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Finding out where which underground conduit goes where
- Thread starter 1190R
- Start date
PVC? Any wire in them?
A plumber and run a snake and trace the snake from above, although the 400 feet might be an issue. Are both ends exposed and you need to know which goes where? shove an air hose in one end and blow air and listen in the other end.
A plumber and run a snake and trace the snake from above, although the 400 feet might be an issue. Are both ends exposed and you need to know which goes where? shove an air hose in one end and blow air and listen in the other end.
Terry D
Well-known member
If you have acces to both ends. Blow compressed air into it and have someone listen on the other end. I sure hope you have pull boxes in the 400 ft run
We used to make "birdies or mouse" from sandwich bags and pull string, using a shop vac (that would blow) and it would blow the birdie right through for short runs. I have blown birdies 400' using a large air compressor and an industrial attachment that would seal into the 4" bell end in manholes. These were dangerous and a coworker lost the use of his thumb when someone failed to remove the pipe plug on the other end.
GreenLee sells Blower kits for this purpose, but 400' is along way. The good side is once your done you have a pull string in the pipe. https://www.greenlee.com/us/en/blower-systems
Here is just the 2" birdie/mouse/piston at Platt electric https://www.platt.com/platt-electri...istons/Dottie/PFP200/product.aspx?zpid=498824
GreenLee sells Blower kits for this purpose, but 400' is along way. The good side is once your done you have a pull string in the pipe. https://www.greenlee.com/us/en/blower-systems
Here is just the 2" birdie/mouse/piston at Platt electric https://www.platt.com/platt-electri...istons/Dottie/PFP200/product.aspx?zpid=498824
Last edited:
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
A big Shop Vac will do the trick too along with a birdie/mouse (actual name "Foam Carrier")
Be sure to attach a pull string to the back end for future pulling purposes.
Be sure to attach a pull string to the back end for future pulling purposes.
Terry D
Well-known member
Hopefully there is no water in the pipeA big Shop Vac will do the trick too along with a birdie/mouse (actual name "Foam Carrier")
Be sure to attach a pull string to the back end for future pulling purposes.
larry4406
Well-known member
I’ve used a wad of newspaper and a kite string on one end and shop vac on other to pull string thru. Works like a dream. Then tie mule tape to kit string, pull backwards, then plan your pull.
Poolshark314
Well-known member
Yes like others have said, assuming your conduit isn't full of water from condensation, you should be able to do something like this:
fitter30
Well-known member
Shop vac with a string tied to a zip lock style bag. It will pull the string right through.
BillK
Well-known member
When I moved my business into my present building the phone lines had never been pulled into the unit I bought. It is about a 300 ft run from the big phone box at the end of the building to my unit. I believe it is 3/4" pvc conduit. I also used the plastic baggie with a piece of heavy kite string on it and pulled it through with the shop vac. Worked great.
nadogail
Well-known member
I have used a rag, rolled up into a ball, and compressed air from a 1" hose, to blow a "Pull Rope" through 2" conduit at a Shipyard.
75gmck25
Well-known member
About a month ago I decided to pull cat5e and coax through the empty conduit running over to my garage.
The plastic bag on a string and my shop vac worked well to run an electrical pull string about 50 feet and it was a quick job. However, I forgot about water in the conduit and ended up soaking the filter bag I had put in my shop vac. Next time I'll remember to pull out the filter and use it as a proper wet vac.
The plastic bag on a string and my shop vac worked well to run an electrical pull string about 50 feet and it was a quick job. However, I forgot about water in the conduit and ended up soaking the filter bag I had put in my shop vac. Next time I'll remember to pull out the filter and use it as a proper wet vac.
zeekh
Well-known member
We used to make "birdies or mouse" from sandwich bags and pull string, using a shop vac (that would blow) and it would blow the birdie right through for short runs. I have blown birdies 400' using a large air compressor and an industrial attachment that would seal into the 4" bell end in manholes. These were dangerous and a coworker lost the use of his thumb when someone failed to remove the pipe plug on the other end.
GreenLee sells Blower kits for this purpose, but 400' is along way. The good side is once your done you have a pull string in the pipe. https://www.greenlee.com/us/en/blower-systems
Here is just the 2" birdie/mouse/piston at Platt electric https://www.platt.com/platt-electri...istons/Dottie/PFP200/product.aspx?zpid=498824
You can **** the "birdie" through also.
If you pulling wirre through be sure to use mule tape not string or rope which can cut through pvc conduit very easily. I use a rather wire piece of soft braided nylon that looks like oil lantern wick.
zeekh
Well-known member
About a month ago I decided to pull cat5e and coax through the empty conduit running over to my garage.
The plastic bag on a string and my shop vac worked well to run an electrical pull string about 50 feet and it was a quick job. However, I forgot about water in the conduit and ended up soaking the filter bag I had put in my shop vac. Next time I'll remember to pull out the filter and use it as a proper wet vac.
Souldn't that conduit be water tight?
If it isn't full of water from condensation, you could also put a speaker at one of the openings and listen for the music on the other end. Slightly easier than getting out the vacuum and everything to **** through, unless you are ready to also pull wire.
Poolshark314
Well-known member
Condensation often accumulates in conduit once it is buried undergroundSouldn't that conduit be water tight?
grounded-b
Well-known member
No conduit underground ever remains dry . The NEC considers underground conduit as a wet location.Condensation often accumulates in conduit once it is buried underground
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
Better than a compressor or a vacuum is the CO2 system. Because it uses a high pressure bottle with an adjustable regulator it will blast through conduit at a lightning speed.
(Case in point: With a 3" conduit run 400' feet long, a helper was on the other end with a radio watching for the mouse to emerge. I gave a 2 second blast and immediately heard "ouch" on the walkie talkie. It popped up out of the conduit 4 feet and hit him in the head.
https://file.ecmindustries.com/-/media/inriver/RPS-0095.pdf
(Case in point: With a 3" conduit run 400' feet long, a helper was on the other end with a radio watching for the mouse to emerge. I gave a 2 second blast and immediately heard "ouch" on the walkie talkie. It popped up out of the conduit 4 feet and hit him in the head.
https://file.ecmindustries.com/-/media/inriver/RPS-0095.pdf