What wire type is this?

[brewchief]

Today i ran into a wire assembly that I'm not familiar with, 4 conductor plus two smaller bare grounds, conductors look to be 6 awg copper, has a copper shielding strip wrapped around all conductors with a heavy black outer insulation.

Cannot read printing on out insulation, all conductors are black with numbers for id.

Basically just need to know if legal to use in residential property or if i need to refer them to electrician.

Will post pic in a min if i can figure it out from phone.

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[LXCam]

Sounds like IT MIGHT be tray cable, but don't count on that. A picture would be most helpful.

 

[930dreamer]

Click manage attachments, choose file, my files, click DCIM, camera and select pic.

 

[brewchief]

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[LXCam]

Yup, shielded tray cable. Great stuff, it's romex on steroids for sure. Even though I spent 30+ years doing industrial commercial I honestly don't know if it would be acceptable to use for any type of residential installation, was never a resi guy. At a minimum you need to confirm the AWG of both the live conductors and the ground. You may run into a issue with attempting to use a grounding conductor under sized per code and or application.

 

[brewchief]

Ok found out its atnea brand shielded tray cable, 8 awg copper.
Can this be used in a residential property? Application would be no different then NM cable.

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[Jlarson]

Tray Cable can only be run exposed in industrial facilities from an NEC point of view.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

This might help you decide.

II. Installation
336.10 Uses Permitted. Type TC cable shall be permitted to be used as follows:
(1) For power, lighting, control, and signal circuits.
(2) In cable trays.
(3) In raceways.
(4) In outdoor locations supported by a messenger wire.
(5) For Class 1 circuits as permitted in Parts II and III of Article 725.
(6) For non–power-limited fire alarm circuits if conductors comply with the requirements of 760.49.
(7) In industrial establishments where the conditions of maintenance and supervision ensure that only qualified persons service the installation, and where the cable is continuously supported and protected against physical damage using mechanical protection, such as struts, angles, or channels, Type TC tray cable that complies
with the crush and impact requirements of Type MC cable and is identified for such use with the marking Type TC–ER shall be permitted between a cable tray and the utilization equipment or device. The cable shall be secured at intervals not exceeding 1.8 m (6 ft).
Equipment grounding for the utilization equipment shall be provided by an equipment grounding conductor within the cable. In cables containing conductors sized 6 AWG or smaller, the equipment grounding conductor shall be provided within the cable or, at the time of installation, one or more insulated conductors shall be permanently identified as an equipment grounding conductor in accordance with 250.119(B).

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What was this being used for?

Youre gonna have to replace it!

 

[brewchief]

What was this being used for?

Youre gonna have to replace it!

Power to A/C unit

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What a waste of money and wire! That stuff is over $10/ft! How long is it?

 

[brewchief]

What a waste of money and wire! That stuff is over $10/ft! How long is it?

I would estimate 75 to 100 feet, hard to say for sure but I think it goes up from the panel, across the garage, down to basement, across basement and finally out to unit.

Is there a reason that this cable cannot be used other then the fact that it's not approved by the NEC? Would it simply never have been submitted for approval due to cost or does the construction of the cable or type of insulation present a safety issue? For example does the insulation not meet a smoke spread rating or something like that.

8 awg copper on a circuit that most likely could have been done with 12-2 nm and for sure 10-2. I agree a major waste of wire but I have a feeling that it may have been borrowed from someone's work, probably the guy who did a terrible job installing the old A/C.

 

[lbmcse]

I would estimate 75 to 100 feet, hard to say for sure but I think it goes up from the panel, across the garage, down to basement, across basement and finally out to unit.

Is there a reason that this cable cannot be used other then the fact that it's not approved by the NEC? Would it simply never have been submitted for approval due to cost or does the construction of the cable or type of insulation present a safety issue? For example does the insulation not meet a smoke spread rating or something like that.

8 awg copper on a circuit that most likely could have been done with 12-2 nm and for sure 10-2. I agree a major waste of wire but I have a feeling that it may have been borrowed from someone's work, probably the guy who did a terrible job installing the old A/C.

No, no other reason. It's good quality cable, just incorrectly suited for the application. Depending upon the exact routing, if it runs in an air space that is exhausted into the residence (plenum) it must be listed for use there.

That sounds right. A contractor would never voluntarily opt for materials that are more expensive than what is required. Chances are this cable was on hand or free to them. It's use here is not completely crazy. When run in a cable tray, often times there's a motor hooked up to the other end. Your application is the same (A/C), but you won't find cable tray in a residence; at least when it's not a mansion.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Im guessing the main issue is whether it has a fire resistant rating...