[AT] OT electrical question

[Ken Knierim]

Use individual (and conduit-rated) wires in conduit.

Romex in conduit doesn't make a happy electrical inspector. Conduit wiring
is supposed to be individual wires due to heating near ampacity ratings (to
get the most,safe power through the wire). The added insulation (of the
Romex) blocks heat dissipation.

Another wrinkle, and going way off the question. If you have a high current
run you can use more than one conductor in the conduit (such as pairs of 12
gauge) if it fits correctly (again, there's a percentage fill spec).
HOWEVER... if it's metallic conduit, make sure you have current feeding in
both directions balanced in the conduit or it becomes a transformer and can
melt things. Meaning, don't put the line or "hot" wires in one conduit and
the "neutral" in a different conduit or you'll have problems (the metallic
conduit can get hot enough to burn the wires under significant loads). An
engineer friend of mine (who designed transformers) talked of a sawmill he
worked at in a previous life that had 3 phase power. The electricians wired
each phase going through its own conduit (several heavy conductors per
conduit) coming into the building and it kept setting the wiring and
electrical housings on fire. After they ran 3 phases through each of the 3
conduits they ran cool with the same load. oops.

Hope this helps.

Ken in AZ


On Sun, Aug 27, 2017 at 1:53 PM, Mike M <meulenms at gmx.com> wrote:

> If you're talking Romex, I don't believe that can be run through conduit.
> Mike M
>
>
> On 8/27/2017 4:32 PM, Don wrote:
> > I thought I would tap into the collective knowledge of this group.  I
> > need to run some 12 ga. wires through some conduit to to plugs.  For
> > some reason I cannot remember if it is permissible 12-2 or do I have to
> > run individual wires.
> >
>
>
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