Grouping of disconnects for feeders to separate buildings

[augie47]

Because I multiplied the per-stick price by 120 instead of 12. :dunce:

If you priced the job based on that and was given the go-ahead you should be a happy camper

 

[LarryFine]

If you priced the job based on that and was given the go-ahead you should be a happy camper

No, finishing up the proposal tonight, glad I caught it before pricing out of the ballpark.

What's the most economical form of three aluminum conductors?

 

[kwired]

I think I know the answer, but for a 120' run, which would be more economical in PVC, #3-cu in 1", or #1-al in 1-1/4"?

And, should I keep the neutral full-sized, or bother trying to calculate likely neutral loading to reduce it slightly?

We use the DB aluminum cable in conduit.

In my mind, if the insulation is tough enough to be direct buried, if it's installed in conduit it should last forever.

I've used that some before - but always on long runs of like 1000 feet or more. The place I can buy it from is about two hour drive away and certainly not worth it for 125 feet or so. What I have used doesn't have the conductors marked with anything that is acceptable indoors either from what I recall, but I have always used it for outdoor runs on the farms and never needed to worry about entering a building with it either.

So, what's the best (cheapest) form of three conductors of aluminum to pull that will fit into 1.25 PVC?

Dual-rated URD? SEU cable? Individual lengths?

Because I multiplied the per-stick price by 120 instead of 12. :dunce:

For me typically the dual rated URD either cost the least or is close enough that since you don't have to measure out individual conductors does save some on labor.

If I need a fourth conductor however finding dual rated URD doesn't seem to be as common - most the "quad" stocked around here is USE rated only.

 

[LarryFine]

I can't seem to find 1-ga, it goes from #2 to 2-0. I need to price it tonight.

 

[ActionDave]

I can't seem to find 1-ga, it goes from #2 to 2-0. I need to price it tonight.

Are you looking under URD or USE?

 

[electrofelon]

No, finishing up the proposal tonight, glad I caught it before pricing out of the ballpark.

What's the most economical form of three aluminum conductors?

I agree with Kwired, the URD. I have priced it out compared to individual XHHW and the URD is a hair cheaper. You just have to be careful that it is also rated RHH-2 and not just USE-2 if its being used above ground.

BTW, in my previous post, I was assuming it would be pulled in pipe not direct buried. Too many rocks here.

 

[LarryFine]

Are you looking under URD or USE?

1 gauge URD. I found 1 ga. USE single-conductor at Home Depot for .66 / ft. Not stocked, but free-shipped.

 

[kwired]

I can't seem to find 1-ga, it goes from #2 to 2-0. I need to price it tonight.

Are you asking about the dual rated URD?

Here it goes from #2 to 1/0, there isn't any #1 in a multiplexed conductor set. Don't know if they don't ordinarily make them or if they just don't stock them.

 

[LarryFine]

. . . I was assuming it would be pulled in pipe not direct buried.

The customer and I agree which is why it needs to fit in 1.25" PVC.

 

[LarryFine]

Are you asking about the dual rated URD?

Not "asking", because it's night, but the URD HD carries is called Dyke and is dual-rated. You sure I can't use #2?

Three 1-0 XHHW-2 will fit in the 1.25" PVC.

 

[kwired]

The customer and I agree which is why it needs to fit in 1.25" PVC.

Seem to recall that 1/0 triplex is a little much for 1-1/4, especially if there is any schedule 80 in the run. If you must use 1-1/4, might want to go with XHHW, and 1 AWG.

 

[LarryFine]

Here's the HD link. I don't see XHHW, does that matter? From the Q&A:

"While this particular item is rated USE-2/RHH-RHW-2, not all USE-2 conductors are additionally rated for RHH/THW-2."

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-By-the-Foot-1-Black-Stranded-AL-USE-2-Cable-27283190/205001910

The main thing I need tonight is a reliable price. 3 x 125 x .66 = $247.50

 

[jap]

I would never use direct burial cable. I have seen it get ding so many times and need to be dug up that, IMO I would just run pvc with thwn-2 or xhhw-2. Whichever is cheaper.

Make that 2 of us.

Jap>

 

[LarryFine]

So, does this qualify, and I will be using PVC.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-By-the-Foot-1-Black-Stranded-AL-USE-2-Cable-27283190/205001910

 

[ActionDave]

Here's the HD link. I don't see XHHW, does that matter? From the Q&A:

"While this particular item is rated USE-2/RHH-RHW-2, not all USE-2 conductors are additionally rated for RHH/THW-2."

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-By-the-Foot-1-Black-Stranded-AL-USE-2-Cable-27283190/205001910

The main thing I need tonight is a reliable price. 3 x 125 x .66 = $247.50

Doesn't need to be XHHW. RHW 2 is fine.

 

[LarryFine]

Yay! Thank you, guys; i now have my pricing, and I can always shop if/when I get the job.

The best part is that the customer is happy to do the trenching and back-filling himself.

 

[LarryFine]

The building is sheet metal attached to horizontal 2x4s attached to vertical 6x6s. How would you run 3/4" EMT around the inside corners? I don't think FMC would be Kosher. I need to pot receptacles on three walls.

I could bend 90s toward the inside of the space, against the 6x6s, and use pulling elbows, but is there a way to keep the bends between the 6x6s and the skin of the building? I wouldn't be able to put covers on LLs or LRs.

 

[ActionDave]

The building is sheet metal attached to horizontal 2x4s attached to vertical 6x6s. How would you run 3/4" EMT around the inside corners? I don't think FMC would be Kosher. I need to pot receptacles on three walls.

I could bend 90s toward the inside of the space, against the 6x6s, and use pulling elbows, but is there a way to keep the bends between the 6x6s and the skin of the building? I wouldn't be able to put covers on LLs or LRs.

Am I understanding that you want to sandwich the EMT between the sheet metal and the 6x6s?

You could double 45 the inside corners, bringing your pipe "inside" the inside corner of the building.

 

[LarryFine]

Am I understanding that you want to sandwich the EMT between the sheet metal and the 6x6s?

You could double 45 the inside corners, bringing your pipe "inside" the inside corner of the building.

That's where I'd rather bend 90s in each corner, and join the stub-ups with outside-corner pulling elbows, so the conduit better follows the shape of the building. 45s would intrude into the interior space more.




They make these, but I don't see me getting my gorilla-size hands behind the columns to pull the wire or put the covers on.

 

[MTW]

If you can, have the customer dig a trench across the building for some additional PVC.

MTW