Microduct

[laketime]

Installed microduct for future fiber, supplied by owner (the city), and the engineer wants us to install a pull string in each microduct. The interior diamter of the microduct is a tight 5/8" and the runs are over 450' long. Any ideas on how to accomplish this besides buying a $1,500 string line blow gun?

 

[LarryFine]

1/2" mouse, a bucket of pull-string, and a shop vac?

 

[laketime]

I think thats a little tight...but I can try it.

 

[infinity]

I think that a shop vac will work. Try using something like one of these:

Power Saver Line Package 300' for 3/4" Conduit

For 3/4" conduit.

www.gardnerbender.com

 

[Hv&Lv]

Microduct...
fought that in a place or two.. it sounds silly, But...

a vacuum on one end, a small (very small) rag or piece of cloth, and a fishing rod on the other end.
once I got the fishing line in there I pulled in my pull string with the reel. Almost like fishing...
Didn’t want to chance a 600’ fiber pill with 20 lb monofilament..

 

[infinity]

Just to clarify my previous post, that particular "shot" is too large and too short, I meant try something similar to that where the string is very thin and light so that a vacuum can pull an object 450'. You might try a small piece of plastic bag with the "shot" or fishing line tied to it. From there you can pull in a larger drag line.

 

[GoldDigger]

There is something to be said for unreeling the line from the spindle instead of trying to drag the line against the conduit for the length of the pull. But the pictured assembly looks like it might have problems with even sweep turns along the way.
On the other hand, a conduit designed for fiber would have to have large radii along the route.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I thought you always blew the fiber into that type of duct. No need for any type of pulling or a pulling string.

 

[gadfly56]

I thought you always blew the fiber into that type of duct. No need for any type of pulling or a pulling string.

That was my impression too, but I'm not a fiber guy.

 

[laketime]

I am not a fiber guy either. We installed the microduct for the customer and the engineer is using a spec for string in unused or future conduits to have us use a string in the microduct.

 

[Hv&Lv]

I am not a fiber guy either. We installed the microduct for the customer and the engineer is using a spec for string in unused or future conduits to have us use a string in the microduct.

Normally the fiber is blown in during installation with a blow gun.
Some engineers on long pulls want a string in there if for no other reason than to guarantee that “something” will go through the duct And there are no obstructions, kinks, or crushed ducts..