Pulling large wire in conduit

[DaveC]

Four AWG #1 conductors in 2-1/2 inch EMT. 50 ft of conduit, four 90 deg.
elbows.

Is this combination reasonable to pull with some lubricant? Or should I plan
some "pull boxes" in this run?

Thanks,
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DaveC
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[CWatters]

Four AWG #1 conductors in 2-1/2 inch EMT. 50 ft of conduit, four 90 deg.
elbows.

Is this combination reasonable to pull with some lubricant? Or should I plan
some "pull boxes" in this run?

Try posting this on the Eelectrical forum at
http://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl

 

[[email protected]]

You have to be kidding.... "should you plan some pull boxes in this
run?" ...... absolutely yes..... a pull box at each 90 deg elbow.
- - - - - - - -- - -

 

[SQLit]

Four AWG #1 conductors in 2-1/2 inch EMT. 50 ft of conduit, four 90 deg.
elbows.

Is this combination reasonable to pull with some lubricant? Or should I plan
some "pull boxes" in this run?

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
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I would use a fish tape to install a rope of at least 1/4inch or larger,
first. If you train the wires through the loop at the end of the rope so
that they are staggered and tape the head down all should go well.

Lay the wire out straight and somewhere it is dry, lube as you pull.

 

[David]

Four AWG #1 conductors in 2-1/2 inch EMT. 50 ft of conduit, four 90 deg.
elbows.

Is this combination reasonable to pull with some lubricant? Or should I
plan
some "pull boxes" in this run?

Only one 90 degree bend is ok. But can't you get inspection elbows. These
have a removeable cover on the side of the elbow that allows cables to be
pulled out then fed back in again.

 

[[email protected]]

You should have an electrician give you the proper specifications for
the job.
What you are proposing may not meet code.

 

[operator jay]

Four AWG #1 conductors in 2-1/2 inch EMT. 50 ft of conduit, four 90 deg.
elbows.

Is this combination reasonable to pull with some lubricant? Or should I plan
some "pull boxes" in this run?

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
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I've never pulled wire. The only two knowledgeable people I ever heard
speak about it both said to do a pull in the middle of a straight section,
not at a ninety.

FWIW.

j

 

[Rick]

you have 4 X 90 deg bends? I think you should put a box between the two..
I'm not sure if a total of 360 deg is impossible to pull. between 50
feet... yikes.. lemme know how that goes..

 

[[email protected]]

With 4 90-degee turns, even with a lubricant the pull, while possible,
may be probemlematic. You could possibly accomplish it using a
hydraullic cable puller, but even then the outsome would be a bit of a
risk.

Is there a reason why you can't employ mid-run pull boxes?

Harry C.

 

[Jim Adney]

I've never pulled wire. The only two knowledgeable people I ever heard
speak about it both said to do a pull in the middle of a straight section,
not at a ninety.

That sounds quite odd. The corners are what will give you all the
friction, so they make special pull boxes, sort of an L-shaped cast
box with a long removable cover that allow you to pull the wire out
there and reinsert it for the next straight run.

Unless one of your straight runs was extremely long, I would not
expect to have to install a pull box in the middle of a run.

# 1 wire is not all that big. This does not sound that hard.

-

 

[Fred]

Code in Canada is no more that 3 90 degree bends in a run without pull
boxes. If you use 4 the pipe had better be very well fastened...something's
probably going to let go.

Fred

 

[Hugh Prescott]

Four AWG #1 conductors in 2-1/2 inch EMT. 50 ft of conduit, four 90 deg.
elbows.

Is this combination reasonable to pull with some lubricant? Or should I plan
some "pull boxes" in this run?

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
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No code book in front of me tonight but I think your conduit is too small
for four # 1 wires for normal power feeds. It's not just wire size that
counts you have to consider current in conductor and heating.

Four 90 degree bends (electricial sweeps) are the limit I think.

Do you need to use lubricant to pull, If I am helping you will use
lubricant, if you pull it's your choice.

I would use a steel cable as a fish tape and a comealong to pull it.

Hugh

 

[DaveC]

Thus spake Hugh Prescott:

No code book in front of me tonight but I think your conduit is too small
for four # 1 wires for normal power feeds. It's not just wire size that
counts you have to consider current in conductor and heating.

Four 90 degree bends (electricial sweeps) are the limit I think.

