Can you place romex in EMT? Where in the code does it say you can or cant? I have asked this question to 3 electricians and got 3 different answers. Its a 40' run of 1/2"emt with 10/3 romex going into it. Thanks for any help.

WildTurkey101;

check out page 70-617 of the 02' , notes to tables #9

btw~ welcome to ECN

99NEC Ch.9 Notes to Tables “A multiconductor cable of two or more conductors shall be treated as a single conductor for calculating percentage conduit fill area. For cables that have elliptical cross sections, the cross-sectional area calculation shall be based on using the major diameter of the ellipse as a circle diameter.”

Not sure if this would be the case for “Over 2 Wires: 40%” or “1 Wire: 53%” fill.

10/3 NM-B will probably need larger than ½-inch tubing.

WildTurkey101...( I have asked this question to 3 electricians and got 3 different answers.)...so what was their answers.

is the 10/3 cable being installed in the conduit for protection against physical damage.?


sparky ....what page.

wildturkey :

for 10/3 romax cables(wires) you have to run it in 3/4 emt conduct. btw 1/2 inch conduct wont fit with 10/3 belive me it is a pain in the butt with that but i did check on nec 99 version it say same way check the area fill for conduct

merci marc

Lighthouse, the answers were "yes you can", "no you cant", and "what the heck are you talking about". The 10/3 is running down the side of a house and I was going to place it in some EMT. I just wanted to make sure I wasnt breaking any code rules. Thanks for all the quick replys.

Is this running down the inside or outside of the house?

Jim, it is running along the outside of a house.

334.15 2002 code

just to make your morning i'll ask if if needs to be grounded....

Turkey,

If it is installed outdoors, you can not install NM cable inside the EMT, it would have to be UF.
If a conduit is installed in a wet location, the interior of it is considered a wet location as well. NM cable is only suitable for normally dry locations per 334.10 (A)
BTW,
There are those who believe that NM cable installed in conduit is a violation of 334.40 which requires it to be secured within 12" of your boxes, etc. If the cable is in conduit, this requirement can not be met.

Redsy, boxes do have interior clamps which would meet code.

Sparky, the conduit would be grounded provided the romex ground was connected to the box.

Turkey,
Why would you run romex in emt. It seems to me to be much easier to run THWN in the conduit instead.

I don't understand the concept of running romex in conduit!! That 10/3 romex, will hardly fit in ½" and will still be tight in 3/4", even in 3/4" you won't get 10/3 around more than 1 90 degree bend. Save yourself a lot of headache and use single conductors in the conduit. If it is in the middle of the run splice in correctly sized boxes at each end.

10 ga. THWN would be a better choice, and cheaper too.

gramps

tsolanto,

I'm not sure the conduit can be connected to the box if it is the type of box that has NM cable clamps?
BTW,
I am not opposed to the practice of using a section of EMT for protecting drops of NM cable to outlet boxes, in a basement, for example.
I know of at least one authority who considers it a violation. My opinion is that, with a proper transition fitting, the intent of the above mentioned article is satisfied.
Still thumbs down on wet locations, though.

[This message has been edited by Redsy (edited 02-11-2003).]

This is the very type of thing that caused so many problems in getting a workable code passed. I believe that Mr. M, a board member, said it all when he insisted that "common sense" prevail. I have minimal amounts of romex in EMT as well as PVC. As long as the EMT has watertight fittings and boxes there is no valid reason to exclude.
Many of the farms in the county have EMT w/romex, most in WP raceways. They are used for grain dryers, farrow houses, butchering houses, etc and as some are under the county health dept full inspections as to safety are performed.
Rowdy

As has been noted romex is only allowed in a normally dry location. No matter what type of conduit usad in a wet or damp location especally outside you will get some condensation in it. How much depends on mother nature's weather in your area. Outside is a violation. Inside may not be if you can make the appropate transitions between wiring methods.

Here in Long Island romex was allowed for many years to be installed in conduit outside. It lasted indefinetly.... I have never encountered a problem caused by this practice. However in the last year or so the AHJ's are now violating this practice for the reasons described in this post.

Don't agree with it...Gota live with it...