Smallest conduit for low voltage wiring?

[Ries]

So working on the garage wall finishing I pulled away all of the garage door wiring as well as my heater thermostat wiring. I’m thinking the most cost effective way to “hide” the wiring is to put them inside of conduit and paint match it to the walls and ceiling to blend it in.

Now that said I’m trying to find the lowest cost and smallest size low voltage wiring conduit. I have not had much success. I found 1/4” conduit pvc piping, but I can’t find any elbows, tees, or junction blocks for it. The best I can come up with is 3/8”, which is massive for what is needed.

I did find some really low cost 1/4” acrylic tubing, but again no matching elbows or tees.

What have you guys used??

 

[ichabod]

look up" wire raceway"
Panduit or Wiremold will have want what you need.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

WIREMOLD. www.legrand.us.com

 

[Ries]

Actually those raceway components are quite expensive. It would actually be cheaper for me to purchase 1/4” copper tubing and fittings then to buy the raceway parts. Plus I can get the copper pipe in 20’ sections where as the longest raceway I’ve found is 6’!?

 

[Jim greengo]

Actually those raceway components are quite expensive. It would actually be cheaper for me to purchase 1/4” copper tubing and fittings then to buy the raceway parts. Plus I can get the copper pipe in 20’ sections where as the longest raceway I’ve found is 6’!?

Those copper fittings are not meant for pulling wire through.

 

[Norcal]

Actually those raceway components are quite expensive. It would actually be cheaper for me to purchase 1/4” copper tubing and fittings then to buy the raceway parts. Plus I can get the copper pipe in 20’ sections where as the longest raceway I’ve found is 6’!?

The non-metallic surface raceway "Wiremold" is not too bad unless you buy it from the big box stores, then you better take a big jar of Vaseline.

 

[LeonardY]

Search for wiremold or d-line raceway. They are for surface mounting.

https://www.cabletiesandmore.com/wi...MI6PGlrtO27AIVPyCtBh3BCg7tEAQYBSABEgK4ZPD_BwE

 

[tab2]

What is wrong with 1/2" EMT? It is about $0.40/foot.

 

[Ries]

Those copper fittings are not meant for pulling wire through.

If the wire is inside 2 layers of insulation and not bare it will be just fine. If there was bare wire or thin insulation... yea not a good deal. Plus this is low voltage so if there was ever a short, and fuses didn’t blow, we’re not talking life threatening shocks here.

What is wrong with 1/2" EMT? It is about $0.40/foot.

I’m trying to keep the size down. The wire is tiny and doesn’t need massive conduit to route it.

 

[Ries]

Search for wiremold or d-line raceway. They are for surface mounting.

https://www.cabletiesandmore.com/wi...MI6PGlrtO27AIVPyCtBh3BCg7tEAQYBSABEgK4ZPD_BwE

I did stumble across that site, but that’s still spendy for what it is. I have over 100’ to travel with these wires between two garage doors and my 18’ ceiling mounted heater. Right now for 1/4” copper and all elbows and tees the bill is at $143 at Menards.

 

[Dustball]

This is what I used for my garage heater thermostat wiring-
Cordmate (not Cordmate II)
https://www.menards.com/main/search.html?sf_categoryHierarchy=&search=cordmate

It's about $1/ft.

 

[Jim greengo]

If the wire is inside 2 layers of insulation and not bare it will be just fine. If there was bare wire or thin insulation... yea not a good deal. Plus this is low voltage so if there was ever a short, and fuses didn’t blow, we’re not talking life threatening shocks here.



I’m trying to keep the size down. The wire is tiny and doesn’t need massive conduit to route it.

Ask an electrical/mechanical or plumbing inspector about that theory.
I'm guessing you wont like the answer you get.get

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Can you just fish the wall?

 

[LeonardY]

I did stumble across that site, but that’s still spendy for what it is. I have over 100’ to travel with these wires between two garage doors and my 18’ ceiling mounted heater. Right now for 1/4” copper and all elbows and tees the bill is at $143 at Menards.

Just a thought.
Why not just staple it to the base of the wall? Or on top of the base. Then paint to match the wall. After a few days you'll stop noticing it.

It actually seems like an unnecessary expense to put it in conduit. And it makes it more obvious.

 

[Paul_The_Builder]

Wiremold or 1/2" conduit.

 

[tab2]

If the wire is inside 2 layers of insulation and not bare it will be just fine. If there was bare wire or thin insulation... yea not a good deal. Plus this is low voltage so if there was ever a short, and fuses didn’t blow, we’re not talking life threatening shocks here.



I’m trying to keep the size down. The wire is tiny and doesn’t need massive conduit to route it.

If you think 1/2" conduit is "massive" I can't image how your describe your junk to your wife!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

another case of pennywise/pound foolish

good luck fishing wire through hard 90 copper pipe

 

[rkevins]

what about cpvc you should be able to bend with heat like pvc, use electronic boxes for J boxes. one of the best electricians I ever saw run pvc pipe used a fish cooker to make all his bends.

 

[Terry D]

Why not just use the right stuff for the job. 1/2" EMT would be your best and cost effective choice, but you would need a hand bender and the knowledge to bend it, which is not difficult, look at Youtube. Non metallic or metallic wire mold is a good choice also, although it will cost more. Trying to put that in 1/4" copper tubing is just crazy. There is no way to install it all and then try to pull your wire in, you would have to do it piece by piece and pull the wire as you go.

 

[Ries]

Well I’ll post up pics, but in the end I just bought 1/2” EMT. It was about a 1/4” smaller in OD than the 1/2” PVC conduit. It was more expensive than the PVC, but at the end of the day it was smaller OD and only $1 more for every 10’ piece.

 

[Ries]

First door is routed. Need to get some more low voltage wiring for the opener mounting.

 

[nadogail]

What about hollow wooden moldings?

 

[alfredeneuman]

One comment about the lighting fixtures:
NEC 410.62 (C)

1) Cord-Connected Installation. A luminaire or a listed
assembly in compliance with any of the conditions in (a)
through (c) shall be permitted to be cord connected provided
the luminaire is located directly below the outlet

 

[Zmann]

So don't have the NEC over for dinner of let them in your shop ?

 

[alfredeneuman]

So don't have the NEC over for dinner of let them in your shop ?

An outlet in this case refers to a receptacle
Cord and plug connected

 

[hector]

They sell wireless opener single buttons - e.g. Liftmaster 885LM