ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Romex short run/pipe

I agree with Electric eagle. The code section he refered to, allows you to use conduit to protect the wire. It doesn't say you have to break the conduit every 4 1/2 feet to staple the wire or break the conduit to staple the wire at the panel. I use the fitting that is both romex connector and EMT connector on the attic side and terminate the EMT at the panel as usual. I have never been called on it and have not lost a bit of sleep worrying about it either.

I think the key is 334.10(A)(1). Exterior conduit is a wet location.

Well, you are in "arid" Arizona. . .

Are you saying it never rains in Arizona so the outside of the home is not a wet location?

I believe the 2005 NEC will allow romex in conduit in the situation that aldav53 describes.

All conduit run out of doors is by definition (see Chapter 100) a wet location. Any conductors run in said conduit must be of the "W" type. NM is not, UF is. You could run UF indoors as well as outdoors, or do as you first thought, and switch wiring methods to THWN (not THHN) for the outdoor portion.

If the bottom end is open, it would drain any condensate that may form. (there are fittings designed for this purpose, or a small weep hole could be drilled in the bottom of the LB, in either case the entry into the panel would have to be sealed with duct-seal). It would be a simple matter to keep the conduit run from collecting any rainwater by the use of a gasket on the LB, and the use of raintight fittings, or by the use of PVC.

I use comp fittings with emt, so the NM is raintite. It enters a raintite outdoor panel. I put duct seal around the connector where it enters the panel and where it enters the soffit as an extra measure.

Aldav53, If the EMT is on the outside wall, NM isn't allowed in the location. The only modifier will be if the location is "protected". One might argue that an eave overhang of some distance is sufficient to protect the raceway of such and such length from the weather.

G.J., 334.10(A)(1) is unchanged in 2005. NM must still be installed in "normally dry locations."

In the attic - NM on one side of a 1900 (4" junction box), other side FMC (Greenfield), transition to EMT above the soffit on the exterior wall...

Hey, if I could fit a few more adapters in ther I would...

I think you could do it under 312-5(C) EX. The only thing is the pipe can't penetrate a structural ceiling, but this is a soffet. Would this be the same thing?

... This has been a note of contention I'd addressed on this forum once before.I had asked about it because there comes that time,when running a circuit in an unfinished basement,where you come down the wall with Romex,and you want it to be safe and look half-way decent,you sleeve it in pipe.You use a "from-to"... and I was told that that was wrong to do,...mainly because Romex is not rated for wet/damp locations...I must admit,..I still continue to do this,as I believe that if it's in conduit,..it's not exposed to the dampness/moisture,..etc. the same thing goes for running short lengths of Romex thru Liquid-Tite,outside,..as for an A/C unit..the wire is totally protected,grounded,bonded,and goes from the disconnect thru the Liquid-Tite,to the unit,and is protected from the elements therein,...why the problem??? Please clarify
Russ