Schedule 80 Conduit?!

[bad_idea]

So... I am in process of installing a 100 amp sub panel in my detached garage (breakered at 90 amps). I am using 2-2-2-4 MHF from the house to the garage. I am direct burying the MHF because my soil is sand and clay, no rocks within MILES. Inspector said I have to have schedule 80 conduit from the soil to the building. Lowe's only carries schedule 40, WTF?! Where can I find 1 1/2" schedule 80 PVC conduit? I swear this should be simple.

 

[Jim greengo]

Try a supply house.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I would do conduit all the way.

Its cheap insurance

 

[Jkcolo22]

Homedepot carries schedule 80.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sberry]

I never had any e look, used 40.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Homedepot carries schedule 80.

1-1/2" ? (I've looked for it there before and found none)

 

[pattenp]

See if 2" in sch80 is available at HD.

 

[Stuart in MN]

The Home Depot website shows 3", 2", and 1 1/4" schedule 80 PVC conduit, but no 1 1/2".

 

[Mr_fixit]

That inspector seems clueless. mY MISTAKE, I MIGHT BE THE CLUELESS ONE HERE.

 

[ard]

That inspector seems clueless.

why? Code states the wire must be protected. metal or schd 80 "if there is a risk of mechanical damage" seems reasonable.


any OP, agree w Wylie that conduit all the way is a best practice. No matter how far rocks are....

 

[bad_idea]

See if 2" in sch80 is available at HD.

They have 2". The knockout in the back of my sub panel is only 1 1/2" though. There are 2" knockouts in the bottom of the sub panel, but not sure how I would come in the bottom of the box.

 

[Muzzy]

They have 2". The knockout in the back of my sub panel is only 1 1/2" though. There are 2" knockouts in the bottom of the sub panel, but not sure how I would come in the bottom of the box.

I once worked with a guy who called reducers "enlargers". He's an optimist.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/2-in-Reducer-Bushing-R5142224/202043418

 

[bad_idea]

I once worked with a guy who called reducers "enlargers". He's an optimist.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/2-in-Reducer-Bushing-R5142224/202043418

Well, I'm a bit dense, so work with me here. If I go with 2" through the wall and then use a reducing bushing behind the panel (in the wall) to reduce to 1 1/2", is schedule 40 for that short section allowable?

Better yet, since HD has 1 1/4" schedule 80, can I use that for 2-2-2-4 MHF?

 

[Muzzy]

I think its fine, but I'm not your inspector or even an electrician.

I were doing the work at my house I would drill out the knockout in the back that you want to use to 2" and stick with that size all the way through.

 

[cybrdyke]

then use a reducing bushing behind the panel (in the wall) to reduce to 1 1/2", is schedule 40 for that short section allowable?

All fittings, except sweeps, qualify as sch80.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I were doing the work at my house I would drill out the knockout in the back that you want to use to 2" and stick with that size all the way through.

A 2" chassis punch costs $50+ and it's a horrible excuse just to save a trip to an actual Electrical Supply.

 

[Muzzy]

A 2" chassis punch costs $50+ and it's a horrible excuse just to save a trip to an actual Electrical Supply.

Yeah, but I already have a 2 1/2" hole saw that would work just fine. I agree that a supply house would be a better option for the OP to get exactly what he needs instead of what the nearest hardware store happens to have on hand.

 

[SGKent]

related but not related. My house was built in 1979. Some of the underground are starting to fail. Direct buried. That will mean when they go to replace it they will have to cut concrete driveways, sidewalks in the landscape, etc.. With conduit they could just pull the old out and the new in. Use conduit. You'll save yourself a lot of headaches later on.

 

[jkeyser14]

related but not related. My house was built in 1979. Some of the underground are starting to fail. Direct buried. That will mean when they go to replace it they will have to cut concrete driveways, sidewalks in the landscape, etc.. With conduit they could just pull the old out and the new in. Use conduit. You'll save yourself a lot of headaches later on.

Or they just directional bore it and are done the job in an hour without tearing up your lawn or concrete...

 

[SGKent]

Or they just directional bore it and are done the job in an hour without tearing up your lawn or concrete...

There are gas lines and telephone lines in the same area. Also they still have to bust out concrete adjacent to the house to get down under the foundation to the entry point. I had a long talk with the engineers and crew when they were troubleshooting wires shorting to ground in the vault out front.

 

[dr_clyde]

Why wouldn't you just call the electrical supply house and get what you need?

 

[bad_idea]

Why wouldn't you just call the electrical supply house and get what you need?

I did today. My hope was someone had a magical answer I could have gotten this done this past weekend. On the plus side, schedule 80 at the supply house was cheaper than schedule 40 at Lowe's.