BX or plastic conduit? Need quick, safe, and neat looking rewire

[Banjorear]

OK, the house we recently moved into needs to help with wiring in the garage. It's got decent power, but just oddly placed. I want to relocated some of the outlets.

I'm kind of **** about wiring that is exposed/surfaced mounted, but the idea of moving stuff is not appealing. I guess I should have thought about this before I finished everything but I didn't.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't use BX or should I do it right and run plastic pipe?

I don't want to use metal conduit for I need to go through a dividing wall and other crazy bends that it just makes sense to use plastic pipe.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Tim

 

[Mustang51js]

Either will work, just depends on what you like better, probably easier to use bx but pipe would look straighter

 

[kd3pc]

if exposed to heat, the plastic will sag in a few months and be ugly as all get out, unless you set a ledge under it....

emt will not sag...

which ever you like best

 

[rockwithjason]

if you are **** you will hate both of those options

 

[Banjorear]

if you are **** you will hate both of those options

Sadly, I think you are right. I may just have to get over it and run some BX.

 

[Morrison]

Why can't you tear out the drywall and run the wires inside the wall?

 

[Norcal]

What you see in the big box stores is not BX, it's MC, Metal Clad cable, BX (AC ,Armored Cable) and MC have their own sections in the NEC.


MC has the same limitations as NM cable with requirements for protection from physical damage.

 

[MrMark]

if you are **** you will hate both of those options

Yep. You might as well run romex as MC unless you like the look of the MC. Neither are code as you describe the runs.

 

[Banjorear]

Why can't you tear out the drywall and run the wires inside the wall?

I've installed/place all of the shelving, work bench and tool boxes. It would be more work to do it that way.

So does "true" BX offer more protection than metal clad wire? I'm assuming you'd get it from a supply house.

 

[Norcal]

I've installed/place all of the shelving, work bench and tool boxes. It would be more work to do it that way.

So does "true" BX offer more protection than metal clad wire? I'm assuming you'd get it from a supply house.

AC also has the same limitations.

AC cable is NEC art.320, MC is art. 330.

 

[Banjorear]

AC also has the same limitations.

AC cable is NEC art.320, MC is art. 330.

Could you clarify what these numbers mean? I'm just a handy homeowner and not a pro electrician.

Thanks.

Tim

 

[alfredeneuman]

So does "true" BX offer more protection than metal clad wire? I'm assuming you'd get it from a supply house.

"True" BX does not exist. It was a generic name applied to the metal clad cable of the past.

A version of M/C cable that has a heavy steel armor is as close as you'll come.

It's still subject to the physical damage provision.

 

[pattenp]

EMT, PVC, MC and such, you just don't want to use those types of wiring protection in a location where the risk of damage is high. I will venture to guess you're not installing your wire where it will get smashed by a car or by swinging a wild hammer here and there. I'd lean towards to the PVC over MC. By code the PVC is to be supported at least every 3 feet and secured within 3 feet of every box. If supported correctly you should not have any big sagging problems. If you live where the temperature swings by a large amount and you have a long straight continuous run from wall corner to wall corner, use a slip joint in the line to allow the pipe to expand and contract.

 

[C96]

Is there any reason why I shouldn't use BX or should I do it right and run plastic pipe?

The correct wording is: or should I do it right and run EMT?
Answer: Yes

if you are **** you will hate both of those options

Agreed, leave the PVC for underground installations and use EMT for aboveground exposed work.

 

[Banjorear]

The correct wording is: or should I do it right and run EMT?
Answer: Yes



Agreed, leave the PVC for underground installations and use EMT for aboveground exposed work.

My previous garage had all EMT, but it was cleared out when I did the job. I guess I remember what a PITA is was bending it with nothing in the way. I need to be able to locate some new outlets without having to remove the stuff in the garage for my current location.

I thought PVC would help in that.

 

[Mustang51js]

Just use pvc if you want. It's ridiculous that people are saying to use emt to do it right. That's like saying to rip down all the Sheetrock and run romex in the walls to do it right.

 

[pattenp]

+1

Just use pvc if you want. It's ridiculous that people are saying to use emt to do it right. That's like saying to rip down all the Sheetrock and run romex in the walls to do it right.

 

[kd3pc]

unless it is attached every foot or less, the PVC will sag. even more so, when the temps fluctuate. If you don't mind a saggy noodle mounted on your wall, then go for it.

If looks are important use emt and a level, if properly bent and attached it will stay that way for decades. PVC not so much

 

[volleyball]

If you have that much stuff on the walls, you won't see any sag so pvc will work.

 

[pattenp]

Oh come on now.... needs to be supported every foot or less.

unless it is attached every foot or less, the PVC will sag. even more so, when the temps fluctuate. If you don't mind a saggy noodle mounted on your wall, then go for it.

If looks are important use emt and a level, if properly bent and attached it will stay that way for decades. PVC not so much

 

[rockwithjason]

it's true if you don't want sag. we have process areas that we use surface mount pvc in and in 6 months it looks like hell. it works, it just looks like hell

 

[Banjorear]

This is a garage that will heat up and cool down like a house so I don't think the PVC will see any extremes swings in temps.

 

[Cmreschke]

Emt, or mc cable IMO. The rules regarding mc and Romex are only slightly similar. If your on the surface of the wall your fine. I would def not use PVC. For looks reasons. I would go emt all the way. I'm doing it in my own building.

 

[Blk88GT]

Another vote for EMT.

 

[03roadking]

I used 1/2" pvc. I am liking how it turned out so far.

this thread shows some pics of it
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239131

 

[electrican]

just do it right, and use Emt, M/c cable will look bad also

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

I'm in the planning stages of a garage and know just enough about the NEC to be dangerous.

I'm guessing from the previous comments that the the newer NEC versions specify that wiring in a garage needs to be in some form of conduit, either EMT or PVC. My questions, if someone was taking the time and trouble to pipe a garage with conduit, why would he run Romex inside of it? Why take up all the space that Romex does in the conduit, when running THHN would be easier and less expensive?



.

 

[tmunsch]

Have you thought about wiremold? They sell it at most Home Improvement stores. It's modular, constructed of metal and can be installed with basic hand tools, no conduit bender etc. required. Makes a nice looking job too.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think any PVC run above grade is supposed to be schedule 80. I don't think the intent for PVC was to wire shops or garages. Can you do it, yes. Should you do it...NO...a couple of reasons....

Plastic conduit of any kind is brittle. In cases of extreme cold it can crack if subjected to impacts, where as not so much with metal conduit....

The other downside about running it inside a structure is flammability. In the case of an arc fault, PVC can be exposed to high temperatures and could ignite if the arc fault duration is excessive, it is plastic after all...

Run it in something metal and err on the side of caution......IMHO..

T,

 

[wingfootedgodhead]

+1 on EMT. Bending 1/2" or 3/4" EMT is not that big of a deal and a good skill to have in your arsenal.