Running Conduit - Choices

[Spudland_Dave]

So the more I talk to people, the more confused i get I gotta learn to shutup and stay home. LOL...so been thinking about the power conduit... Because I'll be doing Direct burial, some people say I can save 40 bucks by omitting the expansion sleeves, Sweep, and end up with a cleaner install...Pic attached of what I mean.
Of course, on my 1" Conduit which will be run from end to end, the expansion sleeves are necessary on the slab side...but I'm hearing now that on the house side, if I put the sweep & conduit deep, no need for an expansion sleeve.
How this all came up was I was bellyaching to some guys about how its costing me more in Expansion sleeves then actual conduit..

Yellow Squiggly line is my lame attempt at duplicating the look of 2-2-2-4 Quadraplex...

 

[pattenp]

You don't need an expansion sleeve for that (plan B) short of a piece of PVC conduit.

See this... http://0323c7c.netsolhost.com/docs/Conduit expansion fittings.pdf

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I've gotta ask: how are you gonna fit that cable in 1" conduit? According to NEC Chap 9 & Annex C, only 2 #2 AL conductors can fit in 1" sch 80 PvC! Am I missing something?

 

[forced induction]

Not to hijack the thread but what are the requirements for an expansion sleeve? Also is S80 conduit req for ug? I am thinking all the ug conduit I bought at HD is S40. And I was using that for stub ups also. I'll dbl ck.

 

[pattenp]

I've gotta ask: how are you gonna fit that cable in 1" conduit? According to NEC Chap 9 & Annex C, only 2 #2 AL conductors can fit in 1" sch 80 PvC! Am I missing something?

The 1" is for his low volt stuff. I believe he is using 2" for the power. He talked about it in another thread.

 

[pattenp]

Not to hijack the thread but what are the requirements for an expansion sleeve? Also is S80 conduit req for ug? I am thinking all the ug conduit I bought at HD is S40. And I was using that for stub ups also. I'll dbl ck.

Sch 80 is not needed under ground, only where exposed to possible damage.

See this on expansion sleeves.....

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I've gotta ask: how are you gonna fit that cable in 1" conduit? According to NEC Chap 9 & Annex C, only 2 #2 AL conductors can fit in 1" sch 80 PvC! Am I missing something?

Wire Lube...And Lots of it.....if needed, I'll pull it thru with a wire rope hooked to my John Deere...

ROFL...Actually PattenP is right...the 1" is for my CAT5 (and any future lo-volt), but I did "Downsize" the Power Conduit to a 1.5" SCH 40...which according to my research is OK with the 2-2-2-4

You don't need an expansion sleeve for that (plan B) short of a piece of PVC conduit.

So I dont need an expansion for either of the diagrams I posted? I thought for sure if I put the Sweep, especially on the garage end (floating slab) I needed the sleeve. The doc talks about expansion & contraction of the pipe itself, but I was thinking more about the frost/freezing ground thing. Things DO move.


I've got 2, 1" Lo-Volt conduits on the house currently with no sleeves and they've never given me an issue. Probably because they are right against the house foundation where it doesnt freeze..

 

[frankzlt1]

On expansion sleeves you can make you're own. Example 1/12" will fit inside 2" conduit. Then you dont have to spend the big $ on the expansion sleeves.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

On expansion sleeves you can make you're own. Example 1/12" will fit inside 2" conduit. Then you dont have to spend the big $ on the expansion sleeves.

I never in a million years thought the bill would have been that high for them... ~$100.00 of Conduit Supplies (Conduit itself, glue, fittings, etc) and $60.00 of that was expansion fittings.

 

[frankzlt1]

Yea there outrageously priced thats why i use the conduits to slide inside each other to make the sleeve, big expense gone and all the electrical inspectors that ive meet so far had no problem with me doing this.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Another Thing in a related note...
Seeing as how the conduit will be open ended in the ground, should I seal it up with spray foam or some other material (Silicone, Fiberglass insulation, etc) I'm just thinkin that bugs could come up the conduit/wire and make a nice home in the Main & Sub panels...might be over thinkin that, but figured I'd ask.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

O ok. Yes, 1 1/2" will work!

 

[jbberns]

I would go with figure A. The wire will have a little bit of movement with the ground, and the conduit won't, since it's strapped in place. Not sure if I can really explain it right, but an intructor in my apprenticeship explained why figure B is a bad idea.