Can You Run Southwire Romex NM-B Cable in Conduit Without Sheath?

[@brianjmortensen]

Excellent explanation and information. Thank you for explaining in such detail why unsheathed Romex in conduit is not acceptable. Liked & subscribed as requested !

[@JeffBanfield-t6v]

Type NM cable is permitted only in dry locations. The outside J-box must be raintight, not rainproof, and the conductors inside the conduit to the shed must be rated for wet locations, such as THWN, THHW, or THWN-2. MTW is approved only for machine tool connections and THHN is rated for dry and damp locations only (Table 310.4). Most single conductors now have multiple ratings, such as all three he mentions in the video so you can keep one reel in your truck for many applications.

[@abrelectric]

Thank you!!

[@paulashley3732]

I bought you a cup of coffee! ☕. enjoy!

[@leestokes6761]

Helpful information. I’m contemplating running wire from my outdoor service entrance to a free-standing shed, a straight-line distance of maybe 20’ . My preference is buried conduit rather than direct burial of Cale rated for such. 30-60 amps 120 volts is still a fair am of current for me to feel comfortable with direct burial.

[@abrelectric]

I'm with you regarding conductors in conduit vs direct burial. And, direct burial requires a deeper trench :(

[@DavidHalko]

@@abrelectric how deep for direct burial? Can direct burial go directly into house & shed? or are 2x JBoxes required?

[@abrelectric]

@DavidHalko 24" deep to top of the UF cable. You could go directly through the interior framing like Romex. It's just a bit more difficult to strip and more expensive.

[@DavidHalko]

@@abrelectric - I am wanting to dig a hole outside to place a battery box to hold lithium ion batteries for a whole house UPS… about 34.4kw of batteries… need low voltage 48v wires. (Not interested in li-ion being inside the house.) Since this is D/C, would thick direct burial cable or a large conduit be better? (250 amps @48v continuous is possible with the 12k inverter, would be a 6 foot run or so, maybe 10 foot.) Not sure what the code would be for such a beast.

[@abrelectric]

@@DavidHalko normal stuff: all needs to be listed and approved for your application. I would go with conductors in conduit just for ease of replacement.

[@mancave7]

Ok Gurus, DIY with simple scenario, need advice. 3 circuits, 15A max each 24ft run (panel to receptacle) Dry location, under a carport, 8 ft above ground Can 12/2 Romex be used in 1 1/2 PVC conduit?

[@joseaguirre4169]

Thank you for your informative videos. In your example, wouldn't it be better to do the transition by installing the J-box indoors to insure that the NM romex never sees the outdoors?

[@abrelectric]

And transition to a THW or MTW or UF conductor before outside? Yes, that would be a more complete solution.

[@jaydee3046]

I can see your point for wet locations. Since inside conduit is not a wet location, can I run romex inside a gray pvc conduit along my garage ceiling? And if I drill holes in the conduit for heat dissapation, does it cease to be "conduit" and OK for protecting the romex? Suppose I do this inside the ceiling?

[@abrelectric]

If you're running romex inside of conduit inside (dry environment), just check the fill volume (i .e.12/2 romex cross sectional area vs that of 3/4" pvc pipe). Don't drill holes in it. That works against your overall goal of doing it right 😀

[@pld8993]

There's no need for heat dissipation when romex is installed in conduit. It will never overheat simply because it's in conduit.

[@williamrafferty6811]

So, THHN is good for damp locations?

[@abrelectric]

@@williamrafferty6811 because it is also typically rated THW or MTW.

[@JohnThomas-lq5qp]

Here's a curve ball: At an IAEI continuing education class the instructor told us that it's never legal to run Type MM ( Yea Romex ) outdoors even to feed a wall mounted luminare. Told us to only use UF cable. Reason being outdoors is considered at least a damp location & type NM cable was never approved for damp locations. Have received the AHJ approval in house basements to install maybe 3' of Romex thru a piece of 1/2" EMT that's secured to a painted 1 by 4' wood board to a 1900 box for one or two duplex receptacles. Here's a question why are you not allowed to say install a Romex connector into a 1/2" heavy wall coupling to make the transition from Romex to EMT ? And yes I have done that hundreds of times over the years and yes I know they make a one piece transition approved fitting but it's just more things to stock in an overloaded work van .

