Going under alternative names such as metallic sheathed cable, type AC, MC, Greenfield, or armored cable, BX cable is
a collection of plastic-coated insulated wires
(typically 14- or 12-gauge), bundled together and protected by a ribbon-like metal sheathing. … This casing needs to be attached to metal boxes.
What is BX cable used for?
Electrical cable encased in metal sheathing is often used
in basements and other areas
where the wire is not encased in a finished wall. It is handled differently than standard Romex® (non-metallic sheathed) cable. It is often used in fire-rated occupancies as an alternative to metallic conduit.
What is Type Act cable?
National Electrical Code defines type AC armored cable as, “A fabricated assembly of insulated conductors in a flexible metallic enclosure.” ACT. Indicates
an armored cable
.
employing conductors having thermoplastic (Type T) insulation
.
What are the different types of armored cable?
There are two types of armoured cables
Aluminium wire armour and steel wire armour
.
Is BX cable fire rated?
Vitalink 2-Hour Fire Rated Cable, 300V, 16 AWG, 2 Conductor, Shielded, LSZH, CSA PERFORMANCE: RC90 per CSA 22.2 No.
Is BX the same as MC?
They're very similar in most regards, but there is one big difference between the two cables. In the electrical world, AC or BX cables do not come with a ground wire while MC cables do. … Both are
essentially just names for armored cable
.
Why is it called BX cable?
Armored cable (AC) first appears in the 1903 NEC. There were originally two initial versions of armored cable. One was called “AX” and the other “BX,” with the “X” standing for “experimental.” The “BX”
version became the one that eventually was produced
, and hence the name “BX” became the common name.
What's better BX or Romex?
Romex cables are about 25% cheaper than their BX counterparts
. A BX is difficult and heavy to handle. Romex cables are light and have a slippery coating that enables them to be easily pulled through holes. BX cables are safer and protect against any accidental penetrations.
Can I use BX instead of conduit?
If the conduit used is
galvanized steel
, the benefits are the same as BX, good resistance to puncture, low MF emittance, and good EF shielding. Why I ALWAYS choose BX over Non-Metallic (NM) cable: A real-world example.
What is cable armouring?
In electrical power distribution, armoured cable usually means steel wire armoured cable (SWA) which is a hard-wearing power cable designed for the supply of mains electricity. … Armouring is also
applied to submarine communications cables
.
What is the most general criteria for cable classification?
- Cables for underground service may be classified in two ways according to.
- (i) the type of insulating material used in their manufacture.
- (ii) the voltage for.
- which they are manufactured. …
- Low-tension (L.T.) cables — upto 1000 V.
- High-tension (H.T.) cables — upto 11,000 V.
What are the types of cables?
- Ribbon Electric Cables. It consists of multiple insulated wires running parallel with one another and is used for transmission of multiple data simultaneously. …
- Shielded Cables. …
- Twisted Pair Cables. …
- Coaxial Cables. …
- Fibre Optics Cable.
What is difference between AWA and SWA cable?
Chapter 8: What is the difference between AWA and SWA cable?
AWA cable is made of aluminum armour while SWA is made of steel armour
. AWA cable is used in single-core cables while SWA is used in multiple core cables. AWA cable is nonmagnetic since aluminum is magnetic, the steel in SWA cable makes it magnetic.
What is 2-hour fire rated cable?
2-hour fire rated cables are
able to stay functioning even 2 hours after a fire breaks out
. These are used for installations that require enhanced integrity of the circuit. They can also be used in building complexes and public spaces in the case of an emergency.
What is fire rated cable?
Fire resistant or fire rated cables are
designed to maintain circuit integrity and continue to work for a specified period of time under defined conditions
. … Continues to operate in the presence of fire, hence their reference as Circuit Integrity cables, This includes PH30, PH60 and PH120 cables.
What does BX stand for in electrical?
Basic armored cable
was developed in the early 1900s by Harry Greenfield and Gus Johnson, who called their product BX cable. It has become a generic term for all armored cable.
