Overwelmed.

[L Henry]

Hello: This is my 1st post. I am mostly a commercial contractor .A friend asked me to do a walktrough on electrical done by "electrician" in his home.He run 3/4"pvc underground with short 90 short elbows (3 or more) now my fish tape (metal,nylon) will not go trhu , this is for outdoor column "custom" lights no more than a 12"x14"x24" box holes were drilled for pvc stubs yes no light fixture i installed a roud box with plate and socket, now i have to run exposed pvc my problem is to get in to the fixture there is a bottom base on top of columns (7) with a 2" hollow channel right @the edge that leaves me about 3/4" to do my run inside.My plan is to run pvc to a bell box then 4" of liquid tight flex with 12" or so of s/o cord inside 3" of flex enlarge holes on channel, another hole on fixture and its in i know is not the best way but i am open to sugestions sorry for the long tread.

 

[kd3pc]

you might try the string, mouse and blower/vacuum to just see if you get a pull line in the pvc they ran...

so may not hold up over time, if it is exposed to mowing, weedwacking, etc, if I understand your idea correctly.

 

[L Henry]

I think those short elbows did it .Layer of gravel over no grass .Is s/o cord no more than 4" legal to run in W/T flex ?

 

[BFBOB]

you might try the string, mouse and blower/vacuum to just see if you get a pull line in the pvc they ran...
.

Yep- works. Use 2 lb monofilament for the string, tie on a piece of shipping popcorn, loose fit but fill most of the conduit. Shop vac at the other end, **** it right on through. Us it to pull some regular pull string - small mono isn't strong enough to pull the wire.

 

[Thumper68]

If the shop vac doesn't work to pull the string through you can try compressed air to push it through. I use this at work quite often and it sometimes works better than a vac.

 

[kd3pc]

we use a stihl backpack blower on 2" PVC with a puff ball or wad of walmart bags tied to a pull string, blow it through, and then pulled bigger strings until you can pull a rope or if a short run the cable to be pulled.

 

[L Henry]

Thanks for the advice I will try all methods .This is a great site glad to be here.

 

[Speedy Petey]

What is a short elbow? You don't mean plumbing fittings do you?

 

[alfredeneuman]

I think he means these:

http://www.tnb.ca/en/catalogues/online/industrial_mro/pdf/c5/fittings_01k_eng.pdf

 

[L Henry]

No 12" radius Home Depot stock the grey ones not plumbing Carlon brand ? .We always run 24" or 36" with a pull string especially underground as it gives the fish tape leader more room to work its way trhu .I can tell he run 3 within 3'-4' apart.

 

[L Henry]

Sweeping Elbows.

 

[Speedy Petey]

We always run 24" or 36" ......

In 3/4"???
Got a link?
I can make 'em with my hot box, but I've never seen them for sale.

 

[L Henry]

Here in Ca we have to provide for the power Co. depending on switch gear rated amps with 4" - 6" pvc with 12' radius sweeping elbows .No i do not have a link other than my wholesale supplier but yes they do make them .On parking lot lighting we must use them because we are risking what just happened on this tread .

 

[Speedy Petey]

On parking lot lighting we must use them because we are risking what just happened on this tread .

You use 3/4" for parking lot lighting???

 

[MrMark]

For residential anyway, the POCO requires 3' sweeps on 3" service conduit. The TELCO (here ATT) requires 2' sweep on 2" conduit and cable, well, who cares. I've never seen or heard of 24" or 36" sweeps on 3/4 conduit. The normal electrical radius elbows should be fine for 3/4 conduit. Do you have a fiberglass fish tape?

3/4 conduit is the right size for that light post application too.

 

[L Henry]

@480v all day long.

 

[Speedy Petey]

I've never seen or heard of 24" or 36" sweeps on 3/4 conduit. The normal electrical radius elbows should be fine for 3/4 conduit. Do you have a fiberglass fish tape?

3/4 conduit is the right size for that light post application too.

Yup. Agree.

My Henry for some reason is bringing 4-6" conduit and 480V parking lot lighting into the conversation, like it has ANY relevance.

 

[L Henry]

Mr petey WTF ???? Thats non called for ,please read beginig of tread i got some good advice wich is what i came here for not to be insulted .Do i use 3/4" C.NO i DO NOT for such long runs, when someone is pushed and ridicule they will act accordingly .Do you understand my position ???

 

[Speedy Petey]

Mr petey WTF ???? Thats non called for ,please read beginig of tread i got some good advice wich is what i came here for not to be insulted .Do i use 3/4" C.NO i DO NOT for such long runs, when someone is pushed and ridicule they will act accordingly .Do you understand my position ???

HAHA. No, sorry. I really have NO idea what you're talking about now. But that's OK.

I'm not sure where I insulted you, but please, accept my sincerest apologies. I can see you are highly sensitive and I should have considered that.

Good luck with your project.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I saw a problem with blowing a string/foam ball through a conduit. It came up under a desk they didn't think it went too. The secretary that sat there was not happy when dirt/water/crud came up between her legs that morning. Always use a vacuum first to clean the conduit. Sounds like he used plumbing elbows which if inspector saw it would require a redo.

 

[L Henry]

Who knows what he used but my fish tapes (steel, fiberglass,and all flexible metal)are not getting trhu whatever distance goes in they came back wet, no electrical permit pulled nor inspection done .The big picture is they are under finished driveway,2-10' columns + footings i will try the shop vac tomorrow .

 

[L Henry]

Agree .Before i do any more work will ask to see inspection sheet and electrical permit.