Conduit size question

[anthonyjorgensen]

When I poured the footings for the shop I'm building I ran 1.5" conduit up through the wall. Originally I was planning on running 4 AWG ACWU90 through it to the panel. I'm only able to run a 60A service based on the current panel loads that I have on the main in the house. Now, I'm thinking that I'd like to run 1 AWG in case I ever upgrade the service to the house that way I could have 100A to the shop. Will I be able to pull 1 AWG ACWU90 through 1.5" conduit? There's only 10' of it with a 90 degree around half way, the rest of the cable is going to be direct buried.

 

[rockwithjason]

I would need to know the o.d. for the cable for a proper calculation but a quick look says yes you can

 

[anthonyjorgensen]

Thanks. The OD of the cable is 1.2". I'm just concerned about getting it through the 90 degree bend. I've never pulled a cable through a conduit before so I just want to make sure before I go and spend $300 on the cable.

 

[dw1]

They make wire pulling lubricant, commonly referred to as soap. Apply freely, it helps. Ask where you are buying your wire, HD/Lowes has it.

 

[MoonRise]

1-1/2 " conduit = 2.09 in2 internal cross sectional area

Cable with 1.2" OD = 1.14 in2 cross sectional area

Single cable = 53% max allowable fill

1.14 / 2.09 = 0.55 = 55%

55% actual versus 53% max allowable.

NG.

http://ce.superioressex.com/uploade...guidelines/tg16-conduit-fill-requirements.pdf

YMMV. Especially since I am running NEC numbers and not Canadian numbers, and I don't know and don't really feel motivated enough to go digging through to find Canadian conduit fill limits.

Also, different conduit has different ID. EMT, IMC, RMC, Sch40 PVC, Sch80 PVC, ENT, etc

1 cable at 1.2" OD using Sch80 PVC would require 2" conduit to meet the NEC 53% max allowable fill limit.

http://www.belden.com/resourcecenter/tools/conduit-calculator.cfm

 

[ard]

Is there a solution that would allow him to do the whole run in conduit, then pull single conductors ( say, 3x#1 plus a ground)??

Even 2" conduit for the full run, then reduced to the existing 1.5 in the pour....

What I am asking is if he moves away from a cable, can he meet the fill restrictions in that 10 foot section?

Personally I prefer conduit runs anyway.

 

[matt_i]

I would be shocked and amazed if a 1.2" OD jacket could actually be pulled thru a 1.5" ID conduit thru a 90 degree sweep. Lube away but the cable still has to be bent/formed by the sweep.

 

[manwithtools]

Holy wire dimensionality batman! That's armored cable. I'd say there is no way you are pulling that thru a 90 deg sweep in a 1.5" conduit

 

[manwithtools]

BTW, your post is a great example of choosing a conduit size based on an intended current day use. Knowing what you know now, it would have made so much more sense to run 2" conduit at very little extra cost.

Not bashing you, just hope others learn from this. Run 2" if there's any doubt, you'll be (or someone else will be) glad you did down the road.

 

[ard]

BTW, your post is a great example of choosing a conduit size based on an intended current day use. Knowing what you know now, it would have made so much more sense to run 2" conduit at very little extra cost.

Not bashing you, just hope others learn from this. Run 2" if there's any doubt, you'll be (or someone else will be) glad you did down the road.

Thats why I always run 3 inch....

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Is there a solution that would allow him to do the whole run in conduit, then pull single conductors ( say, 3x#1 plus a ground)??

Even 2" conduit for the full run, then reduced to the existing 1.5 in the pour....

What I am asking is if he moves away from a cable, can he meet the fill restrictions in that 10 foot section?

Personally I prefer conduit runs anyway.

3 #1 AL wires, either THHN or XHHW, and a #6 al for the EGC will be fine in 1.5" conduit.

Armored cable no way especially with the bends...

 

[anthonyjorgensen]

Thank you all for your responses. I completely agree with you manwithtools, I should have gone with 2" conduit from the beginning. We do have the same 53% conduit fill requirement up here in Canada so I decided to go with #2 armoured cable instead, it was supposed to have an OD of just over an inch and will still allow a 90A circuit in the future. When I got the cable home and measured it it actually measured at 1.16" so I was quite worried about being able to pull it through. But, with just a bit of force I was able to push/pull it through quite easily. I didn't want to run conduit with single conductors for the entire run because it would have worked out to over double the cost of armoured cable.