What to use for pull string

[green.bubbly]

I am getting ready to pull 45 feet of #2 copper from my house to my garage sub panel. In the next few weeks, I will also run the underground conduit for my house from the main panel to the POCO pole.

What do I use for a pull string? I know, stupid question but I have no idea how strong the string needs to be, especially for the main panel to the pole. Both will only have two sweeps. From the house to the pole, it is about 125 feet.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I normally use pull line from the electrical supply house but for this you would likely want actual rope since the wires are a lot heavier.

 

[mrb]

do not use the coarse poly rope, it will saw into the conduit. Mule Tape is ideal, otherwise some soft rope, large in diameter. Try to get something that doesnt stretch.

read this http://www.accu-tech.com/accu-insider/bid/35331/Muletape-v-Rope

 

[green.bubbly]

do not use the coarse poly rope, it will saw into the conduit. Mule Tape is ideal, otherwise some soft rope, large in diameter. Try to get something that doesnt stretch.

read this http://www.accu-tech.com/accu-insider/bid/35331/Muletape-v-Rope

Looks similar to the shipping strapping they wrap boxes with. What size would I need to the main line from the pole or should I check directly with the POCO?

It does not look very expensive either which makes me happy.

 

[mrb]

Looks similar to the shipping strapping they wrap boxes with. What size would I need to the main line from the pole or should I check directly with the POCO?

It does not look very expensive either which makes me happy.

no its the furthest thing from shipping strap. Its a woven polysomthing that is extremely strong, wont saw through the conduit, has low stretch, and wont snap back and injure you if you break it.

 

[Gary S]

I've never had any luck using string or rope to pull wires. They always want to bind up and drag.
Just pick up a cheap electrical fish tape from Harbor Freight. It works 1000% better

 

[mrb]

I've never had any luck using string or rope to pull wires. They always want to bind up and drag.
Just pick up a cheap electrical fish tape from Harbor Freight. It works 1000% better

then youve been using the wrong kind of rope. I dont think I would want to try to pull a bunch of #2 with a fish tape...

 

[jhelrey]

Tampon string! Haha! I wouldn't use, used.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Include a second pull string with the wire. Cheap insurance and this one can be light, just enough to pull a heavy one.

 

[mrb]

Include a second pull string with the wire. Cheap insurance and this one can be light, just enough to pull a heavy one.

I wouldnt, esp on an U/G run. The chance of it damaging the insulation on a conductor is too high.

 

[Milton Shaw]

You might want to look at renting a pulling machine, Greenlee makes one that is light a caspen style winch. 4 number 2 through several bends is going to be more weight to pull than you would expect. The machine has a elbow that goes down into the conduit and reduces wear on the pipe.

 

[green.bubbly]

Which would be easier to pull, the bundled 2-2-2-4 or individual #4 THHN?

And secondly, could I use #3 or #4 copper for a 90 amp subpanel? From what I have been reading, I would need #2 copper for 100 amp but 90 amps is way more than I will ever need. The run is under 50'. I see a lot of confusion on gauge size from what I have been reading. I guess in the end, #2 is not much more so I just as well use it and be covered.

I

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I have some flat, woven, pull rope made for Bell Systems that has about 1800 lb rating. Guy at the flea market sells all kinds of rope and cord and I bought a 150 ft of it "just because".

Charles

 

[cj7jeep81]

what size conduit did you run? i just pulled some 4 gauge aluminum into my shed. I bought some 4-4-4 triplexed (type use-2) and a single strand of 4 gauge use-2. ran it all together (didn't untwist the triplex), and just pulled it with a fish tape. had my dad feeding fire on one side, and me pulling on the other. the pull was way, way easier than i thought it would be.

mine is going through 2" pvc conduit. the conduit wasn't the best run either. came down from the disconnect, then went through 2 45's (to work as an offset since the conduit came down right behind a post in my deck), then through a 90, out to a 45, then up another 90. Total length of the pull was about 60'. was afraid it would be tough with all those bends, but it was easy as long as we took our time (ie, me pulling while dad was feeding). pulling by myself without anyone feeding would have been much more difficult.

Which would be easier to pull, the bundled 2-2-2-4 or individual #4 THHN?

And secondly, could I use #3 or #4 copper for a 90 amp subpanel? From what I have been reading, I would need #2 copper for 100 amp but 90 amps is way more than I will ever need. The run is under 50'. I see a lot of confusion on gauge size from what I have been reading. I guess in the end, #2 is not much more so I just as well use it and be covered.

I

 

[Gary S]

then youve been using the wrong kind of rope. I dont think I would want to try to pull a bunch of #2 with a fish tape...

That is exactly how I pulled the #2 through the underground conduit from my house to my garage. The fish tape worked tons better than a rope.
Give it a try next time. You will be amazed at how much easier the job is with a fish tape.

