I am going to be wiring a circuit of lights and plugs for a pumphouse/Shed. I am planning to use metal boxes and flexible steel conduit. This will be a simple 20-amp circuit with a couple of outlets and a couple of switched lights.

I see pre-wired flexible steel conduit at the Home centers and this seems like just the ticket for me. But if I may ask a really stupid question, how does one safely and cleanly cut the conduit to desired lengths without cutting or nicking the wires? Is there a special tool for this?

Thanks in advance,
Kevin

 

There is a special tool for it, see here at the bottom of the page, but you can "get away with" making a sharp bend in it with your hands, causing a gap to appear. Slip in some sidecutters and snip it. You then usually need to "neaten" the end up a little with pliers.

 

And then use the red anti-short bushing that comes with the reel of cable. On Type MC, the bushing is not required, but it comes with the roll of cable and is an extra pre-caution against shorts at the connector.

 

Thanks to you both, your posts helped. I just got back from a different store and their conduit was boxed, the box had some information and mentions a rotary cutting tool. I have an old on of those I'll try. If that doesn't work I'll use your suggestions.

Just as an aside, that little red bushing kind of freaks me out. Tends to make me think I'm fixing a symptom of a much bigger problem.

Thanks again for taking the time to reply, I appreciate it.

 

If you use the cable and connectors per the manufacturers instructions, you should have no problems.
Often this type of cable is used in commercial lighting installations where 6 feet is allowed (without the cable being secured ) for lighting installations in lay-in ceilings. There is a far likely possibilty that this cable could be pulled on by a tradesman working in the ceiling for one reason or another than there is for your installation in your pumphouse. Be sure that you buy the proper connectors for the cable that you are using. Some of the cable is made out of aluminum and requires a clamp type connector instead of the set screw type.