Buying MH Cable

[TractorJeff]

I asked for a price on 250 feet of AL 2-2-2-4 MH Cable.
I was quoted $1.20/foot for "2-2-2-4-AL-URD-RCL QUAD ****".
3 questions:
Is $1.20 a foot a good price delivered?
Is this the wire I want to bury in conduit from the new Shop Panel to the Main Panel?
I know I need 185 feet so I would rather only buy 200 feet.
Is 250 feet a "Standard" length or a "Cut" length?

 

[brewchief]

Make sure the wire you buy can be used inside if you need it to go inside to a panel, much of whats labeled URD is not rated to be used indoors.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[pattenp]

No, you do not want URD QUAD ****. It is not allowed inside the structure because it only has USE-2 rating. You want MHF which has RHW/RHH/USE-2 insulation rating. If doing conduit panel to panel use the same sizes in Al XHHW-2. https://www.wireandcableyourway.com/xhhw-2/

 

[sberry]

Good answer. I am not sure what big houses get the rolls in, at least 500 and likely a 1000 ft. They sell a lot of cut to order, I bought a piece the other day. It was ser but you probably not being robbed at 1.20.

 

[Bert_]

As said above double check the rating. Don't just go by whether the guy calls it urd or whatever. Around me any twisted direct bury wire gets called URD, if you want the triple rated stuff you ask for it. Based on what you said I would guess it does not have the correct rating.

$1.20 is a good price for what you were quoted. Personally I'd be looking at XHHW individual conductors if you are planning on running conduit the whole way. It pulls a lot better than twisted direct buy wire. It looks like it could be cheaper also, looks like just under a $1/ft would get you all four wires in XHHW.

250' is not a standard length. I think the small reels with #2 are 1200' or 1500'. Places that sell a lot of wire by the foot might have something like a 5000' reel. Less waste that way.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Wire and Cable Your Way- MHF 2-2-2-4 $1.17/ft + SHIPPING

Yes, they will cut to length, no additional charge.
SWAG for shipping, about $0.30 but delivered !

 

[TractorJeff]

No, you do not want URD QUAD ****. It is not allowed inside the structure because it only has USE-2 rating. You want MHF which has RHW/RHH/USE-2 insulation rating. If doing conduit panel to panel use the same sizes in Al XHHW-2. https://www.wireandcableyourway.com/xhhw-2/

Even if it is in Conduit? Salesman is going to question why I don't want what he spec'ed.
If I can get the Shipping cost figured out I will go XHHW as an Electrician suggested that also for the same reason (Pulls easier)

theoldwizard1 says "SWAG for shipping, about $0.30 but delivered!"

What does SWAG mean?
Any idea what Shipping typically is?
The wire I was quoted would be shipped free also.

 

[75gmck25]

SWAG - silly wild *** guess. He is making an assumption/guess at how much the shipping cost will add to the wire price.

The shipping might be quite a bit, depending how they package it. I bought dual rated MHF from one of suppliers and they sent it on a wooden reel, so I paid shipping on both cable and a wooden reel.

Bruce

 

[pattenp]

Even if it is in Conduit? Salesman is going to question why I don't want what he spec'ed.

The NEC is very straight forward in saying that USE only rated cable is to be terminated outside of a structure. NEC 338.12(B)

Edit: Look at the insulation of the cable you are thinking of buying and see if it only list USE-2, not RHH or RHW-2 or USE-2. The cable with code name **** is only USE-2 to my knowledge. The reason USE-2 only can't go inside is because it is not fire resistant insulation.

 

[Bert_]

Insulation is USE only. If nothing else you want the AA-8000 alloy since it bends so much easier. XHHW and triple rated URD/ MHF is all AA-8000. Stabiloy is a brand that is commonly referred to in my part of the country when asking for the tripple rated URD.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

All true MHF I have seen has two black grounds, a black neutral with a white stripe, and a green ground. URD is typically all black conductors with a yellow stripe on the ground. As others have mentioned you want the triple rated cable and not just USE-2 unless you want to transition to SER to come into the structure. Don't worry about what the salesman says, follow the NEC.

 

[pattenp]

All true MHF I have seen has two black grounds, a black neutral with a white stripe, and a green ground. URD is typically all black conductors with a yellow stripe on the ground. As others have mentioned you want the triple rated cable and not just USE-2 unless you want to transition to SER to come into the structure. Don't worry about what the salesman says, follow the NEC.

Not trying to nitpick but the black with yellow stripe is designated as a neutral. URD is a distribution cable and is not listed as having a ground even though the neutral is a grounded conductor.

 

[TractorJeff]

Thanks Guys!
I had talked to an Electrician a while ago. He said XHHW first thing. Another Electrician mentioned MHF so I was thinking that sounded simple. I'll email the Sales guy on Monday to get prices on the XHHW.
Internet Cable prices maybe lower than the local Quotes but I always calculate Shipping into my total cost. Buying local sometimes comes out cheaper.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Not trying to nitpick but the black with yellow stripe is designated as a neutral. URD is a distribution cable and is not listed as having a ground even though the neutral is a grounded conductor.

You got me! I was thinking about 2-2-2-4 URD vs MHF.

 

[pattenp]

You got me! I was thinking about 2-2-2-4 URD vs MHF.

Not sure we're on the same sheet of music. Even 2-2-2-4 URD doesn't have an identified ground. It's three #2 black phase conductors and one #4 black w/yellow striped neutral. A lot of folks will interchange the terms URD and MHF as being the same.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Not sure we're on the same sheet of music. Even 2-2-2-4 URD doesn't have an identified ground. It's three #2 black phase conductors and one #4 black w/yellow striped neutral. A lot of folks will interchange the terms URD and MHF as being the same.

No, I understand they're not the same. With MHF you have 2 hots, 1 neutral, 1 ground. With the #4 being a ground. So I mistakenly called the #4 in the URD a ground instead of neutral.

Not enough coffee, brain no function.

 

[Showkey]

Thanks Guys!
I had talked to an Electrician a while ago. He said XHHW first thing. Another Electrician mentioned MHF so I was thinking that sounded simple. I'll email the Sales guy on Monday to get prices on the XHHW.
Internet Cable prices maybe lower than the local Quotes but I always calculate Shipping into my total cost. Buying local sometimes comes out cheaper.

It’s hard to believe Fleet Farm or Farm Fleet or Menards 11% wont end up less expensive than mail order with shipping ???????

 

[TractorJeff]

It’s hard to believe Fleet Farm or Farm Fleet or Menards 11% wont end up less expensive than mail order with shipping ???????

Well?
Not done Shopping for the Best Price yet!
It may come from Menards or Fleet Farm or it may come from a Supplier.
Its just that when you drop $300(?) its psychology cheaper than waiting for the 11% Rebate.