 

[green.bubbly]

what size conduit did you run? i just pulled some 4 gauge aluminum into my shed. I bought some 4-4-4 triplexed (type use-2) and a single strand of 4 gauge use-2. ran it all together (didn't untwist the triplex), and just pulled it with a fish tape. had my dad feeding fire on one side, and me pulling on the other. the pull was way, way easier than i thought it would be.

mine is going through 2" pvc conduit. the conduit wasn't the best run either. came down from the disconnect, then went through 2 45's (to work as an offset since the conduit came down right behind a post in my deck), then through a 90, out to a 45, then up another 90. Total length of the pull was about 60'. was afraid it would be tough with all those bends, but it was easy as long as we took our time (ie, me pulling while dad was feeding). pulling by myself without anyone feeding would have been much more difficult.

I used inch and a half (1-1/2) pvc conduit. It is a straight 45' run with two sweeps

 

[green.bubbly]

WOW. #2 THHN wire was $1.59 per foot!!!

 

[Aceman]

Price out #2 Aluminum USE with #6 Aluminum USE for a ground. You can breaker this at 90.

To answer your other question, in your situation I'd probably use a fish tape to pull with. Have someone feed while you pull. 45 feet with two 90's is nothing...

Mule tape would be nice to have also, especially when you go to pull that longer run. But fish tapes can pull quite a bit if you do it right. Oversize the pipe a little bit, use plenty of lube, and have plenty of help.

For your 125' run, I'd ask that your cut wire be put on spools. Sometimes they'll just roll it up and tape it together. Which means you have to unroll it on the ground before you can pull it. On your short 45' run that's not so bad(avoid dragging across rocks and nicking the wire) but on your long 125' run that's a pain because the wire always takes a little dirt with it into the conduit and on long runs that can really make the wire start to drag a lot more. Plus it's nice to see clean wire go down the pipe with nothing but lube on it...

 

[green.bubbly]

Price out #2 Aluminum USE with #6 Aluminum USE for a ground. You can breaker this at 90.

To answer your other question, in your situation I'd probably use a fish tape to pull with. Have someone feed while you pull. 45 feet with two 90's is nothing...

Mule tape would be nice to have also, especially when you go to pull that longer run. But fish tapes can pull quite a bit if you do it right. Oversize the pipe a little bit, use plenty of lube, and have plenty of help.

For your 125' run, I'd ask that your cut wire be put on spools. Sometimes they'll just roll it up and tape it together. Which means you have to unroll it on the ground before you can pull it. On your short 45' run that's not so bad(avoid dragging across rocks and nicking the wire) but on your long 125' run that's a pain because the wire always takes a little dirt with it into the conduit and on long runs that can really make the wire start to drag a lot more. Plus it's nice to see clean wire go down the pipe with nothing but lube on it...

I splurged for the copper mainly because years ago I had a home with aluminum wiring and I was constantly tightening screws. A few times there was some obvious heat issues. Just never slept well in that house. Of course aluminum service wire is probably not such a big issue but I just did not want that on the back of my mind all the time.

As far as the 125 foot run, the POCO is going to pull that. I just have to make sure I have the rope or pull tape ran in the conduit for them. And from what I am hearing, they furnish the wire from the pole to my meter. Going to confirm this later on in the week.


What is a good lubricant? Two guys at the electric supply store told me to use some Dawn dishwasher soap.

 

[wwaarrppeedd]

the dish soap works in a pinch but wire lube is way better, you can pick up a small squeeze bottle at an electrical parts house, i think even lowes sells it in the electrical area near the tools. a rope is way easier on your hands when pulling than a fish tape and will be more forgiving than a fishtape if you get caught up in a bend.

 

[mrb]

realize the aluminum used in todays large cable is nothing like the aluminum wire of the 60s and 70s that is now banned. The alloy is different and its not wrapped around a screw.

 

[darkk]

We just use 1/4" yellow nylon rope....

 

[Thedroid]

I think that you'll find that this will be an easy pull. I would use the cheapest 3/8 rope I could find, and go for it. Have someone help feed, and it will only take you a few minutes.

 

[green.bubbly]

He is my plan...

I will have the wife feeding the wire into the conduit. On the other side, I will have my son pulling. Mean while, I will have my ear against the conduit to listen for any binding.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

He is my plan...

I will have the wife feeding the wire into the conduit. On the other side, I will have my son pulling. Mean while, I will have my ear against the conduit to listen for any binding.

And a beer in hand I hope! Why work when you can get free labor? or as my old foreman used to say, work smarter, not harder.

Charles

 

[Charles (in GA)]

As far as the 125 foot run, the POCO is going to pull that. I just have to make sure I have the rope or pull tape ran in the conduit for them.

