TOPIC: Verbiage about circuit breakers on Home Inspector Pro

It give you the options of: Copper non-metallic sheathed cable or
Copper armor sheathed cable.


Which one am I looking at in a Main Panel in Southern Calif?


David

Copper non-metallic cable, Armor would be outside the box?

Are you talking about the Home's wiring type?

Non Metallic Sheathed cable is just that, wiring in a vinyl/plastic (Romex is a Common name, but is Manu.) this type of CABLE may contain Copper (Cu) or Aluminum. There are other variables as well on older homes (tin coated copper and so on). There are also several types/configurations... solid strand Copper and AL and "stranded" AL and Copper.

Armored cable would be copper wiring *inside* of a metallic sheathing/covering. Typically called BX, but once again, many variables.

The main difference of the two you mentioned is the sheathing or it's outside covering protecting the conductors inside the jacketing.

In southern california, on relatively modern construction, you will likely encounter many forms of wiring, but a predominance of Non-Metallic wiring visible in attics and Armored cable visible in unfinished interior areas such as the garage where the wiring is subject to damage. You shouldn't find Non Metallic in areas subject to damage, such as exteriors and unfinished areas like the garages.

You probably already knew that... but hey, you asked!