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Using FLEX over 12?2 wire for a HWT?

15K views 41 replies 31 participants last post by  xlink  
#1 ·
I was at work today and came across something. We are wiring in the HWT tanks in this condo. As it is there is just a 12/2 wire hanging from the wall which needs to be spliced into the Connection point on the HWT. Now the the Boss wants us to just run a piece of flex Armour over the wire then put it into a 90 degree connector. And the end of the armored cable that is coming out of the wall just has no bond or anything, just has the end stuffed into the drywall? my question is this, Are we not supposed to bond both ends of the FLEX armored cable? I thought in the code book it states that both ends of amoured cable need to be Bonded as to stop possible sheath currents?
Please can someone shed some help on this. I need to get to the bottom of this one way or another:thumbsup:
Cheers
 
#2 ·
One end is good enough. It's called "sleeving for protection", and is talked about somewhere in the code. I just forget where. Maybe Table 9, note 2.
 
#3 ·
I agree if a pipe is bonded, in general, it is bonded. Why would it need to be on both ends. I could just as easily switch over to pvc as long as the metal part is not in the middle of a run-- there are a few exceptions... I am in bed without book so I will guess art.250 is where you will find this.
 
#7 ·
I think the OP is confusing Raceways for conductors with Enclosures for Grounding Electrode conductors.

Raceways - Only one end needs to be bonded, if in fact it isn't by the construction method. Check out 250.118

For a Grounding Elctrode Conductor - check out 250.64(E) Talks about BOTH ends if FERROUS. Lesson here is don't run your GEC in Ferrous pipe for protection. Think about running it bare, in PVC, or if it had to have hard core protection ALUMINUM IMC - but not in a ferrous raceway, unless you plan to bond both ends!
 
#12 ·
I thought in the code book it states that both ends of amoured cable need to be Bonded as to stop possible sheath currents?

You may be confusing this with a GEC which would need to be bonded at both ends.

I think the technical foul would be terminating the 60 degree cable at the water heater. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it because we all know NM has thwn in it.
 
#27 ·
sheath currents happen generally in single conductor cables. There is only one phase conductor and no others to cancel out the magnetic fields that are created. In 12/2 the magnetic field created by one conductor is 180 degrees out of phase(in single phase installation,120 degrees in 3 phase) with the other and they will cancel eachother out... no sheath currents.
 
#31 ·
Most Domestic hot water tanks have 2 3000 watt elements connected flip flop and draw 12.5 amps at 240 volts. #12 is plenty big enough for 12.5 amps.
Now connect the tank for both elements on at the same time and you need #10.

Hot water heaters do not require local disconnecting means in the Canadian code but a local circulating pump does. Pretty much has to have a motor before a local disconnect is required here. Dishwashers are another exception for residential. We only just required local disconnects for domestic furnaces. Used to be exempted in residential aqpplications.
 
#32 ·
I have a 70 gallon that has 2 4500 watt elements, I've seen many different size elements. we usually just hard wire them as long as the beaker can be locked out, which most can be now. I prefer liquidtight connectors just in case the plumbers connections fail, little extra safety never hurts. I think sleeving NM with MC is not good practice, but that's just my opinion.
 
#35 ·
Flex the 12/2 and put a connector on the end in the sheet rock also. No disco is needed as long as you have a lockout on the breaker. Its cheeper than a disco. I wired a lot of homes this way for years.
Wash "WAC" rules make us run 10/2 or larger for any hot water tanks.
NMB is rated 60 deg. However the inside conductors are thwn and are 90 deg when you strip the insulation off.
I have been wiring this way for years.
 
#36 ·
inside conductors are thwn and are 90 deg when you strip the insulation off.
I have been wiring this way for years.

The conductors within NM have no markings indicating insulation type/ voltage rating.

The insulated conductors within NM are NOT thwn or thhn or anything other than NM conductors, and without the sheath they are scrap.
 
#39 ·
Here it is:

12-518 Protection for cable in exposed installations (see Appendix G)

Cable used in exposed wiring shall be adequately protected against mechanical damage where it passes through a floor, where it is less than 1.5 m above a floor, or where it is exposed to mechanical damage.
Rule 12-518 Protection for cable in exposed installations

The outer jacket of non-metallic sheathed cables is not designed to adequately protected the inner insulated conductors from mechanical damage. Where exposed cables pass through floors, are located less than 1.5 m above a floor, or are exposed to potential damage, Rule 12-518 requires that they be protected from mechanical damage. This can be accomplished by such means as providing metal conduit or guard strips or by installing the cables in a location where there is no potential hazard.
Worth mentioning, you use conduit as mechanical protection for NMSC, but you can't pull NMSC through conduit as a wiring method. Probably has to do with heat dissipation.