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Any benefit in running romex inside of copper pipe?

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Posted on December 18, 2016 at 14:10:41
dcuhl
Audiophile

Posts: 148
Location: Mid-Atlantic, USA
Joined: January 13, 2013
 I'm going to add my last dedicated line, this for digital components, and was thinking of running the romex from the service panel, inside of 3/4" copper pipe instead of the usual metal or plastic coated metal conduit. Anyone try this or have any suggestions to this end?

 

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RE: Any benefit in running romex inside of copper pipe? , posted on December 27, 2016 at 21:01:15
jk
Audiophile

Posts: 366
Joined: October 4, 1999
 Be real careful. There is no standard way to protect the Romex from chaffing where the wire enters and exits. Why you might think, how could that possibly wear through the insulation? I have seen it happen. Years of tiny vibrations and movements created a short circuit electrocution Hazzard. I was surprised and lucky. Guess the code is there for a good reason!

 

RE: Any benefit in running romex inside of copper pipe? , posted on December 29, 2016 at 14:23:24
jea48
Audiophile

Posts: 6770
Joined: January 5, 2005
 He would need to use a copper pipe to male thread adapter. See Link below.

If he used any boxes they cannot be galvanized steel. Same for the lock nut used to mechanically/electrically connect the fitting to the box. Any copper fittings would need to be soldered to the copper pipe for conductivity continuity of the conduit system.

 

RE: Any benefit in running romex inside of copper pipe? , posted on January 7, 2017 at 05:50:38
dcuhl
Audiophile

Posts: 148
Location: Mid-Atlantic, USA
Joined: January 13, 2013
 jea48 and jk thank you for your advice and the link, much appreciated.

 

RE: Any benefit in running romex inside of copper pipe? , posted on December 27, 2016 at 19:56:00
hawaiiguy
Audiophile

Posts: 154
Location: island of Oahu, State of Hawaii/USA
Joined: July 17, 2001
 believe that unclestu talked 'something' similar to your inquiry about a couple of years ago...doesn't hurt to check the archives.

 

RE: Any benefit in running romex inside of copper pipe? , posted on December 20, 2016 at 17:02:52
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4385
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 Stick w/ EMT-
It will serve all the goals you have stated about the copper and meet code.
the copper won't.
Happy Listening

 

RE: Any benefit in running romex inside of copper pipe? , posted on December 21, 2016 at 04:53:18
dcuhl
Audiophile

Posts: 148
Location: Mid-Atlantic, USA
Joined: January 13, 2013
 Will do and thanks, the use of copper pipe was just a thought.

 

RE: Any benefit in running romex inside of copper pipe? , posted on December 18, 2016 at 14:57:23
Uncle Mike
 Steel EMT will provide shielding as well as copper tube at much less expense. Also fittings and connectors are available.

 

RE: Any benefit in running romex inside of copper pipe? , posted on December 18, 2016 at 20:02:00
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 No. Probably worse
Alan

 

Please explain, posted on December 19, 2016 at 06:42:01
Uncle Mike
 and include examples to show your thesis.

 

RE: Please explain, posted on December 20, 2016 at 04:11:56
dcuhl
Audiophile

Posts: 148
Location: Mid-Atlantic, USA
Joined: January 13, 2013
 Copper, pipe in this case, is non-magnetic and a great/good conductor of electricity, minus the oxidation factor, I could fill the pipe with sand or something else, cotton rope for example, to kill the accompanying vibration generated by the 50/60 hz cycle generation and its a great rf shield, though I have had instances where the reflection back at/to the source has had deleterious effects on the overall performance and had to be removed or "dampened". My concern is that it could also act as an antenna of sorts, though earth grounding it, the copper pipe, should resolve at least some, if not all, of this. It also would act as a shield to the surrounding equipment and keep whatever insulation bleed-through from the ac cabling, read emi, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant, from effecting the performance of the components in close proximity to the run.
Makes sense to me, your thoughts?

 

RE: Please explain, posted on December 20, 2016 at 16:44:02
Uncle Mike
 95% of what you just rambled through could be achieved at less expense using EMT.

 

RE: Please explain, posted on December 21, 2016 at 07:35:34
dcuhl
Audiophile

Posts: 148
Location: Mid-Atlantic, USA
Joined: January 13, 2013
 Thanks for your input. Why the attitude?

 

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