Super tight PVC conduit turn- how to?

[tarbellb]

Running 2" grey PVC for a 200amp service using 4/0 SER wire
Need to enter the attic space above the shutoff box but below the eave

Already tried- LP (Cantex) box, 45/90* elbows.... the LP box gets me extremely close but the 4/12 pitch of the roof only gives me about 3.5" to pass through

Whats the move here, any special tricks im unaware of?

Or am I looking at a special heat bend and hope I can pull the SER through it?

 

[Rc_Guy]

Running 2" grey PVC for a 200amp service using 4/0 SER wire
Need to enter the attic space above the shutoff box but below the eave

Already tried- LP (Cantex) box, 45/90* elbows.... the LP box gets me extremely close but the 4/12 pitch of the roof only gives me about 3.5" to pass through

Whats the move here, any special tricks im unaware of?

Or am I looking at a special heat bend and hope I can pull the SER through it?

For fire sprinklers we would use to elbows at the wall to pitch up the 4/12 pitch.

Might be tough to pull that wire through double 90’s though.

 

[mm08822]

I assume the SER is cable after the meter and exterior overcurrent device.

You could sleeve the SER in conduit until you get into the soffit and let the SER run open into the attic properly secured and protected from damage.

The other question is.....why don't you just run the SER up the wall strapped to the wall entering into the soffit? Very common to run SEC and SER from the weatherhead down to the meter pan.

 

[nadogail]

I have been able to accomplish odd angle bends by combining two LB bodies together; one short ****** connecting them together usually allows a 360 bend. It may look wonky but it worked.

 

[dcg9381]

Can't you use use 2" flex conduit here?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

You could sleeve the SER in conduit until you get into the soffit and let the SER run open into the attic properly secured and protected from damage.

This is what i would do. run it in conduit up the wall, then run it freely thru the attic. you will kill yourself trying to run it all the way in conduit which is not necessary

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Can't you use use 2" flex conduit here?

HA! that would be hell... and look like ****.

 

[blue-5]

Thats what hot boxes are for (or a blanket). You may be able to rent one.

 

[OccupantRJ]

This is what i would do. run it in conduit up the wall, then run it freely thru the attic. you will kill yourself trying to run it all the way in conduit which is not necessary

This is what I did and it was relatively easy.

 

[tarbellb]

The SER can be run without conduit, but I dont love the look and its in a prominent spot in the back patio area.

Right now im leaning towards just landing the LP box close, and pushing the SER through the threshold.

BUT am I allow to modify the LP box to fit? Will the (city) inspector call that out, even though I dont need conduit technically?


Or what about a boxed raceway approach, then I can just run a simple sleeved style 3 sided box up to the underside of the eave?
A custom LP box basically. Would this fly with most inspectors?

 

[Bert_]

The wire does not require conduit. If you choose to cover it with something there is no requirement to use electrical conduit or an electrical box.

 

[mm08822]

Your making this hard on yourself. Paint the cable or conduit.....whichever way you decide.

And you never answered.......these are not POCO wires going to the meter?

(It's an LB not LP.)

 

[sparky 1971]

Just run the cable up the side of the house, cover it and see what the inspector has to say about it. Or, here's a novel idea, make a call to the building department and ask because you might hear something you don't want to. We not only can't run SER exposed outside, it has to be in metal conduit. It's a written amendment.

 

[tarbellb]

Your making this hard on yourself. Paint the cable or conduit.....whichever way you decide.

And you never answered.......these are not POCO wires going to the meter?

(It's an LB not LP.)

Paint was never the issue, I just dont want to look at exposed SER in this area of my house
This is after the meter and overcurrent device. Yes LB not LP...

Just run the cable up the side of the house, cover it and see what the inspector has to say about it. Or, here's a novel idea, make a call to the building department and ask because you might hear something you don't want to. We not only can't run SER exposed outside, it has to be in metal conduit. It's a written amendment.

This area is not subject to physical damage and the PVC is schd 80 even if it was. Calling the local building dept is not a fun exercise, ive got my inspectors # tho and plan to run it past him before finalizing anything.


Im leaning towards a custom raceway now, ive got the sheet metal, brake, and shear. Will try one heat bend to see how it looks before.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Paint was never the issue, I just dont want to look at exposed SER in this area of my house
This is after the meter and overcurrent device. Yes LB not LP...

get some lineset cover from an HVAC supply company and put it on the SER...

 

[sparky 1971]

This area is not subject to physical damage

While I agree with you, there is no definition of subject to physical damage which leaves it up to interpretation of the AHJ and there isn't much you can say about it if he decides it needs to be better protected.

and the PVC is schd 80 even if it was.

I could run SER up the side of a house sleeved in SCH 80 based on online suggestions and fail the inspection because the amendment clearly states exterior conduits are to be metal. I'm not saying that's what you have to do, but I wouldn't know what to do by asking random people online.

Calling the local building dept is not a fun exercise, ive got my inspectors # tho and plan to run it past him before finalizing anything.

OK. It's a PITA, but it's also the only way to know what you are expected to do.

Im leaning towards a custom raceway now, ive got the sheet metal, brake, and shear. Will try one heat bend to see how it looks before.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

Build a box around the SER using Azek or similar "plastic" trim board.

 

[yatg]

Your super-tight turn really can't be that tight.

Minimum bending radius for SE cable is 5x diameter.

Assuming you're using 4/0-4/0-4/0-2/0 cable, its 1.42 inches in diameter, more or less.

That puts the Inner radius of cable at 7.1 inches, outer radius at 8.52 inches.

 

[sparky 1971]

Your super-tight turn really can't be that tight.

Minimum bending radius for SE cable is 5x diameter.

Assuming you're using 4/0-4/0-4/0-2/0 cable, its 1.42 inches in diameter, more or less.

That puts the Inner radius of cable at 7.1 inches, outer radius at 8.52 inches.

The cable will turn it with no problems. I think the issue is that conduit bends won't turn the outside corner due to the inner radius and a LB might not fit between the top of the top plate and the bottom of the truss/roof sheathing as well as having potential accessibility issues with the LB buried in the soffit if there is one. Not to mention that turning 4/0 SER through an LB is a MF'er even when the panels is right on the other side of the wall and the jacket can be stripped off. Trying to pull who knows how many feet through an LB to go who knows how far through an attic and to a panel? No thanks, I'll leave that to people that like to work really hard. The only realistic way to do this is either exposed SER with or without a box covering it on the outside or a conduit sleeve to the top of the wall with straight SER through the attic. It all boils down to what would be allowed by the AHJ, which is more than likely anything above. I'd have to run an EMT sleeve to the soffit, but that's because of our stupid amendment.

 

[no704]

52K views · 963 reactions | They've been telling us to use water for years. But water doesn't have electrolytes. And conduit craves electrolytes. It's what conduit needs. ⚡😂 #SasquatchElectric #ElectricianLife #ConduitBending #Delmarva | Sasq

They've been telling us to use water for years. But water doesn't have electrolytes. And conduit craves electrolytes. It's what conduit needs. ⚡😂 #SasquatchElectric #ElectricianLife...

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