The upside to using conduit is avoiding interruption. Animals have the annonying tendency to chew through exposed wiring. Putting them in conduit helps avoid that.
Thanks for the reply. Just to clarify, I meant running the wire along the inside wall of the garage. The NEC, from what I picked up from Web searches, says you have to use conduit to run the wire through a wall, from inside to outside. I'm sure it's safe to run the low voltage wire along an inside wall, using fasteners intended for use with wiring, but I'm not sure what the NEC says about it...
As you are dealing with low voltage wire that is (hopefully) suitable for direct burial.
I don't even think NEC rules apply. much more than "portable appliance cords" for the 120v wire between the outlet and the transformer. As that is all inside, it's not even an issue.
But just simple logic that any wire going through a block or concrete wall should be able to be removed easily and should not be cemented in tight. Putting it in a conduit in new construction allows it to be removed to be checked or replaced if need be. Just drilling a hole and plugging it with a bit of insulation would work fine.
But if I were you I'd run it in a bit of conduit outside the garage at least if the wire is not in the ground right away to prevent damage from lawnmowers or weed-whackers
Also it's a good idea to keep any wires in a conduit where they are likely to be subjected to damage or even pulling by little children.
Inside a garage is a very dangerous area for exposed wires, lots of things move, can bump into walls, and have sharp edges.
Run it in schedule 80 conduit to protect from stuff being piled up on it or a shovel dropping. Makes your life easier and the conduit is cheap and easy to install.
NEC doesn't apply for low voltage , you do what you need to do with it, just use your own judgment. Its like the cable and phone companies - they drill through any walls and install it anyway it suits them. No conduits. To verify NEC doesn't apply call your local city inspector Monday.
Better yet... use armored cable (BX). That way you won't have to buy a conduit bender. There's nothing in NEC that restricts you from running low voltage wire exposed inside a garage. It's done all the time. Look at the cable/telephone companies... Bruce offered "the better solution" in the long run by providing his answer. "BX" is the "lazy man's" solution... :-))
Let me restate the question: If low voltage (12v landscape) wire is run along (not internal to) the indoor walls/ceiliing of a garage, does the NEC have anything to say about it? Shovels hitting the wire, things falling on it, etc. aren't a concern.
To clarify (based on the bits and pieces of the NEC that I've picked up on-line), Chapter 3 of the NEC absolutely states that you *must* use conduit to go through a wall. Also, the standard wire sold for landscape lighting is suitable for direct burial. Per the NEC, the wire is supposed to be buried (I believe) 6" deep, but I doubt that anybody does that other than in areas that might be core aerated. It's usually just placed under the mulch. There are no NEC requirements for use of conduit outdoors.
The problem here is, as I said, that there is lots of talk on-line about the NEC but it isn't actually available for reference on-line. I just checked the card catalog at the local library via the Web, and they have a copy in the reference section. When I find the answer, I'll post it...
In your case I would just use some common sense. If exposed wire is run where it may be damaged, run it in conduit, other wise I do not believe it is necessary. Greg
Ok educate me than, its been a while I've looked anything up in NEC. What
*section* of NEC you were referring to that requires conduit for low voltage cables like 12V landscape, TV coax, telephone and thermostat control wires in the house? Have you ever seen conduits for those inside your house besides the service entry points from the street?
You've referred to *Proposals* for 2005 NEC Edition with 2815 pages! Did all the proposals get into the 2005 NEC code book? So for low voltage part of the landscaping what section of the 2005 NEC requires conduit and burial depth that OP was referring to? In any case, I did refer the OP to contact his local inspector for any requirements.
No permit required for the low voltage part of the landscape lighting installation or other low voltage installation like phone wiring or coax cables out here. I assume this is the case for many cities so how would NEC be enforced?
That's not correct, friend. NEC applies to all current carrying conductors installed in a building. There are different requirements for low voltage systems but NEC definitely covers them.
Whether NEC applies in your specific community is a matter of state code. How it is applied and interpreted is subject to the discretion of the "authority having jurisdiction" -- fire marshal, building inspector, etc.
I have the currently used NEC in PDF form on my PC back in the USA. Unfortunately, I didn't bring a copy with me to Brazil so I can't quote paragraphs applicable to your situation. Your local building inspector can and usually will help if you contact him in advance and tell him what you want to do.
Actually, CATV and telco work is also subject to code. The workers don't require a license in most states but the workmanship is covered by NEC. Clearly, they don't always follow the code but they are supposed to do so.
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