Manrigdude
New User
- Location
- Shelton, WA
- Occupation
- Retired
First post here. I've learned a lot from this forum using the search feature but I can't find any guidance on this particular issue. So, I'm hoping someone can offer some advice (besides hire an electrician). I'm installing a 16KW solar array and a 17KW propane backup generator on my shop about 100' from my house. There is an existing 2-2-2-8 ga SER direct burial electrical line running from the panel in the house to a subpanel in the shop. It passes through a 2" PVC conduit where it passes under an 8' wide concrete walkway next to the house.
Now I will be running 2 new conduits to the house: One 1 1/4" PVC for the generator (4,4,4,8 THWN plus a 18/5 tray cable) and one 1" PVC for the DC solar inputs to my MPPT (6 runs of 10ga UL 4703). Along the lines of a picture being worth 1,000 words, I drew a picture but I can't figure out how to post it. It will only take a URL and I don't have a way to host it so you'll just have to draw a picture in your mind I guess!
My question is: How can I use the existing 2" conduit to get under the pathway? Again, it already has the 2-2-2 direct burial lines running through it. Just terminate the 2 new conduits at the end of the existing 2" conduit and pull the wires through leaving a small "gap" between the ends of the conduits? Or some sort of burial-rated junction box? Home Depot has a 10" round Electrical Splice Box that is bottomless and may work to protect everything but is there a better way to do this? I shouldn't violate the conduit fill limits of the 2" conduit with all these new wires and everytihng (AC and DC) are jacket-rated for 600V so I think they can all run together through there (correct me if I am mistaken). So, it would seem reasonable to use the existing pipe. I just can't figure out the "best" way to do that.
Thanks for your comments.
Now I will be running 2 new conduits to the house: One 1 1/4" PVC for the generator (4,4,4,8 THWN plus a 18/5 tray cable) and one 1" PVC for the DC solar inputs to my MPPT (6 runs of 10ga UL 4703). Along the lines of a picture being worth 1,000 words, I drew a picture but I can't figure out how to post it. It will only take a URL and I don't have a way to host it so you'll just have to draw a picture in your mind I guess!
My question is: How can I use the existing 2" conduit to get under the pathway? Again, it already has the 2-2-2 direct burial lines running through it. Just terminate the 2 new conduits at the end of the existing 2" conduit and pull the wires through leaving a small "gap" between the ends of the conduits? Or some sort of burial-rated junction box? Home Depot has a 10" round Electrical Splice Box that is bottomless and may work to protect everything but is there a better way to do this? I shouldn't violate the conduit fill limits of the 2" conduit with all these new wires and everytihng (AC and DC) are jacket-rated for 600V so I think they can all run together through there (correct me if I am mistaken). So, it would seem reasonable to use the existing pipe. I just can't figure out the "best" way to do that.
Thanks for your comments.
