight as you can, then put the Bulldog to it. It will spin the locknut like it was loose.

You will not have worry about the locknut cutting through the paint. [Linked Image]

Bob


Bob Badger
Construction & Maintenance Electrician
Massachusetts
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 265
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I don't have my code book with me, but I believe it says to make things wrenchtight. Though it doesn't say how you must achieve that so I am in full compliance [Linked Image]

Bob you are probably violating some torque spec using your Boshe like that :P

Joined: Aug 2002
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iwire said:
Quote
I wonder what that inspector would say if he saw me use a Bosch Bulldog set on hammer to tighten larger steel locknuts?

Don't you run the risk of stripping the threads on the nut or the connector by over-tightening it like that?

I know I've sheared threads off on terminal screws by "overtightening" them. Well, they were cheap devices anyway but it's still aggravating to waste time having to replace the device AGAIN.

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