My New House & Workshop

[Curious Hound]

I should have read @Curious Hound post first, but these are not considered bends.

So between the one coming out of the house and the one going into the shop, the only bends you need to worry about are the ones underground.

I just read back through his description. He’s still going to need a pull point somewhere even if he used LB’s where he went through the walls into the house and shop. If I was doing it, I probably would have cheated with some gently curving trenches instead of some if those 45’s, if possible. In the Texas sunshine, that conduit would have layed in a gently curved trench very easily.

 

[franklin2]

Well, I have my trench all dug, but at the moment I'm kind of screwed.

The NEC says you can't have more than 360 degrees in bend for conduit.

The cable has to go from the subpanel straight to the wall, 90 degree down into the ground and turns 90 degrees away from the building for a way and the bends 45 degrees left and the 45 degrees right to go around the corner of concrete pad, and then makes a 90 degree right turn at the other corner of the pad.

That's 360 degrees.

From there it continues and makes a 45 degree left, several more feet it makes another 45 degrees left (now it's at the corner of my concrete pad next to the house that I park on) and is heading for the house.

That's 450 degrees.

When it gets to the house it has to turn up 90 degrees along the house and then make a 90 degree left turn and head for the main breaker panel.

That's a total of 630 degrees.

I'm thinking I need to put a pull box in the ground where the 5th bend would be (the 3rd 90 degree bend). From here I'd have a total of 270 degrees of bends left.

The pull box is something I just became aware of. Now I have to figure out what to get, where to get it, and how to install it.

They are not cheap. We use these at work. Remember, any box has to be accessible.

Quazite Underground Enclosure, 15, 000 Lb, 8-1/2"L: Electrical Equipment: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

Quazite Underground Enclosure, 15, 000 Lb, 8-1/2"L: Electrical Equipment: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement

www.amazon.com

 

[Curious Hound]

Both if these are inexpensive and easily attainable.

This is s sufficient box.

And this would make it easily accessible.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Next problem, finding a pull line steing enough to pull (3) 1 gauge wires through 2-inch conduit.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Next problem, finding a pull line steing enough to pull (3) 1 gauge wires through 2-inch conduit.

If you were closer. I still have my old synthetic winch line. When I build services we just ran a small nylon string at first. Then used that to pull a bigger 1/2" nylon rope. I would always stagger the wires when we tied them in. We had a small trick. If you know you have a lot of glue joint to pass. You can take a paper plate. Slice it from the middle to the edge. Then you can form a cone around the connection between the wires to help keep the flat ends of the wire from hanging on the joints. We also used to have a gas powered tugger at shop. If you have anyone close or who rents one. Makes it a lot easier on your back.

 

[Curious Hound]

It won’t be that bad. Cheap clothesline rope will work. Just don’t pull directly with tiny nylon string. The string will cut into the conduit around bends.

 

[Jim Oaks]

ChatGPT told me for (3) 1 gauge wires I needed a 1,200 tensile strength pull line.

A) That is like $100
B) there's not enough caffeine in the world that could enable me to apply more than a couple hundred pounds of force.

I got some Klein pull line for $20 rated at 210 lbs and some magic foam shit that you spray in the conduit to lube it. They also had a big bottle of clear lube that looked like KY for electricians.

Oh ya, I got a 12x12 pull box and a pair of 2-inch connectors.

I just love sharing my retirement check with Home Depot.

 

[Curious Hound]

ChatGPT told me for (3) 1 gauge wires I needed a 1,200 tensile strength pull line.

A) That is like $100
B) there's not enough caffeine in the world that could enable me to apply more than a couple hundred pounds of force.

I got some Klein pull line for $20 rated at 210 lbs and some magic foam shit that you spray in the conduit to lube it. They also had a big bottle of clear lube that looked like KY for electricians.

Oh ya, I got a 12x12 pull box and a pair of 2-inch connectors.

I just love sharing my retirement check with Home Depot.

Please, please! Ignore chatgpt. AI has never in its lifetime pulled wire through a conduit. It can not see what you are doing. Every wire pull is a new and different situation. You don’t need much of that lube. Really, a tablespoonful of liquid hand soap or dish soap is all you need for this pull.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Please, please! Ignore chatgpt. AI has never in its lifetime pulled wire through a conduit. It can not see what you are doing. Every wire pull is a new and different situation. You don’t need much of that lube. Really, a tablespoonful of liquid hand soap or dish soap is all you need for this pull.

But it's entertaining.

You know I'm a zombie.

Chat GPT said I died in 2007.

 

[franklin2]

I just pulled 200 ft of 200 amp trailer wire (2-4/0, 1-2/0, and #6) though a 2 inch conduit with a rope about the size that goes on a flagpole. We did slime the wire, and had two guys on each end pushing and pulling, with me hauling the wire up through the yard. That stuff is heavier than you think.

So the smaller wire you are pulling should go right on through, especially since you are following code and using a pull box. Some of their rules seem a little over the top, but the 360 degree bend rule is a good one to follow. That PVC pipe creates a lot of friction on the wire when it goes around a turn.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I wonder how quick a Smittybilt 9.5K could pull my wire through the conduit?

 

[Snoranger]

I wonder how quick a Smittybilt 9.5K could pull my wire through the conduit?

It could probably pull a 4” block of steel through your 2” conduit, but I wouldn’t recommend trying it.

 

[Curious Hound]

It could probably pull a 4” block of steel through your 2” conduit, but I wouldn’t recommend trying it.

I agree. Unless you are practiced and familiar with pulling wires with a tugger, you should avoid it. It’s real easy to tear stuff up that way.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I agree. Unless you are practiced and familiar with pulling wires with a tugger, you should avoid it. It’s real easy to tear stuff up that way.

 

[franklin2]

I agree. Unless you are practiced and familiar with pulling wires with a tugger, you should avoid it. It’s real easy to tear stuff up that way.

I have heard some wild stories over the years that include forklifts, backhoe's, etc. I have used a platform lift before to help me. It works good on a conduit that points up.