Never tried it, but everyone says to take a plastic grocery bag and tie it securely to a string and use a shop vac to **** it thru the conduit, then you can pull a heavier cord or rope. Apparently it works or people would not keep suggesting it.

What is a good lubricant? Two guys at the electric supply store told me to use some Dawn dishwasher soap.

Thats weird, you would think they want to sell their products. Go and get a quart of wire pull lube from Lowes or HD, they have several varieties, a clear gel and a yellow stuff, its all lanolin I think.

Charles

 

[Aceman]

Never tried it, but everyone says to take a plastic grocery bag and tie it securely to a string and use a shop vac to **** it thru the conduit, then you can pull a heavier cord or rope. Apparently it works or people would not keep suggesting it.

You'd be amazed. We **** in 1000'+ runs in less than a minute. The trick is to **** the string in as soon as you lay the pipe when it's dry. Water in the conduit makes the bag/string drag and causes you nothing but problems. On the longer runs you can imagine how much drag a wet string would have...

Sometimes if you **** the string in too soon after you lay the pipe, you go to pull it out a few days later and it's stuck in the pvc glue that had oozed into the pipe.

 

[green.bubbly]

Thats weird, you would think they want to sell their products. Go and get a quart of wire pull lube from Lowes or HD, they have several varieties, a clear gel and a yellow stuff, its all lanolin I think.

Charles

Sorry, it was two customers standing at the counter that suggested the Dawn. I will get the wire pull lube for two reasons. It is probably cheaper than Dawn and my wife would kill me for using her Dawn.

 

[Alchymist]

You'd be amazed. We **** in 1000'+ runs in less than a minute. The trick is to **** the string in as soon as you lay the pipe when it's dry. Water in the conduit makes the bag/string drag and causes you nothing but problems. On the longer runs you can imagine how much drag a wet string would have...

Sometimes if you **** the string in too soon after you lay the pipe, you go to pull it out a few days later and it's stuck in the pvc glue that had oozed into the pipe.

If you have an air compressor handy, tie a rag to the string and blow it thru the conduit. Just watch out for string burn.

 

[Aceman]

It's easier and cheaper to throw a standard shop vac in the back of the truck then rent a trailer mounted air compressor.

Sorry, it was two customers standing at the counter that suggested the Dawn.

Dishsoap would be a terrible idea. I'm sure it would turn into a hard gummy mess after a few years, which would make pulling out the wires that much harder. Definitely use real wire lube, we use the Greenlee stuff most of the time.

 

[Alchymist]

It's easier and cheaper to throw a standard shop vac in the back of the truck then rent a trailer mounted air compressor.

Now who would even think of renting a trailer mounted air compressor to blow strings thru conduit?

I have a small Argon-CO2 bottle with a regulator and a hose (used on mig welders) that works just fine for blowing those rags thru conduit. Light, portable, and dual use.

 

[Aceman]

Now who would even think of renting a trailer mounted air compressor to blow strings thru conduit?

I have a small Argon-CO2 bottle with a regulator and a hose (used on mig welders) that works just fine for blowing those rags thru conduit. Light, portable, and dual use.

So I take it you've used it on 1000'+ runs and it worked well?

 

[Alchymist]

So I take it you've used it on 1000'+ runs and it worked well?

Are you saying a shop vac will pull it thru a 1000+ foot run?

 

[Aceman]

Are you saying a shop vac will pull it thru a 1000+ foot run?

Yes, that's why I posted this:

We **** in 1000'+ runs in less than a minute. The trick is to **** the string in as soon as you lay the pipe when it's dry. Water in the conduit makes the bag/string drag and causes you nothing but problems. On the longer runs you can imagine how much drag a wet string would have...

The longest one I've done off the top of my head was 1300 feet, using a regular shop vac.

 

[walrus]

Now who would even think of renting a trailer mounted air compressor to blow strings thru conduit? .

I would and it works. Like Aceman says once water is in the conduit, using a vac doesn't work very well. A compressor blows the water out

 

[Alchymist]

Walrus, meet Aceman.....

 

[green.bubbly]

I found this stuff at Lowes.

 

[BBQ&Love]

I found this stuff at Lowes.

They also have the Yellow 77 here locally. I think the clear is better for the DIYers because if you have any left over you can just use it for KY Jelly.

 

[green.bubbly]

They also have the Yellow 77 here locally. I think the clear is better for the DIYers because if you have any left over you can just use it for KY Jelly.

Are you saying professionals do not need KY Jelly?

 

[BBQ&Love]

Are you saying professionals do not need KY Jelly?

Nah, professionals will use it up on the next job. DIYers will have some left over. If it's the Yellow 77 it will sit on the shelf and go to waste. If it's the ClearGlide they can take it in the house and get some use out of it.