computer power supply cable

[bish0p]

I need expert advise.

1}Is it safe to use the shield of a 2-wire cable as the grounding wire?

2}Worst case, something drop on the cable and it's damage - cut or bare wire exposed, will it cause electrocution, or explosion if a gas is present in the surrounding area?

thank you.

 

[melone]

1) If it is a 2 wire connection, then you have to use the second wire are ground / return. Otherwise, you would not be able to complete the circuit.

2) It might be a good idea to get a qualified electrician to install anything that could cause an explosion! Not all cables / connectors / equipment is made for such volatile conditions.

 

[buzzp]

If the system has a hot, neutral, and ground, then the answer is NO. The answer is likely no if it is only a 2 wire system as well. The shield is not designed to carry current continuously, especially load current for some device.

 

[sreid]

Buzzp is absolutely correct. You never want to do anything with AC Power that is not to UL or NEC.

 

[xabproject]

Dear bish0p,
see if the following is useful to your query!
Best regards,


Computer AC Power Cables

All cables shall consist of flexible metal conduit containing the required insulated power, neutral and ground conductors as established by the National Electric Code. The power cable shall include an insulated, liquid tight, flexible and interlocking wound steel armored outer shield, which surrounds all of the conductors to minimize electrical and or mechanical disturbances to the conductors. The flexible conduit shall contain a continuous copper ground conductor built into the core. The flexible conduit shall be blue in color throughout its length to provide positive identification of data processing power cabling. Material used for the outer shield shall conform to and be listed to UL Standard for Safety No. 360 (Conduit, Electrical, Liquid-Tight Flexible Steel). The “load” end of the output distribution cable shall be terminated in one of the following three ways as specified by the purchaser on a schedule provided separately from this specification.

A field-wired termination shall consist only of the specified length of Listed liquid tight conduit, 2 - Listed, insulated, straight liquid tight connectors, and the specified number of Listed conductors including a minimum of 72” of free conductors exiting the power cable at the “load” end.

A box-mounted receptacle termination shall consist of a Listed cast metal outlet box of water resistant design with threaded internal hubs, equipped with a Listed metal cover plate secured with screws to the outlet box and the appropriate Listed receptacle, 2 - Listed, insulated straight liquid tight connectors and the specified number of Listed conductors in the specified length of Listed liquid tight conduit.


An in-line or pin and sleeve termination shall consist of a circular in-line Listed connector-body in a water resistant housing, 2 - Listed, insulated straight liquid tight connectors and the specified number of Listed conductors in the specified length of Listed liquid tight conduit.

All cables shall contain a minimum of 72 inches (6 feet) of free conductors for attachment to power source.

The output conductors, liquid tight flexible metal conduit and fittings shall be sized in accordance with the National Electric Code and are Listed by Underwriters Laboratories and bear the appropriate UL mark. Each output cable shall be individually listed under UL Standard for Safety No. 478 as an NEC type “DP” (Data Processing) cable assembly. Any cable which is not so listed shall be secured every 4.5 feet in accordance with articles 300-11 and 351-8 of the National Electric Code.

Each output distribution cable shall be permanently labeled at each end of the cable with the UL mark, registration number, length and individual identification numbers to include PDE label, panelboard label and circuit number.

All cables shall be thoroughly inspected at the factory for any defects in workmanship. All cables shall be tested for ground integrity, insulation leaks and proper phase rotation. All conductors shall be “Hi-Pot” tested at twice rated circuit voltage plus 1000 volts and pass the “Production Line Dielectric Withstand Test” using test equipment.

The PDE equipment supplier shall provide all computer power cables.