BX for life

[mobiledynamics]

u can't teach a dog new tricks.....

I've been running AC wire forever. Even in my vacation home, where Romex is approved, I'll use BX for it's durability.

The only detriment I can see if just routing a slew of BX into the panel versus a very Compact bundle when using Romex.

I will use Romex from the low voltage transformer when I'm running 12V undercab lighting.

It's interesting seeing how many posts on Romex.

For all ya'll who live in AC/BX mandated code cities, or if given the option of Romex vesus AC wire, what do you choose.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Romex. Dont have to use extra tools like rotozips and snips.

 

[G_P]

Romex. Just dont see the need to use BX and the associated extra work that comes with it.

 

[Sneeze357]

Absolutely no need for that what so ever inside a wall or other similar space. Waste of time and money. It's a ***** to work with. Romex is a good, safe, proven product.

Exposed stuff in my shop however I love it.

 

[Techie1961]

I like BX myself but there is one thing that you need to watch out for, electrolysis. I have seen installations where the BX was in a damp environment and with some metal touching it, the aluminum exterior was corroded away. I work in dry cleaning facilities so it can be an issue for these locations. Romex would be better in some instances due to this.

 

[rockwithjason]

Absolutely no need for that what so ever inside a wall or other similar space. Waste of time and money. It's a ***** to work with. Romex is a good, safe, proven product.

Exposed stuff in my shop however I love it.

some cities like NYC use armored cable because of the rat problems. rats love to eat wire for some reason. if you don't have a big rat problem then you are safer. there are insurance statistics that site that houses that are piped in emt burn less but the difference is small.

 

[gasaxeman]

We run conduit here.
Lots of flexibility with a fully piped system. Pull additional circuits, switch legs where you want them, three ways , four ways , 15 amp, 20 amp.
Conduit size and wire fill obviously are factors but I can not count how many times I have added additional circuits or switching features to existing conduit systems.
I have installed 1000's of feet of the stuff and would not use anything else.
I have seen some pretty scary rope jobs.
We do use MC cable for fishing walls or greenfield for flexible connections in dry environments.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Ahhhh. I see tradesmen are here chiming in.

State your part of country and the ? .
Is exposed FLEX / AC/MC/Greenfield acceptable in you part of town (aside from whip lighting)

Out here in mind, it's considered hack work by any pro tradesman. Pipe on anything exposed (even interior spaces). Any sort of flex is IN WALL only.

Granted I've seen countless BX exposed....but it's considered hack work by the trades, if not *guys* like me who hire a Pro to do Pro jobs...

 

[gasaxeman]

1/2"" gf for wall fishing unless MC is legal. 3/8 whips for lighting in lay in ceilings. Otherwise hard pipe to everything.
Chicagoland area is the area.
Some of the collar counties where I am allow Romex for residential use. most custom homes are in conduit.
Also varies from village to village.



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[GYPSY400]

Around here.. Romex for inside walls , and BX for anything that can be seen.. Except outdoor and burial cable which is Tec90.. The rat issue in NYC is a good point though.. Goes to show how codes change by region.


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[Norcal]

BX is not a common material, metal clad, MC is.

 

[rockwithjason]

any of the armored cables are allowed to be run exposed here. romex can be run exposed only 8ft or higher from the floor. flex is run in wall and used for whips but very rarely for anything else even tho it's legal. pipe is most commonly run exposed in locations subject to damage

 

[rockwithjason]

We run conduit here.
Lots of flexibility with a fully piped system. Pull additional circuits, switch legs where you want them, three ways , four ways , 15 amp, 20 amp.
Conduit size and wire fill obviously are factors but I can not count how many times I have added additional circuits or switching features to existing conduit systems.
I have installed 1000's of feet of the stuff and would not use anything else.
I have seen some pretty scary rope jobs.
We do use MC cable for fishing walls or greenfield for flexible connections in dry environments.

i am totally jealous of piped houses. i have worked in a number of them over the years and they are so easy to modify

 

[AP514]

Well, I am in Houston...my whole house is MC cable being it is a Steel Frame house..Garage too..No way I was going to use Romex pulling it over metal studs and frames..I just got a 50Ft length of BX/AC-90 10/3 for Garage Compressor...open exposed in garage..

Romex sure would have been alot cheaper

 

[ishiboo]

Well, I am in Houston...my whole house is MC cable being it is a Steel Frame house..Garage too..No way I was going to use Romex pulling it over metal studs and frames..I just got a 50Ft length of BX/AC-90 10/3 for Garage Compressor...open exposed in garage..

Romex sure would have been alot cheaper

Uh, why? The bushings are super easy to use.

 

[dogdog]

Weird thing, NYC is EMT / Rigid conduit or BX only, not even direct burial cables for underground use. BX can not be exposed must be inside wall... weird stuff, this their 2012 adaption to the 2010 NEC.

 

[Norcal]

NM (Romex), AC (BX), MC,metal clad, are all subject to the same protection from physical damage requirements, the only things not would be rigid,or IMC.

 

[mobiledynamics]

FWIW, NYC has allowed ROMEX for single and double family homes for the last 4-6 years if memory recall,

 

[ny1]

I've seen my fair share of non working outlets and lights from mice and squirrels eating thru cable in vacation homes that sit empty 35 weeks a year. Defiantly something to think about.

 

[Zeke]

There is an older tract here in SoCal near the ocean and all wiring is in EMT. Each room has a center box for lighting and the outlets and switches are placed from that box radially over to and down the wall with no LB's. Really easy to work on or upgrade these houses.

Musta cost quite a bit of a premium though. It is my understanding that the city required this at one time. I think that was about the time cloth wrapped cables were being phased out. Someone couldn't wait.