Found myself having to pull 3x #10 through a 1/2" underground rigid, and I had no help. Pulled in a mule tape, then put the spools on a pair of pipe stands so they could feed downward. Ran the wires through a funnel and shoved the funnel into the pipe. Filled the funnel full of polywater J, had to go refill it a couple times during the pull. Total success couldn't have asked for the project to go smoother. Maybe this is a common method, I hadn't seen it before and thought I came up with a pretty good solution.
When you have to pull through a long underground rigid and don't have any help
- Thread starter Todd0x1
- Start date
- Status
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
- Occupation
- Master Electrician
Great tip!
oldsparky52
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC USA
I LOVE that funnel idea!
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
Ditto!
Bluegrass Boy
Senior Member
- Location
- Texas
- Occupation
- Commercial/ Industrial/ Maintenance Electrician
Great idea!!!
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
Good idea in keeping the wire lubed! But 1/2” rigid? Not a good idea! I don’t put anything in the ground less than 3/4”!
Greentagger
Senior Member
- Location
- Texas
- Occupation
- Master Electrician, Electrical Inspector
Rubber traffic cones work well also.
Why 1/2 not a good idea? This was for one piece of equipment and was at only 50% of the allowed fill. Nothing else will ever get pulled in that pipe.
I usually try to keep underground 3/4 or bigger too but on this one 1/2 was dictated by cost and the fact that a bunch of field bends needed to be done and I knew I couldn't make them in 3/4. I need to get a chicago bender....
The lube application worked, the wire was well lubed when it came out the other end and it pulled really smooth. That Polywater J is some gooey stuff, I think its the slime from ghostbusters.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
I ran four 10s in 1/2" rigid for a 30a, 120/240v feeder to a residential shed for minimal burial depth.
It was an easy pull, about 40', no lube needed. LB at house foundation, stub up into a J-box in shed.
It was an easy pull, about 40', no lube needed. LB at house foundation, stub up into a J-box in shed.
Fred B
Senior Member
- Location
- Upstate, NY
- Occupation
- Electrician
Love that funnel idea.
hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
You need to gain some weight! LOL! With the 3/4, and pulling by yourself, it would be easier. LOL!
Greentagger
Senior Member
- Location
- Texas
- Occupation
- Master Electrician, Electrical Inspector
3/4” RMC can be bent with a 1” emt bender
I have one. The back to back 22.5s to change elevation to clear the building footing with a 90 on the end to come out of the ground wasn't happening.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
I've made that transition with a pair of 45s, rather than an offset and a 90.
That seems like the normal way to do it, on this one it would have put me slightly over 360deg of bends.
winnie
Senior Member
- Location
- Springfield, MA, USA
- Occupation
- Electric motor research
I could have been more clear. I had to do the elevation change then travel horizontally for about a foot before turning up. So the elevation change is in addition to the 90 regardless if it was an offset or two 45s
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Plus whatever other bends he had in his run. He was describing difficulty in putting those three particular bends in close proximity to one another.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
When the foundation is shallower than the conduit burial depth, and too wide for a 90 to sit atop it.
This is better than an offset and a 90:
This is better than an offset and a 90:
Thanks. Here the footing extended out around a foot from the building wall. Whole thing gets 4" of concrete on top of it so not concerned about burial depth right there. The rest of the trench is 24" deep hence the need for the offset.
- Status