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Posted By: watersparkfalls Bare Copper In Raceway - 03/28/14 12:43 AM
I went to look at a job, where some copper thieves stole the parking lot light control wires, from a church none the less.
I discovered the ground wire pulled with the home run is bare copper, which I thought was against code in a raceway. Am I right? Or was this another myth I believed in? Also what do you think about split bolting the 3 control wires and heat shrinking them in each hand hole? $50 a pop for the resin kits seems kinda pricing, when split bolts/heat shrink work just fine.

Thanks, H20
Posted By: Tesla Re: Bare Copper In Raceway - 03/28/14 01:47 AM
I don't work the traffic and signals market...

But the last NEC/ IBEW job I saw used bare #10 solid as the grounding conductor inside PVC for street illumination. It appeared that they used 1 1/4" as their minimum conduit size.

I was kind of jealous, they had an entire 20-foot double axle trailer dedicated to holding their conductor selections. I could never get such a rig to roll around our big box slabs.

That's the only contractor I can recall using bare grounding conductors -- excluding bare solid grounding electrode conductors.
Posted By: gfretwell Re: Bare Copper In Raceway - 03/28/14 01:54 AM
The only restriction I know that might affect that is that 8ga or larger solid is not allowed in a raceway.
The only exception I can think of is a GEC.

Quote
310.3 Stranded Conductors.
Where installed in raceways, conductors of size 8 AWG and larger shall be stranded.
Exception: As permitted or required elsewhere in this Code.
Posted By: HotLine1 Re: Bare Copper In Raceway - 03/28/14 02:54 PM
H2o:
No issue with the bare to my knowledge as Greg said.

Now, the split bolt issue. Do you mean 3 control conductors, or you have to put 3 into a split bolt?
Most, if not all split bolts are only listed/labeled (your choice) for two (2) conductors. ie; run/tap. Your AHJ may have an issue with 3 conductors.



Posted By: watersparkfalls Re: Bare Copper In Raceway - 03/28/14 07:19 PM
HotLine I was going to put all 3 control wires in the split bolt, NSI industries claim to have a listed split bolt for 3 copper wires. However I am leaning towards Ideals blue weatherproof wirenuts, they are rated for wet locations and my connections are in a hand hole, so might truly be the safest and cost effective way to reconnect lights. Need to secure hand holes from future thefts any thoughts on how to? Was thinking drilling and tapping, but that diamond plate is thick.

Not sure where I got it in my head "no bare in raceway" however I will double check my WAC(Washington Administrative Code)book, however if previous installer was signed off, must be fine.

Thanks,
H20
Posted By: HotLine1 Re: Bare Copper In Raceway - 03/28/14 07:50 PM
The Ideal big blues sound like a plan.
Posted By: sparkyinak Re: Bare Copper In Raceway - 03/29/14 07:02 PM
Bare copper ground in a conduit is not a code issue spec issue perhaps but not a code issue.

As for the split bolts/resin question. That depends on the "engineer" of the project. If done right, split bolt/resin is definently bullet proof for a long tern installation. Way better then wire nuts given their location. If no rework or add to later is not in the cards, bullet proof is a definent plus if the customers are willing to pay for it.
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