Pulling Wire

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mstrlucky74

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Is it quicker to pull wire through underground conduits rather than overhead? Setup still the same. Don't think it should make a difference as conduit install would.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
...Setup still the same...
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How is the set-up the same? Are you picturing a very specific run and in this exact scenario there is no difference in setup and you are only concerned with whether the wires go down then up versus up then down?

Minor things to consider MIGHT be that pulling can be easier in a metallic conduit instead of plastic. Some exposed conduit allows for "helping" the pull along the way (sometimes you get lucky and can help it through a fitting you know it is sticking on, etc.) Conversely, a conduit run that has some flex it in can make it harder to pull, and underground is usually pretty rigid. It's also probably airtight if you want to use a vacuum without taping the fittings.
 
Also, feeding down into the first bend gives a lot less friction than when the rope pulls it up into the first bend.
 
controlled said:
Definitely faster underground. You wouldn't be on ladders or lifts.
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I don't know, most overhead pulls are indoor with no rain or snow or mud. Lubrication tends to work better if the conduit isn't full of water. You can see if conduit is damaged in any way.


The only way I know if a pull will be easy is if I ran the conduit. If I'm going to be pulling the wire the pull will be easy.
 
MAC702 said:
How is the set-up the same? Are you picturing a very specific run and in this exact scenario there is no difference in setup and you are only concerned with whether the wires go down then up versus up then down?

Minor things to consider MIGHT be that pulling can be easier in a metallic conduit instead of plastic. Some exposed conduit allows for "helping" the pull along the way (sometimes you get lucky and can help it through a fitting you know it is sticking on, etc.) Conversely, a conduit run that has some flex it in can make it harder to pull, and underground is usually pretty rigid. It's also probably airtight if you want to use a vacuum without taping the fittings.
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Isn't the setup of the reels/pulling equipment the same whether your pulling through overhead conduit or conduit in a trench?
 
cdslotz said:
Your labor units don't distinguish any difference
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Not for wire pulling. That's why I'm asking. Always been told there's a labor savings when installing conduit in a trench or on the floor as opposed to overhead which makes sense but never got info on wire pulls being different.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
Not for wire pulling. That's why I'm asking. Always been told there's a labor savings when installing conduit in a trench or on the floor as opposed to overhead which makes sense but never got info on wire pulls being different.
Click to expand...

pipes in a ditch need to be plumb an pretty where they enter and exit the slab.

if you are pulling feeders, it's probably a little bit faster pulling into the ground.
if you can set your spools up at the gear, the wire goes into the ground pretty
effortlessly.

the setups of spools tuggers and whatnot is where the labor is saved.

a time honored tradition is that the electrician pulling the wire should be the
one who ran the conduit. this way, if they were an idjit, it's a self inflicted wound
trying to pull the wire.

if you know what you are about, you can pull long feeders by yourself. it's not
commonly done, but it's doable.

longest i've ever pulled solo is 500 MCM aluminum simpull, underground, 700'.

the trickiest deal is getting it started. i use maxxis tuggers to get the pulling head
in the pipe, and then go to the other end, and use a targetcam to watch the pull
while i'm pulling.

http://www.targetcam.net/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MAXIS-TRIG...-BRAND-NEW-NEVER-USED-FAST-SHIP-/181052348361

off grid remote camera. 4 mile range. 6 hour battery life.
can view up to six cameras at a time.

the maxis triggers.... i won't pull wire without them.
 
I figure labor takes about 3x longer to install conduit overhead versus underground.

Underground conduit goes from point a to point b as the crow flies generally, not always though. Overhead will usually have obstacles and need to follow building surfaces sometimes necessitating the use of pull boxes mid run.

Come wire pull time, underground runs generally use less wire since they are usually straighter. That leads to faster pulls, because again, there are no extra pull boxes mid run that we need an extra person to watch or help feed wire into, etc.

I do as much underground as possible on any given job.

Running conduit overhead sometimes means running conduit at the tail end of the job when the construction schedule is even more compressed, I like having my underground finished at the start of the job before the job turns into a chinese fire drill.
 
Fulthrotl said:
pipes in a ditch need to be plumb an pretty where they enter and exit the slab.

if you are pulling feeders, it's probably a little bit faster pulling into the ground.
if you can set your spools up at the gear, the wire goes into the ground pretty
effortlessly.

the setups of spools tuggers and whatnot is where the labor is saved.

a time honored tradition is that the electrician pulling the wire should be the
one who ran the conduit. this way, if they were an idjit, it's a self inflicted wound
trying to pull the wire.

if you know what you are about, you can pull long feeders by yourself. it's not
commonly done, but it's doable.

longest i've ever pulled solo is 500 MCM aluminum simpull, underground, 700'.

the trickiest deal is getting it started. i use maxxis tuggers to get the pulling head
in the pipe, and then go to the other end, and use a targetcam to watch the pull
while i'm pulling.

http://www.targetcam.net/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MAXIS-TRIG...-BRAND-NEW-NEVER-USED-FAST-SHIP-/181052348361

off grid remote camera. 4 mile range. 6 hour battery life.
can view up to six cameras at a time.

the maxis triggers.... i won't pull wire without them.
Click to expand...

Very very helpful. Thanks
 
growler said:
I don't know, most overhead pulls are indoor with no rain or snow or mud. Lubrication tends to work better if the conduit isn't full of water. You can see if conduit is damaged in any way.


The only way I know if a pull will be easy is if I ran the conduit. If I'm going to be pulling the wire the pull will be easy.
Click to expand...

I've heard that but why does it make a difference whether or not you have the person who ran the conduit install the wire? Thanks
 
mstrlucky74 said:
I've heard that but why does it make a difference whether or not you have the person who ran the conduit install the wire? Thanks
Click to expand...

If the person who installs the conduit KNOWS he will be the person who pulls the wire, he tends to do a much better job installing the conduit so it's easier to pull.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
I've heard that but why does it make a difference whether or not you have the person who ran the conduit install the wire? Thanks
Click to expand...

cause some people are dipsnits, and poor mechanics, and will put in stuff in a
way that takes three times as long to pull as it should. if it can be pulled at all.

you ran it, you pull it. oh, there two LB's, one in a corner, back to back,
in the middle of a 350' run of two inch? and one is an LR,'cause you didn't have an LB?

so you pull 190', and then get to an LR, and then pull it out and figure 8 about 200'
of it on the ground, and then pull it in, so it all fits in the LR? and it's got soap on
it, 'cause the purchasing agent saved $11 by not buying simpull?

you pull it. have fun.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
Not for wire pulling. That's why I'm asking. Always been told there's a labor savings when installing conduit in a trench or on the floor as opposed to overhead which makes sense but never got info on wire pulls being different.
Click to expand...
The primary reason I run as much conduit under the slab is the total length of the up-coming wire pull.
The drops from conduit installed from above are longer than the stub-ups out of the slab to a receptacle for example.
I try to run as much as possible under the slab. No one cares if the PVC is running at angles, unlike exposed conduit runs.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
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