Proper way to protect wire

Stubbie

You should not install romex in a conduit system, meaning from device box to device box as your wiring method. It is allowed to be installed in sleeves indoors that are intended to protect the romex from damage.
In the previous post showing you an example of sleeving you need to also install a bushing where the romex enters the sleeve to protect the romex from abrasion or from being cut.

ryan50hrl

I don't intend on running much through it in the basement, just down the walls. However whoever wired my garage let the Romex drape between the 4 ft spans, I'm pretty sure that's not up to code. So I'm trying to find an alternative to buying all new wire.

Stubbie

You would need 3/4 emt to allow for conduit fill requirements. 1/2 emt is .1220 inches squared at 40% fill. NM cable must be considered a single wire. It is .1320 inches squared approx to allow for various manufactuers for 12/2 w ground. 12/2 G would need 3/4 emt.
From the NEC Chapter nine note 9. Just saying ....


of the ellipse as a circle diameter.

Stubbie

Are you talking about what they did up in the joists? Is this thru bored holes or are you talking about between staples along a framing member?

ryan50hrl

It's up in the joists, draped across the 4 foot spans and only stapled on the ends

Stubbie

Your joists are 4 foot on center?

ryan50hrl

Yep, it's an open ceiling in the garage with joists 4 foot on center, rafters are of course much closer.

Stubbie

Just wanting to make sure, that is not unusual construction and is quite common.

Not a code violation, what were your expectations ?

ryan50hrl

The inspector told me any more than 24 inches between joists, and the wires had to be in conduit or attached to something, it can just hang for the full 4 ft?

Stubbie

Ok I think I see what he is saying, if the cable is layed across the tops of the joists and is exposed you would be required to install it on running boards fastened every 4 feet or in conduit.

Inspectors differ on this but I believe the NEC supports your inspector. Some inspectors in open construction in an unfinished detached garage if the cable is not subject to physical damage ... it wouldn't be in your case in my opionion .... they would allow it as long as it was fastened to each joist and wasn't terribly droopy to the point workmanship became an issue.

Generally I drill the joists and pass the cable through the holes

ddawg16

That is how it pretty much works in my area as well.

Ryan....just so you understand....the intent of the rules is to prevent a case where something could snatch the wire pulling it out of a box and creating an electrical hazard.

In my old garage (similar to yours), there was a good chance that me swinging a 1x6 around could have caught that wire....

So....protecting those wires is a good idea.....a running board should be ok.

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stickboy1375

Personally, I would just nail a 1x4 to the wall and staple the NM to that, but that's just me.

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DangerMouse

...or the underside of the rafters....

DM

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to see some of my original magic tricks and trick boxes!

ryan50hrl

Any problem junctioning the orange with Romex? It currently leaves that box, goes to the main panel however I need to run it to my subpanel from that box, I don't want to use conduit as I can't get around to that box anymore with conduit.


More info.....the orange coming from the top of the box runs to the furnace, It then goes out the left side of the box to the main panel. My intension is to remove all of it running to the left, and go to my subpanel by wirenutting the orange coming from the top to romex (and the nutural too).......i'm assuming the conduit is being used as the ground......i'll confirm that, and if so, how would I connect the ground from the romex to the box???

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Jim Port

If that box is 1 1/2" deep it only has capacity for 7- #14s or 6 - 12s. If it is 2 1/2" deep you could have 10 - 14s or 9 - #12s.

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Answers based on the National Electrical Code. Local amendments may apply. Check with your local building officials.