ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues Wiring Methods

Is it legal or feasible to use a conduit body to transition from electrical metallic tubing (EMT) to type SOOW power cord with a fitting that joins these two raceways instead of installing a box?

Above hung ceiling will be EMT, Below will be the Pwr Coord. The conduit will be used to splice 3#6AWG & 1#10AWG wire.

Thanks in advance.

IF you could locate a condulet that was identified for containing splices, and of sufficient size (CI) for the conductors....no problem.

Please keep in mind the sparky that will have to do this, IF you locate a compliant condulet.

How do I locate a compliant conduit body?

That's not going to be easy.

There are condulets that are identified/listed as suitable for splicing, and those should be marked with CI capacity or quantity & size of conductors.

RedDot may be a mfg to start with, or a good counter guy at a real supply house.

Personally, I would go with a suitable box.

The code reference you are dealing with is Article 314 Section 314.16(C).

A little further on this.

(C) Conduit Bodies.
(1) General. Conduit bodies enclosing 6 AWG conductors
or smaller, other than short-radius conduit bodies as described
in 314.16(C)(2), shall have a cross-sectional area
not less than twice the cross-sectional area of the largest
conduit or tubing to which they can be attached. The maximum
number of conductors permitted shall be the maximum
number permitted by Table 1 of Chapter 9 for the
conduit or tubing to which it is attached.
(2) With Splices, Taps, or Devices. Only those conduit
bodies that are durably and legibly marked by the manufacturer
with their volume shall be permitted to contain
splices, taps, or devices. The maximum number of conductors
shall be calculated in accordance with 314.16(B). Conduit
bodies shall be supported in a rigid and secure manner

314.16 (b) table requires 5 CI for each #6, & 2.5 CIfor the #10

Sounds like 38.5CI .

Using Red Dot mfg data, you will need a 2" LB/LL/LR for your conductors.

or......?

sparky:

I really had a thought about the above, but I wanted to stay serious.

Just how far is it from your last box?

I see no problem with using a simple connector/coupling/cord grip assembly on the end of the pipe, with the cord running in the pipe all the way back to the box- thus not needing a splice at the transition.

"Cord in a raceway" would raise an eyebrow in a lot of places.
It is not a chapter 3 wiring method.