Electrical wire check before purchase

[1/4atatime]

I'm getting ready to run the wire to my new garage and want some confirmation I'm purchasing the right things.

Here is my current order for the wire part of the installation


So my understanding is that I can't run MHF under the house so that's what the SER will be for and I'll put that in conduit. Then I need to transition that out to the MHF so I'll use the inline splicers to handle that. The only question I guess I had was if I can run the MHF directly from outside into the panel in the garage or if I need a short piece of SER and more splicers. From what I've seen most just run it directly and not considered inside usage. Also I'll be using the 2 8ft 5/8 grounding rods and 6 awg copper so I can run it next to the building unprotected. I'm running 20amp outlets so I'll be using 12/2 MC for an all in one and save on conduit cost as local inspectors seem to be cool with MC around me in garages.

 

[sparky 1971]

I'm getting ready to run the wire to my new garage and want some confirmation I'm purchasing the right things.

Here is my current order for the wire part of the installation


So my understanding is that I can't run MHF under the house so that's what the SER will be for and I'll put that in conduit. Then I need to transition that out to the MHF so I'll use the inline splicers to handle that. The only question I guess I had was if I can run the MHF directly from outside into the panel in the garage or if I need a short piece of SER and more splicers

You can use MHF wherever you want to, it just has to be in conduit when it's not underground.

. From what I've seen most just run it directly and not considered inside usage. Also I'll be using the 2 8ft 5/8 grounding rods and 6 awg copper so I can run it next to the building unprotected. I'm running 20amp outlets so I'll be using 12/2 MC for an all in one and save on conduit cost as local inspectors seem to be cool with MC around me in garages.

You can use 20 amp outlets if you think it's neccessary, but you can use 15 amp receptacles on a 20 amp circuit as circuit as long as it's not a single. MC is fine, it just has to be protected from damage, which isn't defined so it's up to the AHJ.

 

[1/4atatime]

You can use MHF wherever you want to, it just has to be in conduit when it's not underground.

Huh well SER is cheaper and I from what I understand that's fine in conduit under the crawlspace right? Just MHF has to be outdoors

 

[sparky 1971]

Huh well SER is cheaper and I from what I understand that's fine in conduit under the crawlspace right? Just MHF has to be outdoors

MHF can be used anywhere, indoors or outdoors. It has to be in conduit when it's not underground. You can use SER if you want to. You might be able to route MHF so there are no splices, thus eliminating at least one junction box and splice taps.

SER can't be underground so if you want to use that, you'll have to splice it to the MHF.

 

[1/4atatime]

MHF can be used anywhere, indoors or outdoors. It has to be in conduit when it's not underground. You can use SER if you want to. You might be able to route MHF so there are no splices, thus eliminating at least one junction box and splice taps.

SER can't be underground so if you want to use that, you'll have to splice it to the MHF.

I thought about doing a straight run but with all the angles I going to have more than the allowed 360 degrees of bends in the NEC code from what I read

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Huh well SER is cheaper and I from what I understand that's fine in conduit under the crawlspace right? Just MHF has to be outdoors

The SER doesnt need to be in conduit in the crawlspace. i wouldnt bother with conduit unless its gonna somehow get damaged.

The MHF is not restricted to outdoor use only. it can be used indoors but MUST be in conduit.... pick your poison...

 

[mike93lx]

You aren't putting ser in conduit, right? That will be a nightmare to pull

 

[sparky 1971]

True, you can't have more than 360° of bends, I like to keep it to a max of 270° but I don't know your route. You can use a box to change direction instead of a 90° elbow to pull through and not splice; the box has to be 6X the conduit size so a 1.25 pipe would need an 8X8 box minimum and at 10X10 or 12X12 would be better.

 

[1/4atatime]

The SER doesnt need to be in conduit in the crawlspace. i wouldnt bother with conduit unless its gonna somehow get damaged.

The MHF is not restricted to outdoor use only. it can be used indoors but MUST be in conduit.... pick your poison...

Ok well that saves some money ser is cheaper and no conduit needed. I'll tap it into the MHF for outside

 

[1/4atatime]

You aren't putting ser in conduit, right? That will be a nightmare to pull

Not now that I understand ser doesn't need to be in it. I guess I was mixing up MHF and SER interior requirements.

 

[sparky 1971]

You aren't putting ser in conduit, right? That will be a nightmare to pull

It's not that bad unless an LB is involved. We can use SER outside, but it has to be in EMT or rigid so if I'm going across a crawl space, I use SER just to keep from having to run any kind of conduit. until I get through the wall.

 

[1/4atatime]

Thanks everyone for the help. Sounds like the cheaper easier route then is SER under the house, then transition to MHF and direct bury it and then it saves me from having to pull through conduit anywhere (except of course some short pieces where it comes out of the ground outside to connect into the building.

 

[mike93lx]

It's not that bad unless an LB is involved. We can use SER outside, but it has to be in EMT or rigid so if I'm going across a crawl space, I use SER just to keep from having to run any kind of conduit. until I get through the wall.

Yeah, sure, easy pull in 3" conduit

 

[1/4atatime]

One other question so I ordered these lights for my garage

https://a.co/d/0CO4k8J

However they don't seem to come with a plug to hardwire them like other led kits I have seen. Just the plug in the picture and plugs to link multiple together. Could I cut off one end of the plug that's used to link them together since it's a 3 wire plug and hardwire the light? Or do I need to keep them as is and plug them into an outlet. Just curious because if I can hardwire them it saves me having to run a GFCI circuit just for lights.

 

[dutch724]

I don't see a reason why not. Cut it off and wire it in a j-box.
If it doesn't work blame one of these smart knuckle heads for not responding to your question.