Rope Size

[Alwayslearningelec]

When you guys are pulling large size feeders what size rope/drag line do you use?
If you have a job with lots and lots conduits do you re-use the same rope?

 

[rc/retired]

I've used 3/8 and 1/2" rope. Yes I reuse the rope.

Ron

 

[don_resqcapt19]

The rope size can vary with the available pulling force. About the smallest I have used is 1/2" and have used up to 7/8". The rope is re-used.
The rope also has to be a "static" type rope as the use of "dynamic" ropes is dangers because of the stored energy when a dynamic rope stretches.
Note these comments assume the use of power pulling equipment.

 

[infinity]

Greenlee 7/8, double braided or larger rope is what we typically use for big conductors.

 

[zbang]

Use round rope or flat mule tape? When?

 

[infinity]

Use round rope or flat mule tape? When?

Almost 40 years and I've never used mule tape so always some form of rope.

 

[__dan]

Double braid polyester, polyester is the low stretch material. Rope stretch stores energy which is dangerous, nylon and yellow poly stretch more. The pulling equipment will be rated for a minimum rope diameter it is made to work with, then try to look at the numbers for the pulling force of the run to see what you're dealing with.

 

[rc/retired]

Rope stretch stores energy which is dangerous, nylon and yellow poly stretch more.

True that. I had a rope break on me during about a 200' pull. BOOM!!! Sounded like a shotgun going off in the electrical closet.
I was amazed at how fast the rope shot out of the pipe.
It missed me but it did shake me up a bit.

Ron

 

[electrofelon]

Use round rope or flat mule tape? When?

Ive started using Mule tape in the last few years. I prefer it. Although I have never had it happen, I'm always paranoid about regular rope chewing threw a PVC 90.

 

[infinity]

Ive started using Mule tape in the last few years. I prefer it. Although I have never had it happen, I'm always paranoid about regular rope chewing threw a PVC 90.

In the deck we always use steel 90's with PVC so the rope isn't an issue. I can see the burn thing happening with standard PVC 90's. Way back when I was an apprentice old-timers used to tell stories about pulling with steel cables that would cut through aluminum elbows.

 

[electrofelon]

In the deck we always use steel 90's with PVC so the rope isn't an issue. I can see the burn thing happening with standard PVC 90's. Way back when I was an apprentice old-timers used to tell stories about pulling with steel cables that would cut through aluminum elbows.

I've got a great pic of a job we were on (not our crew, it was the MV contractor) with a rope cut right through a big PVC 90. I'll try and find it, I got it somewhere. But their setup was retarded, I don't think it would have happened with some common sense.