Simple Question

[Rickster55]

Can you run NM through conduit? I know it's been discussed before but not really heard a definite conclusion on it.

 

[1grnlwn]

NM???????

 

[Rickster55]

NM???????

Guess I should have said Romex?

 

[jeffmoss26]

As I understand it, no.
EMT can be used as a sleeve to protect the wire in exposed areas, though.

 

[Norcal]

Guess I should have said Romex?

Romex® is a registered trademark of Southwire. NM cable is correct.

Unless it's a short piece of pipe being used for physical protection, why bother? The conduit needs to be sized to the NM cable though. My opinion is not to do it unless needed for protection.

 

[Stuart in MN]

It's generally not done and it's hard to pull, but there is no restriction on running NM through conduit as long as the conduit is sized properly.

 

[Rickster55]

I am going to be running receptacles along an outside wall (concrete block) in my garage. I already have NM and wanted to know if I had buy different wire or could I use what I have - prob no more than a total of 30-40 feet back to the panel.

 

[pattenp]

It's okay by NEC to put NM in conduit. For sizing the conduit, the area fill of NM is to be calculated by using the largest dimension of the NM cable.

 

[Highbeam]

Let's not forget the "wet" location rule. You can certainly run NM in conduit, but if the conduit is in a wet location (outside or underground) then you must use stranded THWN.

 

[alfredeneuman]

You could use UF, (a type of waterproof NM) outside in conduit.
Either solid or stranded THWN would be right, too.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I am going to be running receptacles along an outside wall (concrete block) in my garage. I already have NM and wanted to know if I had buy different wire or could I use what I have - prob no more than a total of 30-40 feet back to the panel.

If you mean on the outside of the wall (as in outdoors), as mentioned above NM is not rated for that use.

 

[Rickster55]

Sorry for the confusion. It's inside but on an outside wall. Thanks!

 

[Highbeam]

You could use UF, (a type of waterproof NM) outside in conduit.
Either solid or stranded THWN would be right, too.

By stranded I meant strands, but I agree with your statement.

Ugh, I hate working with UF. If the conduit is large enough though, it would work.

 

[Highbeam]

Sorry for the confusion. It's inside but on an outside wall. Thanks!

Inside, the NM is just fine in conduit. We have to imagine folks searching in the future and finding this thread about putting NM in their buried conduit. In that case it would be helpful that the wet location disclaimer is out there.

I've tried pulling 10 gauge NM in 1" conduit and it was very difficult after a couple of bends. Often, the NM is cheaper than price of all of the individual strands so I see why people want to use it in conduit.