hoosier inspector Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 I've never come across this material used as conductor. The copper is molded into a solid plastic then split in half like the old antenna wire used to. Is this acceptable? Any help please. Click to Enlarge 40.93 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 It looks like fixture wire and someone put a spade connector on it. I don't know if the spade connector is taboo. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkenney Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 Ditto Marc, zip cord (stranded), split with a crimp connector. Call it out, sloppy at best. Every connection creates additional resistance, if they'd of wanted you to crimp something to each wire, they would have designed it that way. Hardly the way to feed a branch circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosier inspector Posted November 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 It's bigger than romex but with no ground. Here's another shot of two runs before they're split. What kind of fixture would this have been used for? Click to Enlarge 49.9?KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 Table lamp, floor lamp, any kind of mobile light fixture, hence 'fixture' wire. Used for some small portable appliances too, radios, etc. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kogel Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 It's bigger than romex but with no ground. Here's another shot of two runs before they're split. What kind of fixture would this have been used for? We can only guess as to what the amateur sparky was doing with that hookup, but it doesn't matter. It all needs to be replaced for safety reasons, and the repair should be done by a licensed electrician. An ungrounded 240 volt circuit is questionable and also somewhat suspicious - high voltage lighting, maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Fabry Posted November 12, 2012 Report Share Posted November 12, 2012 Go to article 310.13 in the NEC. You'll find a table that describes conductors and their listed/ allowed uses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 Did anyone notice the scale of that cable? There's no way that is zip, looks more like UF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted November 13, 2012 Report Share Posted November 13, 2012 UF has a ground wire in it. Robert, were the conductors finely stranded? If not, it isn't fixture wire. Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoosier inspector Posted November 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2012 UF has a ground wire in it. Robert, were the conductors finely stranded? If not, it isn't fixture wire. Marc I think I found it. I believe it's 18 gauge twin lead (antenna) for ham radio. Click to Enlarge 2.56 KB This is the closest looking wire I've come across. Too bad it's not an actual photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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