84 Modern Commercial Wiring Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Iand n this chapter, you will explore the part of the electrical system that provides the pathway connecting means between the electrical source and the utilization equipment. 6.1 Conductors Conductor refers to copper, aluminum, or r copper-clad aluminum wire that carries cur- rent. If this wire is encased in a noncurrent- carrying material, it is referred to as an insulated conductor, or cable. A cable is actu- ally a complete wire assembly having a conduc- tor, insulation, shielding (if needed), and an outer protective covering. Cables can contain one conductor or many separately insulated conductors. See Figure 6-1. CODE ALERT Insulated Conductor According to Article 100, an insulated conductor is 0 a conductor encased within material of composi- tion and thickness that is recognized by this Code as electrical insulation. There are three classifi of conductors fications discussed in this text. Their uses are illustrated in Figure 6-2. • Service-entrance conductors are conductors that deliver electrical energy from the utility company distribution supply conductors to the service-entrance equipment. These are the conductors between the point of supply and the main service disconnect. • Feeder conductors, also called feeders, conduct electrical current from the main service disconnect to the fi nal circuit fi overcurrent device, usually at the branch circuit distribution panel. Feeders are further categorized as main feeders (those originating at the service disconnect) and subfeeders (those originating at distribution panels other than service equipment and connecting to other panels in the system). • Branch-circuit conductors are conductors that originate at the final overcurrent fi device and terminate at the utilization equipment. AFC Cable Systems, Atkore International Figure 6-1. Conductors can be solid or stranded. This metal-clad (MC) cable has insulated conductors surrounded by a jacket, all protected by an outer metal covering. The outer covering of MC cable cannot be used as part of the grounding path, so the cable includes a green grounding conductor. Stranded Conductors Solid Conductors