Can I use 6/3UF W/G outdoor instead of Indoor 6/3NM w/G ?

[Paul Blakely]

Looking to run 6/3 gauge for a 50 amp electric range. 50' of the outdoor is $50 less than comparable indoor, but all the insulation around the wires looks like a nuisance to deal try to get it into the panel and the range receptacle. Is it within code and/or advisable to do it with the outdoor?

 

[wwhitney]

Code wise you can use 6/3 UF anywhere you can use 6/3 NM. As for stripping it, harder than NM, but not crazy hard if you leave enough slack at the end. You can butcher the end for 6-12" to reveal the #10 bare, and then use that like a zip cord to cut the outer insulation as far as you need it, and cut off the butchered end. At least that's the theory.

You also could use some 6-6-6-6 Al SER cable, if that's available, and you confirm your receptacle is rated for 75C and for Al. The breaker should be.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Paul Blakely]

Code wise you can use 6/3 UF anywhere you can use 6/3 NM. As for stripping it, harder than NM, but not crazy hard if you leave enough slack at the end. You can butcher the end for 6-12" to reveal the #10 bare, and then use that like a zip cord to cut the outer insulation as far as you need it, and cut off the butchered end. At least that's the theory.

You also could use some 6-6-6-6 Al SER cable, if that's available, and you confirm your receptacle is rated for 75C and for Al. The breaker should be.

Cheers, Wayne

Thanks Wayne! I ended up using the 6/3 UF and it wasn't too bad stripping that extra insulation away. Just gotta head over to the hardware store to get some super-sized cable staples to tack the cable to the bottom of the floor joists in the crawl space.

And by the way, I finished swapping out the san-tees for the wyes per your detailed explanation in the DWV plumbing forum. Thanks so much for that!