Changing conduit bodies

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goldstar

goldstar

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Location
New Jersey
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Electrical Contractor
I somehow remember it being a violation to change conduit bodies from galvanized to PVC, or vice versa, midway through a run but I can't seem to find it in the code book. However, if you're installing an underground service in an overhead area, some of the POCO's in my area are requiring that where the PVC comes out of the ground and up the pole, the sections going up the pole must be galvanized. The inspectors are requiring that we drive a ground rod adjacent to the pole with a ground clamp on the galvanized portion of the conduit and install a # 6 ground wire from rod to conduit.

Now, having said that, I have a situation where I have to relocate a service to a lake-front residence and in order to do so I have to install a mast on the rear of a garage. The garage is up at the street level with the residence behind the garage. Years ago the POCO, in their infinite wisdom, installed the service drop from the pole to the residence, on an angle, rather than straight into the house with a mid-span. A new residence was built next to this house and now the sag from the service drop passes right in front of the new residence. I now have to run approx. 50' of 2" conduit to the mast on the rear of the garage.

So, my question is this, will I be legit if I run a 10' length of galvanized conduit up the back of the garage for the mast and support ( as long as I ground the galvanized) and change to PVC for the balance of the run ?
 
Re: Changing conduit bodies

I think there are 2 reasons the POCO wants galvanized on the pole:

1. They want the last elbow to be galvanized so it doesn't cause any problems during the pull.

2. They want galvanized for the added protection from people, cars, animals, and such.

Our local POCO only requires galvanized for the 1st 10 feet up the pole. I frequently see a stick of galvanized running 10' up a pole, and then changing to PVC the rest of the way up the pole.

So if PVC is allowed, in general, I don't see anything wrong with changing to galvanized for added support or strength, as long as it is bonded.

Steve
 
Re: Changing conduit bodies

The inspectors are requiring that we drive a ground rod adjacent to the pole with a ground clamp on the galvanized portion of the conduit and install a # 6 ground wire from rod to conduit.
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That would not serve any real purpose. To prevent the conduit from becoming energized, it would have to be bonded to the electrical system grounded conductor.
Don
 
Re: Changing conduit bodies

Steve & Don,

Thanks for your replies. One of the guys at the supply house gave me this idea and I ran it by the inspector today. He said to run the 1st 40' from the meter pan in SEU cable. When it reaches the 2" galvanized mast, install a squeeze connector into the threaded coupling and run it up inside the conduit to the mast head. Strip off the insulation as you normally would where it enters the conduit and leave a drip loop out of the service head. Then install a ground clamp on the 2" galv. just under the service head and use a split bolt bug to bond the bare neutral service drop to the galv. conduit. The inspector agreed that it was a good idea so I guess it's a go. Saved me a whole lot of threading too.
 
Re: Changing conduit bodies

Originally posted by goldstar:
Strip off the insulation as you normally would where it enters the conduit and leave a drip loop out of the service head.

Would this be Code compliant?

Do service-drop conductors have to be insulated?

Would you have to run the SEU up the conduit without stripping it?
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Re: Changing conduit bodies

TY,

No, I guess not. I suppose you could run it up inside the conduit without stripping it and just strip off the outer jacket at the service head.

Why wouldn't this installation be code compliant ? Do you have any suggestions ?

Phil

[ March 19, 2005, 05:47 AM: Message edited by: goldstar ]
 
Re: Changing conduit bodies

The bare neutral free inside a galvanized conduit just doesn't sound right to me.

I wouldn't strip the SE, chance of oxidizing if it comes in contact.

I didn't look it up, but I believe Code requires service conductors to be insulated, unless part of a cable assembly.
And I also believe that there is a requirement for the service neutral to be insulated, unless part of a cable assembly.

At this point, I should look it up.

Anyway, if that is the case, I wonder if it would be a violation if you strip the SE and expose the bare neutral inside of the riser.?
 
Re: Changing conduit bodies

Pierre,

That's the exception that I was thinking of.

But, does it mean that the grounded conductor is permitted to be bare inside the jacket only ??
 
Re: Changing conduit bodies

The more I think about this the more I ask myself if it really matters whether the insulation is stripped off inside the conduit. The braided neutral is going to be bonded to the galvanized conduit at the service head anyway. Granted, it will be a lot easier to push the SEU cable up inside the conduit with the insulation on it, but does it really matter ?
 
Re: Changing conduit bodies

A bare neutral is allowed inside of steel conduit to my knowledge. The insulated neutral requirement is for underground service entrance cable.

Galvanized conduit is allowed to be connected directly to aluminum boxes and conduit bodies and vice versa. The electrolytic voltage difference between steel and aluminum is not enough to break down the aluminum oxide layer and depassify the aluminum oxide causing corrosion.
 
Re: Changing conduit bodies

Quote
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"The inspectors are requiring that we drive a ground rod adjacent to the pole with a ground clamp on the galvanized portion of the conduit and install a # 6 ground wire from rod to conduit."
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Hello,Goldstar

Could you please respond to don_resqcapt19 reply. I curious as hell.

Does the additional rod get bonded to the grounded conductor?? I hope so. If not your wasting allot of time.

Mike
 
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