Do you need to use lubricant to pull, If I am helping you will use
lubricant, if you pull it's your choice.

I would use a steel cable as a fish tape and a comealong to pull it.

I ended up using 2 90 degree sweeps and two inspection boxes (90's as well).
Used fish tape to pull nylon rope which was used to pull the wires.

Man, is it hard work. It's not a big job, but no come-along, just two
inexperienced guys huffing and puffing.

An inspection box is an asymmetric item. Pulling the wires into the box in
the longitudinal direction was relatively easy; feeding them back into the
"exit" that is 90 degrees to the body was problematic (especially the last 18
inches, or so). How does one do that last bit of wire so that you don't end
up with a twisted knot of wires that won't fit in the box?

1-1/2 EMT is sufficient for four (one is ground) #1 conductors (NEC tables
referenced).

Thanks for all your help, guys. Mission accomplished.
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DaveC
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[Rheilly Phoull]

Thus spake Hugh Prescott:


I ended up using 2 90 degree sweeps and two inspection boxes (90's as
well).
Used fish tape to pull nylon rope which was used to pull the wires.

Man, is it hard work. It's not a big job, but no come-along, just two
inexperienced guys huffing and puffing.

An inspection box is an asymmetric item. Pulling the wires into the box in
the longitudinal direction was relatively easy; feeding them back into the
"exit" that is 90 degrees to the body was problematic (especially the last
18
inches, or so). How does one do that last bit of wire so that you don't
end
up with a twisted knot of wires that won't fit in the box?

1-1/2 EMT is sufficient for four (one is ground) #1 conductors (NEC tables
referenced).

Thanks for all your help, guys. Mission accomplished.
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
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Start at the point where the cables come out of the pull box and
"straighten' them going along towards the exit of the box. Towards the end
of the pull if you have twists (common) you can feed the the "crossovers"
into the conduit in the last few inches od cable, so it is easier to lay the
last section of cable in. What it comes down to is taking care to try and
feed the cables in without "crossovers". The extra time spent in tidying up
the cables and laying them out in one long loop is repayed by the ease of
installation.

 

[Igor The Terrible]

How long is the pull?

 

[Jamie]

Four AWG #1 conductors in 2-1/2 inch EMT. 50 ft of conduit, four 90 deg.
elbows.

Is this combination reasonable to pull with some lubricant? Or should I plan
some "pull boxes" in this run?

Thanks,

you shouldn't need lube and if it's that tight then
your not using large enough EMT.
also, you are allowed a total of 360 deg bends in the
pipe.
NE book states no more than 4 bends at 90 degree's
each.
if your going to use access elbows/pull elbows then you
surely don't need lube.

 

[Jamie]

Thus spake Hugh Prescott:




I ended up using 2 90 degree sweeps and two inspection boxes (90's as well).
Used fish tape to pull nylon rope which was used to pull the wires.

Man, is it hard work. It's not a big job, but no come-along, just two
inexperienced guys huffing and puffing.

An inspection box is an asymmetric item. Pulling the wires into the box in
the longitudinal direction was relatively easy; feeding them back into the
"exit" that is 90 degrees to the body was problematic (especially the last 18
inches, or so). How does one do that last bit of wire so that you don't end
up with a twisted knot of wires that won't fit in the box?

1-1/2 EMT is sufficient for four (one is ground) #1 conductors (NEC tables
referenced).

Thanks for all your help, guys. Mission accomplished.

it's no problem putting them back in , you simply have the Access Elbow
loose, side the wires through and then in the other pipe. after that you
just sit the elbow on the pipe ends and position the pipe with
wires already inside.

 

[Jamie]

You have to be kidding.... "should you plan some pull boxes in this
run?" ...... absolutely yes..... a pull box at each 90 deg elbow.
- - - - - - - -- - -

other wise known as access elbows.

 

[John Ray]

You have to be kidding.... "should you plan some pull boxes in this
run?" ...... absolutely yes..... a pull box at each 90 deg elbow.
- - - - - - - -- - -

Oh come on! dealing with slack at four 90s is a MUCH bigger pain in the ass
that the pull itself.
To the OP...SQLit's recommendation is the right one.

John

 

[DaveC]

Thus spake Igor The Terrible:

How long is the pull?

60 ft.
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DaveC
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