We are about to lay about 100 feet of conduit with 4 right angles and a couple of 45s. The conduit will carry #4 stranded THHN. What would be the best way to pull this stuff?
Joe
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cant pull over 360 degrees
Have at least one junction or pull box in the run, use BIG pipe, make dam sure there is no dirt in the pipe, then lube it up.
Like Brownbagg says. You don't want anymore then a 360.
"All he wanted was some beer. And they shot him in the face." Wilma to Two Puff Johnny on a train bound for CrazyLegs Fest.
OK -- most of the run is underground, but three of the 90s are fairly close on one end (up, across, back down, then horizontal underground). Am I better off pulling to a box from each direction and connecting the wires, or pulling a continuous run in stages?J
A continuos run is always better. But you will find it easier to do it in stages. Make good connections and you'll be alright.
"All he wanted was some beer. And they shot him in the face." Wilma to Two Puff Johnny on a train bound for CrazyLegs Fest.
Consider replacing one of the exposed 90's with a pull box.
Those are fairly big, stiff wires (even though stranded), and lots of degrees. You'll want lots of goop, and big conduit. Can you arrange for a pull box just before the group of nineties at one end? Then you could pull the wires out of the box to daylight, then feed them back in for the final nineties.
Scott.
Edited 8/21/2009 12:02 am by Scott
Scott:That is what I will probably do.Any advice as to the best way to get the pulling ropes through those long pipes?Joe
Joe,
Good advice so far. If pulling 4 wires do all together and dress them so they go in neatly without crossing. If the conduit isn't in yet use big sweeps - and consider steel sweeps rather than PVC. More lube than you think is necessary - and clean pipe.
You can develop a mule tape pull by sucking a "mouse" on a string through the conduit with a shop vac. A mouse is a plastic shopping bag (or a part of one depending on the conduit size). Pull string can then be used to pull in the mule tape.
Jim x 3
<Any advice as to the best way to get the pulling ropes through those long pipes?>
A rat with a cat sitting at one end and cheese at the other end?
A thin string with a big wad of cotton on the end and a big honkin' air compressor ?
A 100 foot fish tape http://www.slgtools.com/fish-tape-100-ft-p-205.html?
Edited 8/21/2009 2:13 pm by JohnD1
I usually start with a shop vac and some light twine. Suck it through, then pull something heavier, then heavier, etc.You can those fancy "Chinese Finger Puzzle" things to pull the wire with. They work well.Scott.
Never pull more then 360 w/o access. Four 90's etc. etc.
Opps, sorry ...I didn't read the rest of the posts
Edited 8/21/2009 6:52 pm by woodway
I would use pulling "C" rather than pull boxes.
If you put a C before your group of three nineties you can use a standard 100' fish tape to pull with.
I had to use a 1/2 inch rope and the winch on my truck, but then I was pulling 4 100amp 200 feet
Likely 1/0 wire for that lenght run.
Big stuff. Ya need a rope and tugger (electric wire pulling wench with a clutch).
He's just pulling a 100' of #4 THHN.
My working partener aI would have it pulled all the way through the nineties in under an hour. It is all a matter of working together and who is the Bull.
I use three gallon of pulling soap, pulleys, it was really easy, pulled all four wires at once. hardest part was getting the wire going in straight without hitting corner of pipe.
Feeding the wire and keeping it lubed is the smart end of a brutish job.
We pulled 700' of 350 kcmil in 3" duct a few years ago. Even with a tugger we had four guys working the feed end and a few more at the pull boxes along the way. Took us about 3 hours and wore all of us out. We all went home covered in snot and stinken. All in all a fun day though.
Makes ya feel good to know ya piped and pulled it, and everything worked as advertized.
That is why they call us journeymen and pay us the big bucks <G>
Can you describe a "pulling C"?
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
I've done a few by assembling the conduit over the wire as I go. 20 foot lengths are easy to slide down the wire. Sweep 90s are also pretty easy to do. It takes a lot longer and I have to be really careful with the solvent. But the job is an easy one or two person job without any special tools.
Besides I hate pulling wire. It seems that when I'm almost there the pull rope slips off the wire. And too many times I'm in a bad mood to start with because I'm replacing the wire the methheads stole.
Eric
"It seems that when I'm almost there the pull rope slips off the wire. And too many times I'm in a bad mood to start with because I'm replacing the wire the methheads stole."Maybe you shoulda asked those meatheads how they pulled the old wire out?:)BruceT
E,
Assembling conduit over wire is not an acceptable practice. With an exception for short runs, the conduit must be assembled and supported first, then the wires pulled in. If you pull 10' sections of conduit over the wires, you risk damage to the insulation because the needed end bushings aren't in place. And the wires will be captured - so they can't be pulled out for repair/replacement. Have some thought for the poor schmuck electrician that will have to service your work after your gone.
NEC 300.18 Raceway Installation
(A) Complete Runs. Raceways, other than busways or exposed raceways having hinged or removable covers, shall be installed complete between outlet, junction, or splicing points prior to the installation of conductors.
Regards,
Jim x 3
Edited 8/22/2009 5:09 pm ET by jimjimjim
It is a conduit body like an LL, LR or LB, only it is straight through.
We will put them every 50 to 70' and after a ninety on long pulls in up to 1 1/2" pipe. From 2" on up we will put in pull boxes of sufficent size to make it another pull and lube point.
http://www.hubbellcatalog.com/killark/KILLARK_Fittings_FamilyHome.htm?FAM=KillarkFittings#standard
You should put a pull box after every combination of angles that are 270*. Make sure your duct is clean and use lots of lube.