USES FMC/MC/AC BX Flexible Metal Clad/ Armored Cable Among the most common types of cable run without

raceways-is the NEC type AC metal clad cable, commonly known by the trade name "BX". It is an assembly of wires, normally plastic insulated, bound together with a tape or braid and then wrapped with a spiral-wound interlocking strip of steel tape. Such cable must have an internal metallic bonding strip in contact with the armor for its entire length. The assembly is installed as a unit, usually by simple U-clamps or staples holding it againts beams, walls, ceiling sand columns. This type of installation is frequently used in residences and in the rewiring of existing buildings. Such armored cable can be pulled into place through existing spaces in back of plastered surfaces, under floor joists or between studding in the walls. Special couplings, box connectors, and other fittings are made for BX and to nterconnect BX with rigid conduit systems. In application, the NEC types NM and NMC, also known by the trade Name " Romex" are similar to type AC (BX). However, not having the physical protection of metallic armor, use is restricted to small buildings, that is, residential and other structures not exceeding. three floors above grade. This cable type comprises an assembly of two or more plastic-insulated conductors and a ground wire, all

ILLUSTRATION

NMC / NM (ROMEX) Non-Metallic Sheathed Cable (Feeder/Branch )

coyered with a flameretardant, moisture-resistant plastic jacket. In the case of type NMC, the jacket is also corrosion resistant. The plastic jacket, in Ueu of the armor on type AC, makes type NM easier to handle but more vulnerable to physical damage. General Wiring: Thermoplastic Dec The most common "building wire" types are listed below. These type of wires consist of a copper conductor covered with insulation, and in some instances with a jacket. Thus type TW wire concise simply of the metal conductor with a thermoplastic (pvc) insulating covering.

MI Mineral Insulated

Mineral Insulated Cable This construction, comprises an integral assembly of copper conductors, mineral insulation, and outer copper jacket that serves as a'water and gas seal and continuous ground. Because of its unique construction, it requires special fittings for terminations. Despite its relatively high cost, it is often the best solution to a difficult problem. The mineral insulation is flame proof and cold resistant, and the entire construction is explosion proof, lightweight, nonaging, and self-contained-making raceways unnecessary. (No application limitations).

Jacketed Cables These cables comprise an assembly of two or more individually insulated conductors, cabled together and covered with a plastic or metal jacket. Metal clad cables, due to inherent rigidity, may be installed with cable clamps. Plastic jacketed cables require continuous support. The nature of the jacket material is determined by the cables application. Cables intended for underground use must be designated typeUF

SNM Shielded Non Metallic Sheathed Cable

It is an electrical cable of one or more insulated conductors enclosed by a common conductive layer. The shield may be composed of braided strands of copper (or other metal, such as aluminium), a non-braided spiral winding of copper tape, or a layer of conducting polymer. Usually, this shield is covered with a jacket. The shield acts as a Faraday cage to reduce electrical noise from affecting the signals, and to reduce electromagnetic radiation that may interfere with other devices (see electromagnetic interference). The shield minimizes capacitively coupled noise from other electrical sources. The shield must be applied across cable splices. Service entrance conductors extending along the exterior or entering buildings or other structures shall be installed in rigid steel conduit or asbestos cement conduit or concrete encased plastic conduit from point of seN ice drop to meter socket and from meter to the disconnecting equipment. However, where the service entrance conductors are protected by approved fuses or breakers at their outer ends !immediately after the servicedrop or lateral) they may be installed any of the recognized wiring methods.

SE/ USE Service Entrance

UF Underground Feeder

These raceways which may be installed beneath or flush with the floor, are covered find their widest application iri office spaces, since their use prmits placement of power and signal outlets immediately under desks and other furniture, regardless of furniture layout. Where such underfloor raceways are not employed, and it is desired to place an outlet on the floor, one of the following methods is necessary.

TC Tray Cable

Is a continuous open support for approved cables. When used as a general wiring system the Cables must be self-protected, jacketed types, type TC. The advantages of this system are free-air rated cables, easy installation and maintenance, and relatively low cost. The disadvantages are bulkiness and the required accessibility.

FC Flat Cabling

A specially designed cable consisting of two, three or four conductors, No. 10 AWG, is field installed in a rigidly mounted standard 1 5/8 in. Square structural channel. Power tap devices, installed where required, puncture the insulation of one of the phase conductors and the neutral. Electrical connection is then made to the pigtail wires that extend from the tap devices. This connection can extend directly to the device or to an outlet box with a receptacle, which then acts as a disconnecting means for the electric device being served. In this fashion lights, small motors, unit heaters, and other single-phase, light-duty devices can be served without the necessity of " hard" (conduit and cable) wiring.
FCC are described by dimensions; thus a bar may be .!' in. x 4 in., (0.64 x 1 0) em), 5/16 in. x 6 in. {.8 x 15 em) and so on. As a rule of thumb, the current-carrying capacity of copper bus is 1000 amperes/sq. in. of cross Section~ 1 50 amperes/sq. em). Thus a .!' in. x 2 in. copper bar is ~ sq. in. in area and will safely carry 500 amperes. Bus is normally constructed of solid copper and, when assembled with other bars in a metal housing, it is referred to as busduct or busway.

FCC Flat Conductor Cable

BUSBAR; BUSWAY, BUSDUCT

When it is necessary to carry large amounts of current (power) the usual alternatives are to use several conductors in parallel or a single large conductor. The former solution becomes expensive with the increasing size and number of parallel cables, particularly where tap offs are necessary. However the single large cable becomes increasingly in efficient in wire sizes above 750 MCM, large cables require more cross section per ampere than small ones. This is not the case with flat conductors (called BUSBARS), leading to their use for high-current-carrying application. BUSDUCT is specified by material, number of buses, (normally three or four, plus ground bus is required). current capacity, type, and voltage. In addition, maximum voltage drop is often specified. Thus, a typical brief description of a busduct would be: copper busduct .... 4-wire, 1 000 amp, lowimpedance type, 600r; or aluminum busduct, 3 wire, 2000 amp. plug-in type, 600v-both with a maximum fall-load. Voltage drop of 2.5, per 100ft. at 90, power factor.

CABLEBUS

This construction is similar to ventilated busduct, except that it uses insulated cables instead of busbars these cables are rigidly mounted in an open space-f rame. The advantage of this construction is that it carries the ampacity rating of its cables in free air, which is much higher than the conduit rating, thus giving a high amperesper pesos/dollar first cost figure. Its principal disadvantage is bulkiness. The figure shows a construction with 6 cables. Units are available with 3 to 18 cables sizes 250 through 1500 MCM. Corresponding electrical ratings are from approximately 400 to 6000 amp in voltage with ratings of 600, 5000, and 15,000v.