It's often used along the exterior of walls to carry power to outlet boxes. Also known as metal clad (MC) cable, this cable has metal armor that acts as conduit to protect the THHN building wires. Metal-clad cable comes in several varieties, with the most common type being three insulated wires (two circuit conductors and a green equipment grounding conductor) protected by a flexible armor.
MC cable is easier to work with than rigid conduit, and it too offers protection from fire, vibration, gnawing pests and physical harm in general. The interlocking, insulated metal sheathing that covers the MC Cable is required and is what makes it possible to have bare or insulated equipment have a grounding line conductor. MC Cables are widely used in many industries today and provide insulation, support, durability, and power when it is needed the most, all in a conveniently sized package. HCF MC AP cable is the first interlocked armor MC cable that meets NEC 517.13 requirements for redundant equipment grounding conductor paths in health care facilities, and, as noted above, HCF MC AP cable has a 350 percent better ground-fault current path in the armor than the armor of AC cable suitable for use in health care facilities.12-2 MC Aluminum Metal Clad Flexible Conduit Cable. This type of cable can also house any number of conductors, meaning there is no limit by UL standards. The protective outer interlocking metal is flexible, allowing for easy bending. MC cable (metal clad cable) is a type of cable that typically contains three insulated conductors (wires) encased in a smooth tube, ridged tube, or interlocking metal.
Each Fire Alarm and Control Cable contains a green. Sizes with 14 AWG through 12 AWG, 10 AWG, and 8 AWG, and 6 AWG conductors are classified as type THHN/THWN-2 conductors. Type MC Fire Alarm Control Cable: 1X Technologies MC Fire Alarm Control Cable is constructed with soft-drawn copper and classified as type TFN (Sizes 18 & 16 AWG) conductors. It is often used in applications where cable will be exposed to mechanical or environmental damage under normal operating conditions, such as power circuits in. Also known as BX cable or metal-clad (MC) cable, armored cable prevents accidental penetration better than NM-B building cable, but it is heavier and harder to handle, rip back, and cut. Supporting the cable, as described in Article 330.30, is basically every 6’ and 12” before each box. The cable can be used quickly from small 250’ rolls or even much larger 1000’ spools of cable.
In fact, MC cable reduces overall installed costs by roughly 30-50% when compared to the installation of conduit and wire.All insulated conductors are phase identified. Aluminum armor is interlocked over the conductor assembly.
A binder identification baring tape is wrapped over the cabled assembly.
Type MC cable is constructed with 3 or 4 8000 series compact stranded aluminum XHHW-2 conductors cabled with a bare or insulated 8000 series aluminum grounding conductor.