remove and replace wire in underground conduit...

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ultramegabob

ultramegabob

Senior Member
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Indiana
I am going to upgrade a panel in a tenant space, the existing underground conduit is 2" ridged under a slab, about 30' in length and I believe 180 degrees of bend in run. The existing wire is 3 #1 and 1 #6 THW. everything was installed about 40 years ago, what do you think my chances of being able to remove the conductors and re-pull 4 2/0 and 1 #1 THWN? do you think the conduit is still intact, or am I being wishful? any tips on prepping the wire to loosen it up for removal?
 
It mostly depends on what you're pulling it out with. By hand it might be tough but with a cable puller IMO it shouldn't be a problem. IMO you should be able to get them out.
 
im willing to bet the conduit is rusted away. but if its in slab then there might be a void left where the conduit used to be. could be tough pulling it in if you are able to actually remove it. really hard job in my opinion. ive snapped a chain on a greenlee tugger trying to remove conductors from an underground rigid raceway
 
ultramegabob said:
everything was installed about 40 years ago, what do you think my chances of being able to remove the conductors and re-pull
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No pics? 40 years means alot of things to alot of areas.
 
30 feet?
I would fill it with water and lube then pull on it and see if it moves a little first.
It's small wires. Is that existing really a 2"?
I guess you can't go up and over...
 
wyreman said:
30 feet?
I would fill it with water and lube then pull on it and see if it moves a little first.
It's small wires. Is that existing really a 2"?
I guess you can't go up and over...
Click to expand...

yes, the existing is 2", I just hope its not rusted in half under the slab, going overhead really isnt an option, if I cant re-use the conduit, I will probably have to cut some pavement outside.
 
40 years, I think there is a very good chance that RMC is gone. Im going to second or third or fourth the idea of water and lube. Good luck!


~Matt
 
I have had the best luck pulling them out one at a time.
I have had guys tell me that they used "ivory snow flakes"
Toughest one I ever got out were some 500s stuck underground in rigid.
Poured some diesel in the conduit and put the tugger on it real tight over night. Came in the next morning and it was loose. They all came out, big stinky mess, but we got them out.
Swabbed the pipe out, ran a couple of mandrals through it and determined the conduit as good.
 
jrannis said:
I have had the best luck pulling them out one at a time.
:roll: .
Click to expand...
The best one was an old movie theater that was run in lead cable.
Went around it.... It is still there!
 
Update...

Update...

they had me wait to remove this panel because the other trades needed power to finish up, I finally got around to seeing if the wire was stuck or conduit rusted away. Well, I disconnected the wire at both ends and got a good firm grip on one of the wires and gave it a good hard yank........ and it pulled out like it was installed in brand new conduit yesterday:grin: I pulled the wires out one at a time and pulled a pull string in and dragged a rag back and forth with lube several times cleaning out the 40 years of dirt and crud,the new wire went in as slick as could be.... I just wanted to thank everyone for their ideas and input, I will keep them in mind for other jobs that dont go as well as this one did.
 
ultramegabob said:
they had me wait to remove this panel because the other trades needed power to finish up, I finally got around to seeing if the wire was stuck or conduit rusted away. Well, I disconnected the wire at both ends and got a good firm grip on one of the wires and gave it a good hard yank........ and it pulled out like it was installed in brand new conduit yesterday:grin: I pulled the wires out one at a time and pulled a pull string in and dragged a rag back and forth with lube several times cleaning out the 40 years of dirt and crud,the new wire went in as slick as could be.... I just wanted to thank everyone for their ideas and input, I will keep them in mind for other jobs that dont go as well as this one did.
Click to expand...
Congrats!! Gotta love the feeling of knowing that it's not going to be one of those bears of a job.
 
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