I'm down to the short strokes on my garage reno, and I need help installing the wiring to the new subpanel in the (attached) garage. The question is this: I have a run of about twenty feet along one wall, but half is inside, half outside, exposed on both sides. I am using 2-2-2-4 Al SER in 1 1/4 EMT, and to go from the inside run to the outside run I am planning on using an LB (service entrance type) on each side of the wall joined by a ****** through the wall. The exterior EMT to LB connector will be watertight. The rest of the installation is pretty clear to me, but I'm just not sure about using LB's here.. Am I doing this right?
Q on installing 2-2-2-4 Al SER in conduit
- Thread starter Thruxton
- Start date
A previous install, spec'd by a local master electrician, using the above cable and conduit sizes, was approved on inspection without a problem. I tried to double-check the conduit fill capacity with an online calculator (Belden) and came up with the same size conduit for the cable I'm using. But you bring up the point that is really problematic, which is the bend radius in the LB. I don't have a personal copy of the NEC (I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and get the paperback 2011), but I have seen a minimum 2" inside radius for the 2-2-2-4 Al SER, and it looks like the 1 1/4 LB's I have found so far are marginal at best. Any other ideas on how to get from one side of the wall to the other? Thanks for your input mrb, I know you are one of the go-to guys here on electrical questions, so I value it.
Provincial
Well-known member
Why not get an electrician to bend up an offset that will fit between the stud bays, then splice it into your conduit on each side? That way you get a shallow angle bend and can make the run in one pull.
BTW I think the code has tables for fill with romex that takes into account the sheath. The sheath takes up enough room to count, so pulling individual wires would be much better with a marginal size conduit.
If you haven't bought the conduit yet, or can return it, I would suggest going to at least 1 1/2" EMT to make pulling the wires easier. Maximum fill only tells you what the conduit can carry electrically, while in the real world you can only get that much wire in there for straight pulls (no bends) and a fairly short run. Otherwise, friction makes it very hard to pull the wire without damage to the wire, conduit, fittings, or the pull rope.
BTW I think the code has tables for fill with romex that takes into account the sheath. The sheath takes up enough room to count, so pulling individual wires would be much better with a marginal size conduit.
If you haven't bought the conduit yet, or can return it, I would suggest going to at least 1 1/2" EMT to make pulling the wires easier. Maximum fill only tells you what the conduit can carry electrically, while in the real world you can only get that much wire in there for straight pulls (no bends) and a fairly short run. Otherwise, friction makes it very hard to pull the wire without damage to the wire, conduit, fittings, or the pull rope.
they make long radius lb's in bigger sizes but I'm not sure about 1 1/4. Why not use individual conductors, are you worried about making up a head to pull it in or something?
You could always mount a J box on each side of the wall with a ****** in between and then you'd be fine, although it won't look as nice.
You could always mount a J box on each side of the wall with a ****** in between and then you'd be fine, although it won't look as nice.
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Hmm interesting idea- I'll look into this.
Long radius LB sounds like the answer, maybe.
I'll check that out, too. And I am not doing any pulling, this run is so simple and short that I'll assemble the conduit around the cable- did this on the last install and no problems. Thanks!
malibu101
Well-known member
An LB, LR, or LL is known technically as a conduit body.
These "big LB's" everyone is talking about are known as mogul conduit bodies. I think mogul conduit bodies are what these guys are talking about. Try a web search for this term.
These "big LB's" everyone is talking about are known as mogul conduit bodies. I think mogul conduit bodies are what these guys are talking about. Try a web search for this term.
That's a possibility, could easily go up to 1 1/2 on the LB's which might give the room for a min radius bend.
I have seen the mogul types in catalogs, but haven't looked at their specs- I'll take your suggestion and take a closer look.
I may do just that, it seems like the simpler way to go. But just for the sake of my education, the 2-2-2-4 measures .925 max diameter. Since it is a single sheathed cable I think it falls under the 53% fill capacity for the conduit, and in that case it does work. And of course I can be completely wrong in interpreting what I have read.
Yes, 53% fill so youre ok wiht 1-1/4" conduit. Conduit bodies however have restriction on conductor size due to bend radius. Here is a handy chart http://www.cooperindustries.com/con... PDFs/Industrial Fittings Wire fill chart.pdf
I have used alot of these to do what I think you are trying to do.
http://www.carlon.com/Master Catalog/Junction_Boxes_Brochure.pdf
You can drill holes and enter/exit where ever you want. Available at all big box stores.
http://www.carlon.com/Master Catalog/Junction_Boxes_Brochure.pdf
You can drill holes and enter/exit where ever you want. Available at all big box stores.
Aceman
Well-known member
If you're running conduit the whole way then this is a job for individual conductors, not SER, despite what some master electrician may have told you. Assembling the conduit around your cable IS NOT the proper way to go about this.
Also, using j-boxes or gutter is often times easier and cheaper then a conduit body depending on what you're doing.
Also, using j-boxes or gutter is often times easier and cheaper then a conduit body depending on what you're doing.