Romex In PVC Into Panel

Carpetony

I am re-siding my 100yo house and wanted to get rid some external conduit and run the wiring through the walls.

I have a 10/2, 10/3, 12/3, 12/3 and 12/2. I have three holes through the studs a few inches apart running the length of the 8' wall which I ran all the Romex wiring through.

My question is coming back out of the house and into the panel. I have access immediately below the panel, and was wondering if I could use plastic conduit to make the turn up into the box directly out of the house and into the panel with the Romex, without having to go to single wires (THWN), and creating a junction inside the wall.

I have the two larger 'wires' (10/2, 10/3) coming out of one hole, and the three smaller ones (12/2, 12/3, 12/3) out of the other. I thought I would run the sets through a 90' Access Fitting right out of the wall and into the panel with a short run, < 4" of conduit into the box. Both sets make the turn and pull through 3/4" conduit (those are the only holes left available in the panel-and where the metal conduit originated from).

After looking at other posts and code, I wanted to make sure it was ok. Since the only reason I am using the PVC is to protect the wire from the elements in a very short run--I did read one post that said in that instance it would be ok--and however comforting that was, I wasn't sure if that was right. I really don't have many other options either, aside from getting a new panel, or going through the back of the panel, which I don't have access too.

Thanks so much for the insight.

Tony

480sparky

NM is not permitted in wet locations, and anything outside the structure is considered a wet location regardless of the raceway used. 300.9 of the 2008 NEC clearly states this:

300.9 Raceways in Wet Locations Above Grade.
Where raceways are installed in wet locations abovegrade, the interior of these raceways shall be considered to be a wet location. Insulated conductors and cables installed in raceways in wet locations abovegrade shall comply with 310.8(C).

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thom

I assume you are using an outside panel to which you are running cables from the interior. We do that all the time here.

The way I do it is to enter the panel directly from the back of the panel, through the wall, into the stud cavity. That is pretty standard around here. There should be at least one, possibly two concentric knockouts on the back of the panel, if not drill them.

I install a pvc male adapter into the panel that penetrates the wall. Using PVC precludes the need to use a bonding bushing and the PVC is legally protected by being in the stud cavity. Probably the adapter is all you need, a 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" should do fine.

Because you are entering the pvc fitting without clamps (romex clamps) you need to staple the cables to solid blocking within 8" of their entry into the pvc.

That's the way we do it here. Good luck.

JohnJ0906

I know this is a common method in your area, but this is a violation of 312.5(C). Cables are required to be secured to the cabinet.

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John from Baltimore
"One Day at a Time"
All replies based on the 2008 NEC