Is the grounding means for Type AC and Type MC cables the same?
NO^ ^Armored (Type AC) Cable Construction ^Type AC cables are fabricated to U.L 4. A 16 AWG aluminum bonding wire is inside of, and in physical contact with, the interlocking metal armor of Type AC cables providing a low-impedance fault-return path required for the operation of overcurrent protection devices. The bonding wire is unique to AC cable and allows the outer metal armor in conjunction with the bonding wire to be used as an equipment ground. It is important to remember that the bare bond wire is not an equipment grounding conductor. It is the bond wire that, in combination with the interlocked metal armor, provides a low impedance equipment grounding path for Type AC cables.^^ Metal Clad (Type MC) Cable Construction ^Type MC cable is manufactured to U.L Standard 1569. The outer metal armor of interlocking style Type MC cables is not an equipment grounding means and does not contain bonding wire (as manufactured by AFC Cable Systems, Inc). Type MC cables will have one or more g
