Re: Fire Wire Solid vs. Stranded

["doug" <vssdoug@xxxxxxxxx>]

"ABLE1" <someone@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:JuSYx.2077$PV4.738@xxxxxxxxxxx
> On 10/30/2015 5:45 PM, doug wrote:
>>
>> "ABLE1" <someone@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:NyPYx.23345$bG2.5135@xxxxxxxxxxx
>>> Bob,
>>>
>>> I can see that THHN would be acceptable in conduit.  Back in the day
>>> most
>>> older
>>> schools had 120vac bells.  I pulled one a couple of years ago that
>>> was that way.  There were just pull stations and they were a hot loop on
>>> 120vac.
>>> It was so old it had whiskers and a cane.
>>>
>>> It has always been my belief that you had to use solid since if using
>>> stranded
>>> you would have perfect supervision on just one strand if others were
>>> broken.
>>> But, then when it went into alarm that one strand could not handle the
>>> load
>>> and the system would fail.  With solid that would not happen.
>>>
>>> Les
>>>
>>
>> This link explains when and why it was changed to allow stranded scroll
>> down
>> to Sec.760-71(a)
>>
>> http://ecmweb.com/content/illustrated-changes-1996-necode-part-4
>>
>>
>> Doug
>>
>
> Thanks Doug,
>
> Changed in 1996!!  Wow, that is very interesting.
> Not that I will change my practice of installing solid, but I will now
> not question anyone that does.  Well maybe I will a little bit.
>
> Again thanks for filling in the blanks.
>
> Give yourself a pay increase for excellent research abilities.
>
> Les

Another common assumption seems to be that 3/4" is the minimum size for
conduit runs for fire alarm systems, consequently you see many installations
that have 3/4" conduit to device with only a 18/2 cable inside. A lot of
electricians will swear blind that it is a national code requirement.

Doug