alternatives for UG physical protection

[electrofelon]

With PVC prices thru the roof, I am looking at alternatives for physical protection of underground conductors. Lets say the wire is direct bury so it doesnt need to be any sort of NEC approved conduit. Lets also assume we are talking very rocky soil so just direct burying without any protection is not a good idea. Lets also throw in the option of "sleeving" whatever the stuff we have over the wire instead of pulling thru a made up system. For the sake of discussion say we are talking long runs. I have one coming up that is 1000', another is 2000'

Sand: Sand is a total PIA IMO and not a great option.

SDR-35 4" sewer pipe. A bit thinner than sched 40 but I think would provide plenty of protection. Cant believe how much cheaper it is that sched 40 elec conduit. lowes has it for $13 per 10 foot stick when bought in bulk. They appear to have good stock in various stores in my area. kinda overkill size wise for many things. Too bad they dont have it in 2 or 3 inch.

Any other ideas?

 

[Todd0x1]

What about HDPE conduit?

NEMA TC7

Our NEMA TC7 is the ideal electrical cable conduit for underground installations. Discover flexible HDPE and make gradual bends without special equipment

www.duraline.com

 

[electrofelon]

What about HDPE conduit?

NEMA TC7

Our NEMA TC7 is the ideal electrical cable conduit for underground installations. Discover flexible HDPE and make gradual bends without special equipment

www.duraline.com

Yeah I thought about that but havent priced it. I am working on getting a quote for Cable conn for an upcoming project....

 

[electrofelon]

I just measured that SDR sewer pipe I mentioned in the OP. The wall thickness is .120, half of the .240 wall thickness for 4" sched 40. I would be fine with that for many applications. Its interesting though so it has essentially half the resin as sched 40 but is way less than half the price.

 

[Barbqranch]

Perhaps being sewer pipe the resin isn't the same standard as that used for drinking water or for conduit.

 

[petersonra]

Ent?

 

[Todd0x1]

Yeah I thought about that but havent priced it. I am working on getting a quote for Cable conn for an upcoming project....

It can be pretty cheap, but you need to find a distributor who moves alot of it and will give you a good price. I would also have this distributor check with the manufacturers to see if they have remnants or overruns they want to move.

 

[electrofelon]

It can be pretty cheap, but you need to find a distributor who moves alot of it and will give you a good price. I would also have this distributor check with the manufacturers to see if they have remnants or overruns they want to move.

I see you can get different colors. Sexy

 

[NTesla76]

I've seen people use corrugated drain tile. Seems like a PITA to sleeve wire into though. And I have no idea of prices these days.

 

[Todd0x1]

I see you can get different colors. Sexy

Right. And alot of it is made to order and sometimes theres overruns.

 

[electrofelon]

I've seen people use corrugated drain tile. Seems like a PITA to sleeve wire into though. And I have no idea of prices these days.

Like the HDPE stuff? There is this stuff which also commonly available without the holes. ITs pretty cheap, about the cost of what 2" PVC was a year ago.

Advanced Drainage Systems 3 in. x 10 ft. Triplewall Perforated Drain Pipe 3520010 - The Home Depot

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS) 3 in. x 10 ft. Triplewall Perforated Drain Pipe is constructed with triple bonded high density polyethylene (HDPE) for exceptional pipe stiffness. With smooth inner

www.homedepot.com

I wouldnt trust the stuff to not collapse over time, but would probably still offer enough protection.

 

[NTesla76]

Like the HDPE stuff? There is this stuff which also commonly available without the holes. ITs pretty cheap, about the cost of what 2" PVC was a year ago.

Advanced Drainage Systems 3 in. x 10 ft. Triplewall Perforated Drain Pipe 3520010 - The Home Depot

Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. (ADS) 3 in. x 10 ft. Triplewall Perforated Drain Pipe is constructed with triple bonded high density polyethylene (HDPE) for exceptional pipe stiffness. With smooth inner

www.homedepot.com

I wouldnt trust the stuff to not collapse over time, but would probably still offer enough protection.

