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I recently wired a horse arena and 2 barns for horses. I used some EMT and mostly romex cable. Inspector rejected installation and said it must all be in EMT with compression fittings.He referenced a NM cable that I never heard of. He also rejected porcelain keyless lights. He said I need to install fixtures with threaded hubs and glass globes that screw into the fixture.Can I use EMT with compression fittings, 1900 boxes and UF cable (not exposed to sunlight)with compression connectors from the 1900 box to the fixture with threaded hubs? If not UF then what cable must I use. Inspector said they are agricultural buildings and must be in EMT.
hi this is john and will try and help
the inspector is right regarding the way an agriculture building needs to be wired
the main concern is due to the exposure to dust and dampness
the article that covers this is article 547 in the NEC book
it states that uf, NMC, copper SE cables, jacketed MC cable, rigid non metallic conduit, liquidtight flexible nonmetallic conduit, with approved termination fittings
one thing you will discover is although the NEC book is what most if not all inspectors follow, it is the minimum and the final say is the governing enforcing body that has the final say
can I use UF with romex connectors in the 1900 boxes ( all 12 above floor) and compression connector into the fixture with threaded hubs?
if the inspector is requiring you to use emt then that is what you will need to use...if you are talking about running it in the emt then yes that is ok
the lights must be sealed against dust and moisture
here is a break down of the articl i mentioned regarding what you are doing, but like i said earlier the inspector has the final say, they can't make you do less then the code but they can make you do more http://www.mrec.org/pubs/05%20Stetson%20AgriculturalWiringMaterials.pdf
it says you are typing however i don't see any posts
I want to use the uf between 1900 boxes 12 feet above the floor and into the light fixtures. The rigid non-metallic conduit...is that PVC? I will use thhn # XX for all wiring in EMT and PVC. Everything cannot be in EMT as there are exterior lights on this pole barn and you cannot get EMT through the girts and into the soffit. Since uf is allowed I should be able to use it as I describe. Of course, I will ask the inspector first.
got it
yes it is pvc or they make a flexible type called liquid tight or seal tight which is rated for all wet and damp locations and can also be buried
the seal tight is easy to use with no need for any fittings other then the connectors
at the ends
Thank you John. I wired these structures for my son and followed what was in one barn and two nearby farms. They were approved with romex, but that was 6 years ago and this inspector has been on the job for five years. Live and learn and I will get a copy of the NEC.
Experience: over 40 years of all phases related to residential wiring and remodeling