What do you think of the new MC cable with the aluminum bonding wire in it and no EGC. They say you can just cut this wire off at the face of the armor and snap it in a MC fitting to provide an effective ground path. Wonder how it works at the beach?

Southwire Alflex gave a presentation on these new MC products including the "EZ connectors" which basically thread onto the conduit. I think we are seeing the movment towards the death of type AC. I won't miss it...

I guess I am just old enough to remember the last time I was told aluminum was going to be the next great thing. I think the thing I liked the best about MC cable was that green copper EGC

AC and MC cable has been used for many years without problems and its still fine.

Isn't the "bond wire" in the center of the MC cable just a by-product of when they cut the armor at the factory, and then they just decided to put it to use?

I thought it was to make the outer jacket a bonding means like AC Cable?

yes, yes, it is listed to do that but..............


remember the good 'ole days when BX cable was made with steel armor and there was that nifty little wire that we used to hold the "redhead" (anti-short bushing) in place if you wrapped it around just right....

well, to the best of my knowledge, it was not produced in order to facilitate the redhead being held in place. It was a result of when the armor was cut and that was the small piece of wire that was left over, in the middle of the cable. And we all know how terrible of a ground that steel armor was......

I believe the same is true for the MC cable and to the best of my knowledge when fabricated the manufacturer got the by-product listed (it was there anyway) and decided to call it the bond wire.