I was thinking of this stuff. It comes with or without a 'sock.' Perforated or not.

 

[Hv&Lv]

With PVC prices thru the roof, I am looking at alternatives for physical protection of underground conductors. Lets say the wire is direct bury so it doesnt need to be any sort of NEC approved conduit. Lets also assume we are talking very rocky soil so just direct burying without any protection is not a good idea. Lets also throw in the option of "sleeving" whatever the stuff we have over the wire instead of pulling thru a made up system. For the sake of discussion say we are talking long runs. I have one coming up that is 1000', another is 2000'

Sand: Sand is a total PIA IMO and not a great option.

SDR-35 4" sewer pipe. A bit thinner than sched 40 but I think would provide plenty of protection. Cant believe how much cheaper it is that sched 40 elec conduit. lowes has it for $13 per 10 foot stick when bought in bulk. They appear to have good stock in various stores in my area. kinda overkill size wise for many things. Too bad they dont have it in 2 or 3 inch.

Any other ideas?

get a roll of HDPE SDR 13.5 in orange or red.
Last I priced was about 1.9 per ft.

 

[electrofelon]

get a roll of HDPE SDR 13.5 in orange or red.
Last I priced was about 1.9 per ft.

what size was it?

 

[synchro]

Here's an example of HDPE conduit offered by one seller on Ebay:

1,500 feet 2" SDR 13.5 High Density Polyethylene HDPE w/ 1000# Tape Conduit | eBay

1,500 feet 2" SDR 13.5 High Density Polyethylene HDPE Smooth Wall Conduit w/ 1000# Tape. - One (1) Reel of 1,500 feet 2" SDR 13.5 High Density Polyethylene HDPE Smooth Wall Conduit w/ 1000# Tape. - HDPE Conduit.

www.ebay.com

I've had no dealings with them, and so this is just a suggestion.

 

[Hv&Lv]

what size was it?

3”
We pull 1/0 35kV primary wire in 3”.
I have pulled it in 2”, but not very far.
Pulled up to 750 UG 25kV 133% in 3”

here’s a quick internet price. It’s always way higher.

3" HDPE, SDR 13.5, Red, Empty - Millennium

Conduit, HDPE, 3.00" SDR 13.5, Smooth Wall, Red, 1000' Length, No Tape, No Wire. Price Per Foot.

shop.mymillennium.us

 

[electrofelon]

Here's an example of HDPE conduit offered by one seller on Ebay:

1,500 feet 2" SDR 13.5 High Density Polyethylene HDPE w/ 1000# Tape Conduit | eBay

1,500 feet 2" SDR 13.5 High Density Polyethylene HDPE Smooth Wall Conduit w/ 1000# Tape. - One (1) Reel of 1,500 feet 2" SDR 13.5 High Density Polyethylene HDPE Smooth Wall Conduit w/ 1000# Tape. - HDPE Conduit.

www.ebay.com

I've had no dealings with them, and so this is just a suggestion.

definitely a lot cheaper than PVC right now

 

[Electromatic]

Is HDPE conduit approved for any kind of general electrical use these days? I understand the OP is looking for extra protection over already direct-bury rated wire. I see the stuff being installed all over on the roadsides. We've been using a vibratory plow lately in lieu of trenching. We glue together many sticks of PVC, make sure the glue is well set, and it works okay. I've been tempted by the HDPE stuff, though. It is not a recognized Chapter 3 method currently, correct?

[Edit: Should have looked first--Article 353]

 

[electrofelon]

Correct article 353, + 354 covers cable conn. The thing I am not sure about is all of that SRD stuff that synchro linked to NEC article 353 conduit?

 

[kwired]

What about HDPE conduit?

NEMA TC7

Our NEMA TC7 is the ideal electrical cable conduit for underground installations. Discover flexible HDPE and make gradual bends without special equipment

www.duraline.com

Last I heard it was higher priced than Sch 40 PVC, and harder to get.