Would you guys list the things I'd need for getting set up to pull long runs of big wire? For example, 150 ft of 3 each 250 kcmil copper + EGC and 525 ft of 3 each #3/0 copper +EGC. Our shop has never done a lot of long distance conduit runs, mostly direct burial circuits but I want to get into doing it sometimes when it would be more practical. However we have no equipment for it and I haven't really had the experience with larger wire and long runs.
Pull rope size(s)?
Pulling machinery?
Cost is a bit of a concern.
cost is always a bit of concern. check out auctions. you can buy whole gangboxes full of somewhat beat up tugging stuff somewhat cheap.
that said, i'm fond of maxis. there customer service is second to none. there stuff is good too...
they do rope, etc...... probably a 12,000 # 300 footer will do.. if you need 500' pulls, there will be money to get rope.
now, for socks and grips, i've got some, but truth be told, i've never lost a pull, and i've done an awful lot of tie wire socks.
i was pulling a long pull in a refinery, and had one greenlee tugger, and a second greenlee tugger with a single turn on it, ahead
of it as a boost, and broke BOTH tuggers... one broke a chain, and the other one exploded the chain cover with the shock load,
and it didn't break the rope or the homemade basket.
i only use simpull wire by southwire.
if you are new to pulling, i recommend this... i have one, and won't pull without it any more.... Maxis Triggers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAigw3xDWM4
they are $1,500 bucks.
i've never seen them for rent, or for sale used. i'd never sell mine.
three months after i bought them, one of them went kerflooey. i'd only used them twice.
i needed to pull in the morning, and discovered this when i pulled them out to charge them.
i called maxis, and explained, and they checked where someone near me had some in stock...
sent me over there to swap them out for brand new set.
this took an hour to set up. i was pulling wire the next morning, as planned.
these guys are awesome.
note... i was just looking on their website, and they sell grips... looks to be pretty
nice stuff, but a bit pricy... $3,000 for the set. if you have a LOT of pulling, it's a
good thing.... you can save 20 minutes a pull, and if you have a crew pulling, that
adds up, but it's a nice to have for me at this point.