Looking to do some fishing

[Craftsman_88]

So I just finished the install in my new mastercool evaporative cooler. While wiring the new controler I found out that the same 15amp breaker the runs the cooler also handles the bathroom, hallway, and the 2 upstairs bedrooms. Thats a bit much. All my wiring is ran in conduit. Can anyone give me some guidance on how I could go about pulling the wires around and fishing new wires in to put the cooler on its on circuit? I've never done something like this before. I'm assuming there is a junction box somewhere where the power spilts to the cooler and to the rest of the house. yes? Thanks for anyhelp
Ken

 

[mrb]

realistically, this is probably something for an electrician if you have never done it before. You need to open every box between the panel and your cooler, calculate conduit and box fills, and if you have room for 2 more wires you may have to pullout each section and re pull with the additional wires. how old is the house? is the wire TW or THHN/THWN ?

 

[Craftsman_88]

the wiring is all 14 gauge single strand copper wire. House was built in 1965. Conduit is all 3/4". I have a pretty good idea of where the the wire splits to the cooler. I guess I'm just curious if my idea is possible. Just find where the junction box is. disconnect the wiring going to the cooler. twist all the wires back up. Run 2 new wires from the breaker in the panel. twist the wires together in the junction box for the cooler... Everything is simple in my head. lol

 

[wssix99]

You just need some fish tape. The guys at the hardware store should be able to show you how to use the tape so you don't cut yourself up taking it out of the reel. If they can't, leave and go to a better hardware store.

You just need to get to all the junction boxes along the way.

It sounds a bit odd that a single 15A circuit would be run in 3/4 conduit. You may want to check that.

 

[mrb]

1965, thats going to be TW wire. The insualtion on it tears pretty easily, be careful not to damage it with your fishtape.

 

[mrb]

You just need some fish tape. The guys at the hardware store should be able to show you how to use the tape so you don't cut yourself up taking it out of the reel. If they can't, leave and go to a better hardware store.

You just need to get to all the junction boxes along the way.

It sounds a bit odd that a single 15A circuit would be run in 3/4 conduit. You may want to check that.

what is this fishtape that can cut you? if it will cut you, what do you think it will do to the other wires in the conduit?

 

[Craftsman_88]

i measured it and the conduit is 3/4"... is that bad? is the same all through the house. 12 gauge or 14 gauge.

 

[mrb]

that sounds like 1/2" conduit. 3/4 conduit is about .82 inside and .93 outside.

what is between the panel and the junction box where your A/C hooks up? Does a pipe go right from the panel to that jbox or does it pass through a bunch of switch and receptacle boxes? Whats in the pipe now?

 

[wssix99]

what is this fishtape that can cut you? if it will cut you, what do you think it will do to the other wires in the conduit?

The fish tape is blunt and won't cut the wire. The catch is that its stored in a coil and sprung. Even though its blunt, it can still unwind/explode in one's hands and cut. (I learned the hard way a long time ago...)

 

[Craftsman_88]

Alright I just finished this project. The conduit is 3/4" inside diameter. I ended up running the wiring from the panel to the first bedroom light, then to the closet, then to the bathroom, the second bedroom, and hallway. Then I ran it down the wall into the switch for the hall light. Finally I pulled the wire from the single pole to the cooler switch. Took me about 2 hours start to finish... Worked out pretty well. Now I can turn off the power to the cooler during the winter as well. Thanks for the help guys!
Ken