[Kermie]

This might be hard to follow but:

I ran a #4 SE-R copper cable from my basement subpanel to our garage up through the ceiling.

The stud bay (16") to get down to the main is full of outgoing wires out of the main panel through the top plate

The main panel is surfaced mounted and most of the existing wires/cables travel in the stud bay and enter through the back of the panel from the stud bay.

In order for me to get from the ceiling down I would have to poke through the drywall and run the cable down the face of the wall (drywall) and enter the main through the top or side of the surface mounted main panel.

Since SE-R and NM cable cannot be ran through conduit even for a short run, can I frame in the whole main panel with 2x4 studs from up to the ceiling and cover the the frame and SE-R with 3/4" plywood.... this would be a protective box out of wood to cover (protect the cable) from the point in comes out of the ceiling along the wall, down to the point where it enters the main.

would this be against code?


l hope this is easy to follow.

 

[wirenut1110]

What you're proposing to do is fine with boxing in at the top/bottom.

You can also use a piece of conduit to protect the cable coming down the wall.

If you plan to run several wires, I'd just use a piece of 2" pvc with a plastic bushing and strip the sheathing off of what will be in the conduit.

As long as they're not over 24" in length, you won't need to derate.

 

[rgsgww]

strip the sheathing off of what will be in the conduit.

I thought your not supposed to do this?

 

[NolaTigaBait]

se can be run with or without a raceway outside...i'm not sure about skinning it though(ive done it before, dont tell anyone...ok)

 

[Jim Port]

Once the overall jacket is removed the cable becomes an unlisted assembly and would not be recognized as a compliant wiring method.

 

[jamiedolan]

se can be run with or without a raceway outside...i'm not sure about skinning it though(ive done it before, dont tell anyone...ok)

The conductors must be marked on the insulation, the way thhn is to use it in a raceway without a jacket.
jamie

 

[InPhase277]

Once the overall jacket is removed the cable becomes an unlisted assembly and would not be recognized as a compliant wiring method.

True, but it's not that big of a deal. There are far greater code violations than this.

 

[J. V.]

I like your idea to box in the SE cable. Perfectly compliant. You also can run SE cable down through a section/sleeve of conduit into the panel if you want. Just enough conduit to get it above the ceiling. You do not have to remove the insulation. Put a connector and bushing on each end of the conduit.

 

[Kermie]

I will call my inspector but he is gone through next week. I was hoping to get some stuff done this weekend. I might do the PVC (schedule 80) sleeve from ceiling to box...he can always tell me to take it down.

 

[NolaTigaBait]

he's not going to...its legal to run se in conduit outside:thumbsup:...and its not that big of a deal if you skin it....