[@abrelectric]

You work with your AHJ. I have similar challenges here. You adapt, and keep getting green tags

[@JohnThomas-lq5qp]

@@abrelectric Worst part Pa does not have a state electrical license and in some small hick towns the only electrical contractor issues the license and often fail job after your very qualified inspector passes the job.

[@JeffBanfield-t6v]

Your instructor may have misinterpreted the code. 334.10 - Uses permitted: Inside single, two family and multi-family buildings. The exterior outlet box that your exterior light secures to is installed inside the building and therefore compliant. There is nowhere in the code that tells us we must do what your instructor says.

[@JohnThomas-lq5qp]

Had a hick town inspector call me up to tell me that I had 3 violations after my inspector passed the job. Told the hick inspector that if I had three legitimate violations that I would find another trade. First violation was because I spliced a #14 wire in a circuit breaker panel in order to reach the circuit breaker. Gave him the code article that allows it so he said that he would let me get away with it this one time. Other two violations were on company that installed an outdoor sign and ran power to it. Told him that was not on my permit and not performed by me.

[@spacecoastkid5033]

I need install a 50amp rv plug on the end of my house. My breaker panel is in the garage on the opposite end of the house. Would it be legal to run 6/3 Romex NM-B from the panel, into the attic, through the attic to the end of the house, then come out of the wall and on the exterior run inside comduit? It would terminate inside the 50amp receptacle panel at about 30" above ground? OR do I need a junction at the exterior and then change to the THHN or W wire and still run in conduit? I am not getting this inspected, so if all Romex is illegal, am I honestly ever going to have an issue as long as. the joints are glued properly?

[@abrelectric]

@spacecoastkid5033 Romex is illegal by Code in the outdoors (damp/wet locations). You're not really asking a Code question, right? You know that answer. Do what's right, and keep moving on.

[@spacecoastkid5033]

​@@abrelectricThank you!

[@waylandjennings4073]

Does this apply exclusively to Southwire brand cable?

[@abrelectric]

I don't know. They're the only manufacturer I looked up, because I was familiar with their wire.

[@ElectricianMagician]

No. It's code, no matter the manufacturer

[@davidszakacs6888]

I'm getting ready to run a 240 volt 6/3 cable to a hot tub which will be on a deck. I want to use flexible Liquidtight one-inch conduit and fittings from just inside the basement, through the joist box, about 5 feet up to a spa pack w/GFCI then down under the deck to the spa, (about 6-7 feet). Is this allowable and do I have to keep the sheathing on the cable? Also, would one-inch diameter conduit be enough? Thanks. Enjoying your videos.

[@abrelectric]

David, 1" is large enough for 6/3 romex. The technical issue is that the individual conductors inside the sheath are not outdoor or damp rated. So, taking off the sheath makes it easier to pull, but does not change the rating of the conductors. Ideally, you would transition to individual conductors rated MTW or THW or something with a W. Thanks for the question, and subscribe to the channel.

[@admirableawesome2317]

great video!`

[@abrelectric]

Thanks!

[@scotttribout1150]

Here's my issue. NM ROMEX is usually SOLID WIRE. Regardless of the sheeting of the individual wires it's gonna be hard to pull..... Even with a replacement insulated ground wire.

[@abrelectric]

I've seen a lot of jacked up romex, forced through conduit (usually water pipe with 90s:)

[@pld8993]

Solid wire is frequently used in conduit but as individual conductors, and it's much easier to pull 3 solid #12s than a single 12-2 cable. You can legally pull romex through 500' of conduit, not a smart move though.

[@meeponinthbit3466]

Haven't watched the video yet, but if i recall, didn't this already get clarified in a previous video? If the insulation isn't marked, then it isn't allowed.... (Mostly just posting this to feed the algorithm)

[@abrelectric]

You are absolutely right. But the questions kept coming, just in slightly different ways :)

[@ryanb159]

So if you have something like a generator inlet box mounted on stucco, are you able to directly run 8/3 (or 6/3) romex from the main panel to the inlet box without using a jbox since it’s mounted directly to the house?

[@spacecoastkid5033]

That's what I did... without permit! Maybe it would have failed inspection, but it will probably be there until I die! Lol It's been about 5yrs and I've had no issues with it.

[@williamrafferty6811]

You’re showing THHN in a damp location

[@abrelectric]

@williamrafferty6811 yes, if you look at the labeling on the wire, it is also rated THHW, or MTW. The W being for wet locations. By practice, most electricians saying THHN, understand it to include the W ratings

[@MrCbell57]

Don’t walk on wire or water.