Exposed Conduit

[Mdaddyrabbit]

I will be using 12/2 cable wrapped in Armored shield in my all metal building. Should I try to hide it in the insulation or expose it? I just want opinions.

 

[cowboy73]

I wouldn't hide it if your using conduit. The whole point of conduit is having access to the wiring and still protect it from damage.

 

[Mdaddyrabbit]

Should I drill holes in my wall beams and run the flex? Is it a no-no to drill 1" holes for running stuff?

 

[Norcal]

Anything with the conductors factory installed is a cable, not conduit.

 

[Mdaddyrabbit]

Does anyone have anything similar to the attached image of the way my building is built every drilled into the main beams to run conduit?

 

[alfredeneuman]

.....And the requirements against physical damage is the same as for any cable.

It needs to protected against any and all physical damage.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Does anyone have anything similar to the attached image of the way my building is built every drilled into the main beams to run conduit?

Thats a long span between posts to run in between,Id run up the post from each box across and back down to each box using what youve got for materials anyway.
Id say its time to buy a 1/2" emt bender and start practicing box offsets if you want to run it straight across the wall.

 

[CNGsaves]

OP . . . . what are you plans for INSULATION ?? That will play big part in HOW you end up wiring.

Do you plan on trying to install any "housewrap" next to steel exterior skin before insulating ??

If it were me, I'd stud out the walls and use to hold housewrap to skin, then proceed with wiring and insulation.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

OP . . . . what are you plans for INSULATION ?? That will play big part in HOW you end up wiring.

Do you plan on trying to install any "housewrap" next to steel exterior skin before insulating ??

If it were me, I'd stud out the walls and use to hold housewrap to skin, then proceed with wiring and insulation.

 

[Mdaddyrabbit]

I was thinking of spray foam insulation.

OP . . . . what are you plans for INSULATION ?? That will play big part in HOW you end up wiring.

Do you plan on trying to install any "housewrap" next to steel exterior skin before insulating ??

If it were me, I'd stud out the walls and use to hold housewrap to skin, then proceed with wiring and insulation.

 

[bjcouche]

What you are talking about is armored or metal clad cable. Those posts look to be spaced pretty far apart. I don't think I'd be drilling holes though those structural posts. Also, if you were trying to run the wire horizontally, you'd need a way to support the wire between posts. There are minimum staple distances to be adhered to for code reasons. It also might depend on what type of insulation you are planning to do, and what type of wall covering you are planning on. If it were me though, I'd just do all my wiring surface mounted in EMT conduit after the walls are insulated and covered.
Brian

 

[LXCam]

Those posts are 5ft apart normally and No don't drill them. Yes you can use MC cable but do as suggested and run it to the top to junction boxes. You could stuff it between the sheeting and the post at the high rib, but there's no real good way to secure it let alone if it's going to be exposed forever, it'll end up getting damaged when something falls on the horizontal runs. Personally I'd suggest you learn how to bend some 1/2" EMT and pipe everything. It's not that hard.

 

[matt_i]

I would not drill the posts for a clearance thru-hole. however I would drill for a pilot hole for a #8 or #10 hex head sheetmetal screw to hold a single-strap clamp (sort of like a P shape). There might be a double-wide version for holding 2 diameters of cable side by side, you'd have to research it.

I would also do as above and run your horizontal runs as high on the wall as possible, then drop down into the "stud cavities" to your junction boxes.

The EMT mentioned is nice because it has a lot more "self supporting" qualities.