We need some new dimmers installed - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Magnettica · 04-09-2008, 09:24 PM

Um, sure, wait right here while I go get them from the truck.

JumboJack · 04-09-2008, 09:57 PM

Is that how you found it or did it have switches in it?

Stickman · 04-09-2008, 10:36 PM

Time to start ringing it out, Cha Ching

Gonna need some box extensions as well!!!!

dkillianjr · 04-09-2008, 11:22 PM

How about some sauce with that spagetti

Dave

Magnettica · 04-10-2008, 05:20 AM

How 'bout we start all over?

The new 6-gang switchbox (3x2x3-1/2" deep old work gems), temporarily spliced until I got the dimmers.

(2) 20 amp homeruns (one in each box), the switch legs, and wires coming from the hi-hats.

The finished product minus one dimmer (and a few plate screws, d'oh!).

Alwaysconfusd11 · 04-10-2008, 09:20 AM

All that and you lost 3 screws?

Magnettica · 04-10-2008, 03:35 PM

Actually, Mulberry failed to put the right amount of plate screws with the face plate. I was there today and still forgot to put the screws in.

And just for the record.... green bonding screws were added to the box and the white conductor was re-identified as a hot conductor.

Patrick · 04-10-2008, 09:25 PM

screw heads look a little crooked

mdshunk · 04-10-2008, 09:28 PM

Curious why you chose type AC cable? Did you just have some handy on the truck that day?

Magnettica · 04-12-2008, 10:50 AM

Technically, I think I could have used romex throughout this whole building. It's a bar. But the owner was (I guess) was willing to pay a little extra for the armored cable. Actually, a lot more when it comes to the labor of working with AC compared to NM. No plans, no prints, and no CO, yet.

Stickman · 04-12-2008, 11:26 AM

No prints, No plans, No Co etc was this a fit up? Did you do work through out the unit? If so how are you performing work with permits?

If not, What was the 6th switch or dimmer added for? Appears the old set up was 5 switches or dimmers?

Also how are the ganged boxes secured on the top? I see you screwed them on the bottom? Don't see any madson bars or such ???

MC also does not appear to be secured with in code next to those junction boxes, was this done after the fact?

Another ? where are your grounds on those runs coming into the ganged switch box.

Hate to brake B*lls but i know i would be asked if i posted it.

mdshunk · 04-12-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stickman

Another ? where are your grounds on those runs coming into the ganged switch box.

Hate to brake B*lls but i know i would be asked if i posted it.

I don't want to break balls either, but I would point out to you that this is type AC cable, as evidenced by the paper interleaving sticking out with the conductors in the ganged switch box. The armor is the ground for type AC cable. Oops... I guess you screwed up, eh Stickman?

cmec · 04-12-2008, 12:26 PM

HI MD

Some guys dont know the differnce between type ac,and type mc.

We were re fixturing a building for the goverment one of the guys started wining about no ground wire in the mc and it was all illegal and had to be ripped out

, He was about 4 years out of his apprenticeship I left him go on for a while, Then after he put his foot in his mouth I made him read the deffinition out of the code book.

Stickman · 04-12-2008, 12:36 PM

Its not that i did not know what it was, I am well aware of the differences. It was more the fact that it is only supposed to be used for fixtures whips above drop ceilings or from a j box to the fixture etc. I was under the impression and taught that this does not include the switch leg. I have also never worked for a contractor that went this route these days, we always use MC. I could be wrong with my statements if so, stating some code would be great.

mdshunk · 04-12-2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stickman

Its not that i did not know what it was, I am well aware of the differences. It was more the fact that it is only supposed to be used for fixtures whips above drop ceilings or from a j box to the fixture etc. I was under the impression and taught that this does not include the switch leg. I have also never worked for a contractor that went this route these days, we always use MC. I could be wrong with my statements if so, stating some code would be great.

You're thinking of type FMC raceway (greenfield). Type AC cable can be run anywhere you can run type MC cable, or even where you'd run romex for that matter. There really aren't any real restrictions on the use type AC cable. Some people prefer to have an actual copper ground wire, so type MC cable has become favored for the last 20-25 years over type AC for personal reasons and not code reasons.

Check out 300's for type MC cable, type AC cable, and FMC raceway under "uses permitted" and "uses not permitted" for each.

cmec · 04-12-2008, 12:47 PM

Article 320

Stickman · 04-12-2008, 01:02 PM

Thanks learn something new every day.

I by no means claim to know it all. I am also human which means we all make mistakes. I guess i was taught wrong in school and by my previous employers.

However Article 320.30B Securing
Requires type ac cable to be secured within 300mm (12inchs) of every outlet box, junction box, cabinet, or fitting and at intervals not exceeding 1.4m (4 1/2feet) where installed on or across framing members

cmec · 04-12-2008, 01:02 PM

One misunderstood area from the past, When the nec said no type nm over 3 storys high it never prohibited type ac above 3 stories, its pretty common to see it in appartment buildings ,Personally I would use mc,some people dont tighten connectors and locknuts on bx properly the system is only as good as the mechanic who installed it.

cmec · 04-12-2008, 01:06 PM

It aint a mistake till you cant fix it.

The day you quit learning the day you die.

mickeyco · 04-12-2008, 01:15 PM

In Illinois (Chicagoland area) we can't use AC, MC, BX, Greenfield like that, it can only be used for short runs 3' to 5', give or take depending on the Municipality.

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