Question about conduit ends

[cj7jeep81]

Kinda of an off topic, but I'm planning on re-wiring my trailer in the future. I'm going to run all of the wire in conduit to protect it from getting torn up/chewed through. What type of fittings do I use on the ends of the conduit when the wire exits it? Do I just use the same type of fittings as an electric panel (the kind that screw on and have a clamp that holds them tight)?

Thanks!

 

[nate379]

I don't think it'd work very well since your wire is round and those clamps are made for flat wire. Might work though.

I didn't use anything, just conduit and where I needed to make a bend the conduit is open. The wire is designed to be exposed anyhow, just the conduit was a nice touch to hold it up and protect it.

 

[cj7jeep81]

yeah, that's what i was afraid of. main reason i want to close it all in is to keep mice/squirrels out of it. i doubt i can make it totally rodent proof, but the more the better.

 

[malodin]

you using pvc or metal? are you going into a junction box or just want to seal up the end of the tube where the wire exits it? is it going to exit it in individual strands or the whole piece of wire? what type of wire are you using?

basic round 3 or 4 wire SO cord(like extension cords and such) you could feed through the pipe route it where it needs to go and then fill it in with silicone.

 

[nate379]

Could fill the end with RTV or something.

Using 6 or 7 wire I'm guessing?

yeah, that's what i was afraid of. main reason i want to close it all in is to keep mice/squirrels out of it. i doubt i can make it totally rodent proof, but the more the better.

 

[walrus]

How big a conduit are you using? will it have threaded ends?

 

[cj7jeep81]

you using pvc or metal? are you going into a junction box or just want to seal up the end of the tube where the wire exits it? is it going to exit it in individual strands or the whole piece of wire? what type of wire are you using?

basic round 3 or 4 wire SO cord(like extension cords and such) you could feed through the pipe route it where it needs to go and then fill it in with silicone.

probably going to use metal conduit as it would hold up a bit better, but not necessarily opposed to pvc. hadn't thought of going to a junction box, but could. planning on using individual wire.

Could fill the end with RTV or something.

Using 6 or 7 wire I'm guessing?

rtv would probably work, just wasn't sure if there were special ends for this type of stuff. planning on using 7 wire from the connector to a distribution box, then single wire out from there.

How big a conduit are you using? will it have threaded ends?

not sure on size. was thinking 1" or 1.5" to be easier to work with.

 

[nadogail]

There are fittings I consider suitable for this application, they are used in ship building.
Something like the T&B TPN Style Fittings for round cable. These are CSA listed as submersable.

We also used metal stuffing tubes with rubber wedges to seal flat cables, I have no fuurther information on these (I left the shipyards in '87).

 

[walrus]

not sure on size. was thinking 1" or 1.5" to be easier to work with.

Is it a cable or individual conductors? For a cable a cord grip would work but not sure if they make them for that big a pipe.

 

[MisterCMK]

Are you just using the conduit to sleeve the wires?

 

[cj7jeep81]

Is it a cable or individual conductors? For a cable a cord grip would work but not sure if they make them for that big a pipe.

planning on using single conductors for the majority of it.

Are you just using the conduit to sleeve the wires?

yeah, just to protect them from abrasion, as well as rodents. i'm using larger conduit to make it easier to snake the wires through, also in the event that i want to add more lights or something in the future, there would be plenty of room.

 

[sberry]

We use rolled black pvc and common steel electric boxes, a 1/2 poly pipe will slide thru a 3/4 romex connector. There are a ton of options, I use common wire nuts, stack it in so they stay vertical and spray the inside of the box with pen spray, even wd40 works. I dont try to seal them tight, maybe some silicone in some cases, holes on top. Never have a problem as we do constant pressure wash. A couple of these are mock up pics.
I tried a lot of stuff, just dont bother with shrink tubing and all that junk, this really works and on back of trucks I often shoot some spray with the little straw in the wire nut after the fact. Never had one fail and have had some in service now as long as 20 yrs.

 

[kbs2244]

It looks like he has been there and done that.
I think by "rolled black PVC" he means the water pipe, not the eletrical PVC tube.
I do think you are going way too big.
1/2 inch will get as many wires as you are ever going to need for trailer lights.
If you are thinking of extra wires for inside the trailer use just run another pipe.

 

[cj7jeep81]

yeah, i don't know what i was thinking when i said 1.5". 3/4" is what i think i had that I was looking at. 1/2" would be easier to route as well.

sberry, i really like the way you terminated in the electrical boxes. great setup.

 

[sberry]

I got a whole system using off the shelf stuff. I have 3/4 knockout tool or unibit to enlarge from 1/2. I like this setup as there are no interference from connectors to shove wires. On old trucks where harness are rotten I shove a pipe from rear to front firewall, new tail run wires right back to a box where its easy to make concealed splices. There are lots of ways, one you can see where I used awl to penetrate tubing to add a single wire, also have use tubing like air brake size line to run wires, into a 3.8 romex connect. As much as your imagination can allow.
I usually put a gob of silicone on fixture, mount, gob of goo then the box right over studs of fixture, all inside. Spray inside of box liberally with penetrating spray before installing common steel covers. Easy to do multiple connections for trailer plugs, etc. 3/8 fuel line makes great jacket going to 6 pin plug which I spray before installing casing.

 

[chevelle64]

When I ran my PEX for my heated floor, I ran it through 3/4" PVC electrical conduit where the PEX came out of the floor. Just for the purpose of looks, I put PVC electrical caps on the open ends of the conduit. But first I drilled a hole in the cap, the same size as the PEX. I can get a picture tomorrow if you'd like. It really made a nice looking installation.

 

[Kevin54]

On our conduit at work when they run CAT5 for computers and such, most of the wire is in conduit attached to the ceiling. Where the wires come out of it they put what looks like a donut on the ends so the conduit does not chafe the wires. You may want to look at something like that. It will leave the wires exposed on the ends but you don't have to worry about pinching a wire. I'll post a pic of it after work.

 

[MisterCMK]

It is just a bushing that slides on the end of the pipe...

 

[Kevin54]

Wow...I had a brain fart and could not think of the word "bushing" yesterday

Anyways, they are bushings and here is a pic

 

[cj7jeep81]

those bushings look perfect, and i'll use sberry's method of terminating into boxes whenever i can. thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[rsanter]

in the past I have run the 1/2'' galv conduit under the trailers to run the wires so they are protected from road debree and such.
I either put a piece of hose between the wires and the conduit or blob some silicone there

bob