ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Tapping NM

Bob:

The switch, outlet, and tap devices of insulating material that are permitted to be used without boxes in exposed cable wiring and for rewiring in existing buildings where the cable is concealed, etc., it not referring to the product that is used in the 545, etc., areas.

I searched my image library, and could not find the tap devices mentioned, but I am positive that they are the type that we can still purchase that are usually made of brown plastic with the receptacles and or switch all in one enclosure sort of like an in line switch used in the cord on a table lamp.

I can see where the words can be misinterpreted.

Besides that rule was in the code long before the 545 stuff came about.

The 2003 UL white book section for these interconnects (QAAV) directly references 99 NEC 336.21 [now 334.40(B)]

2003 UL White Book Page 79 (QAAV)

Bob:

I found the image that describes the devices mentioned in Article 336.

Joe you seem to be ignoring the fact that the UL book section for the tapping connector I posted references 334.40(B) that makes them one and the same.

Different looking devices but covered by the same requirement, no?

Maybe UL is recognizing more products under that section then they used to.

Looking at it from another direction.

If these are suitable NM taps in a manufactured home how can it be said they are unsafe or unsuitable for stick built homes?

This is all academic as I will probably never use these connectors.

I do use Re-Locs on MC cable and it seems to me that these are nothing different then re-locs for NM cable.

The surface devices pictured have been recognized in the NEC since at least 1940, Sec. 3369. In 1951 the new phrase " - - in existing buildings where the cable is concealed and fished- - " was added, with no record of the proposer or the reason. My opinion is that this splicing device may be OK for manufactured homes and mobile homes, but there is no place for it in normal wiring. How UL listed this is a mystery to me. Creighton

Creighton thanks for jumping in on this and please anyone else please jump in too.

I do want to ask about this.


What is the difference, do manufactured homes deserve a lower level of safety?

NM is NM no matter how or where the dwelling is built.

Bob

I have been following this post on the side but I would like to re- introduce the question regarding the manufactures installation instructions. Are these things only listed for modular and or manufactured homes????

The Handbook features a P & S Legrand series connector that I have not been able to locate on web, I have visited the MOLEX site posted by IWIRE and they only refer to articles 550 and 551, although some of the text would lead you to believe the product is suitable for all installations. The language in 334.40 (B) as well as 300.15 appears to be permissive, but I would like to see a manufacture actually list the product for a stick built structure.

As I mentioned when I previously investigated this type of product the manufactures’ literature pretty much limited its use to article 550 and 551 installations.

I’m also concerned regarding unrestricted use of this product if it is so difficult to locate in a supply house or a Mfg.Web sites. UL’s white book is generally generic to a product and relies on the manufactures product markings to indicate the suitability of similar designed devices.

Well I guess I would like to see a more definitive listing to insure this product is acceptable in all occupancies.

Charlie

In case no one noticed on page 34 of this months EC&M issue there is a description of the device made by AMP. It states "approved for use in a variety of applications, including residential branch circuits, manufactured housing, and pre fabricated building structures." Since manufactured housing and pre fab is mentioned in addition to "residential" this indicates to me they are approved for use in a stick dwelling.
BigB

[This message has been edited by BigB (edited 08-15-2004).]

these taps and connectors are the ones i was referring to in another forum thread that was some pictures posted of a house with duck taped blocks in the crawl space. the company i work for uses them in emergency type repairs for nm in walls and in attic spaces. there is a manufactured houseing site near us and we do a lot of the hookups when they slide the 2 halves together aswell as setting the services to them. the literature provided by the wholesale house at the time is that they were suitable for use in the walls and in the attic (listed and labeled for nm, as nmwire is to be used fished in voids ETC.)the company policy is use them only as a last last resort but we have used them, they are easy to get but they are spendy about 3-4 dollars