MC Cable is yet another example of people in the know using abbreviations or jargon that make it difficult for those of us not actively working full time in that field to understand them. They usually do not set out to confuse us; they just develop ways of saying things that are easier and quicker than stating the full meaning.
MC Cable stands for metal clad cable. However, does knowing this make you any the wiser? If you were a procurement officer in a large concern and you received a request from the maintenance department to source some MC Cable for them, would you know what to buy?
Cable
Cable itself comes in more than one form. Your colleague wanting MC Cable is probably referring to some sort of metal clad cable for electricity transmission.
However, there are still more factors to consider. Cable itself comprises three different components:-
- The conductor that carries the electricity.
- An insulation covering around the conductor.
- An outer protective jacket.
The materials used for each component are selected in line with the following criteria:-
A . the current or amperage to be carried – this decides the cross sectional size of the conductor
B . The voltage between the connections which determines the insulation requirements.
C . The conditions outside the cable will decide whether or not the insulation requires protection from the likes of temperature, water or chemicals, sunlight, mechanical impact or abrasion, etc.
Your colleague may be asking for MC Cable because of requirements relating to “C” above. In which case, can you procure armored cable and send that to him? The answer to that is – “maybe” – “maybe not!” You are still not at the end of the road and, when you speak to a cable supplier, you will be asked the key question of – “what do you intend to do with the MC Cable once you get it?” If your supplier has that information, then he can guide you as to exactly what is best for you.
You might also be asked if you are familiar with the NEC (National Electrical Code) and have read Article 330 in particular. It is here that you will find details about Aluminum MC Cable and learn the difference between it and AC (armored cable). With MC Cable the outer metal not only protects, it also includes a grounding conductor. MC Cable is usually used to avoid the necessity of running cable through conduit.
The moral here is that you should always give your cable supplier details of where and how you will be using the cable. The exception is when re-ordering to the previous part number.
