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
0 members (), 255 guests, and 16 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#95287 09/06/05 07:21 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 92
G
gserve Offline OP
Member
Has anyone heard of SER being listed as not needing to be protected from physical protection? Code reference please. Thanks

Stay up to Code with the Latest NEC:


>> 2023 NEC & Related Reference & Exam Prep
2023 NEC & Related Reference & Study Guides

Pass Your Exam the FIRST TIME with the Latest NEC & Exam Prep

>> 2020 NEC & Related Reference & Study Guides
 

#95288 09/06/05 08:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
"Needing protection" is a pretty subjective thing- you're generally stuck with what the AHJ says.

I can think of situations where unprotected, open (insulated) condustors have been in place for decades without harm; I also know of places where schedule 80 steel pipe has prooven inadequate.

The photo forums have countless pics of otherwise code-compliant installations where the components were seriously damaged. Such damage is proof that the original install was not adequate- and, with luck, the repair will provide better protection!

Since you mentioned SER, I can only speculate it is being used to supply power to a service. In that case, the local PoCo rules will also apply. These tend to be much more specific than the NEC, and vary widely from place to place.

#95289 09/06/05 09:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,507
G
Member
Check out 338.10(B)(4)(a) for a guide we need to look at the same protection as needed for NM cable.


George Little
#95290 09/07/05 07:08 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 92
G
gserve Offline OP
Member
I meant to say physical damage. I was told by someone that physical protection is not needed for SER because it is listed as not needing it.

#95291 09/07/05 05:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,507
G
Member
The someone who told you SE cable doesn't need protection was mistaken. Look at 230.50.


George Little
#95292 09/07/05 06:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 92
G
gserve Offline OP
Member
Let me describe the installation. This is a manufactured home. The Service equipment was over 30' away so a disconnect was installed on a 4x4 post next to the home URD was run from the service equipment to the disconnect in PVC. From the back of the disconnect a #2 SER was run under the manufactured home to the 1.5" stub from the panel and they used a 1.5" female PVC adapter and screwed in a 1.5" SER connector into it.They used a PVC 2 hole strap to support it to the frame.

#95293 09/07/05 10:44 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14
M
Member
George, as much as I respect your input, I must disagree. According to your response that would mean every service change that I have ever done that didnt need a riser was illegal, and out of the bottom of every meter can, if it wasnt in conduit, was illegal.

According to 230.50 they shall be protected against physical damage as in (A) Service cables, WHERE SUBJECT TO PHYSICAL DAMAGE, shall be protected by any of the following.....and so on.

At this point, the electrician should know where or where not the cable itself is subject to physical damage.

Let me edit this...on the side of a house, it is not exposed to PHYSICAL DAMAGE, in this case, it is not exposed to damage that I can see.



[This message has been edited by MI Sparky (edited 09-07-2005).]


I thought that was off!!!!
#95294 09/07/05 11:17 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
This protection thing seems to be regional.
In Md they routinely ran romex on running boards on the walls of garages and utility areas. Service entrance cable was strapped up the wall unprotected.
Here in Florida all of that is going to be in some kind of raceway.


Greg Fretwell
#95295 09/08/05 08:21 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,507
G
Member
Okay- Let me qualify my answer. The trigger for protection is if the cable is subject to physical damage. This becomes a case by case determination. But to say SE or SER cable don't need physical protection would be not accurate. If it's on the driveway side of a home and the driveway is narrow, maybe a car door opening could cause damage. If it's run through a crawl space it probably wouldn't need physical protection. If it's subject to lawn equipment or storage materials maybe it needs protection. So the answer is definitely/maybe it needs protection [Linked Image]


George Little
#95296 09/08/05 11:42 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
Sorta like "I can't tell you what it is, but I know it when I see it"


Greg Fretwell
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

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