NM or Armored Cable?

[mikeyc.]

Hello guys,
About to wire up a new pole garage. Was thinking regular 12-2 NM in conduit. Friend suggested armored cable. Looking for any comments or suggestions. Want to wire this the right way. (I have a 200A main feeding the 90A sub. Using 2-2-2-4 MHF in conduit 160' run. Residential garage. No special equipment. Maybe run a 240 line in the distant future.) Thanks in advance to anyone for their time and help! I am able to run this per my inspector, looking for opinions otherwise.

 

[Mustang51js]

What's the building made out of,metal or wood. If you plan on ripunning pipe then your better off with stranded thhn

 

[mikeyc.]

Metal skin pole garage with wooden framing. Without money as an issue, what's faster,quicker, and a better job?

 

[Jlarson]

If you are going to run conduit then pull thhn, don't mess around pulling rope into conduit.

If you want to go with a cable method either NM or MC/AC will be fine. MC or AC does offer some rodent resistance if that is an issue.

 

[mach158]

I used NM and didn't even use conduit. Per my local authority as long as it runs up the side of the posts and not the front (part facing into the main area) they are fine with it. I just went around the inside perimeter of the ceiling with my wiring for the outlets and will drop down the side of the post for each outlet and then the lights I just ran the wire across the trusses.

Perhaps check with your local authority and see what they want you to do or are ok with you doing.

 

[Norcal]

The cable sold at HD & other big box stores is not armored cable (AC) it is metal clad cable (MC), in my opinion NM cable is the last choice for a pole barn, either MC or EMT would be my choice.

 

[theoldwizard1]

if you are going to run conduit then pull thhn, ...

absolutely !

 

[ddawg16]

I'd do conduit. And oversize it. Makes it a lot easier to add more wires later.

Actually, you might want to do a mix. Use conduit for main runs and and use MC/AC for the end runs.

I personally find conduit easier to work with than AC.

Overall, I think conduit and THHN/THWN is going to be cheaper in the long run.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Oversized conduit and stranded THHN is the best bang for your buck in a shop.

The advantage is if u want move equipment or circuits in the future u can pull the existing wire out while pulling the new wire in...