Jaguar Fan
Well-known member
Hi guys.
This is technically not garage related, but I'm hoping someone might have some advice. We need to clear an electrical conduit that has some concrete inside it.
See the following picture:
I have a courtyard water feature, and in that feature are 3 LED lights at the bottom of the water. These wiring for these LED lights, of course, goes inside plastic conduits that go underneath the slab foundation of the house, coming up on the side of the house where the wires then go into a Pentair system that controls the pool lights, water feature lights, pumps, etc.
So far, this isn't a matter of money out of my own pocket - my home builder and pool builder have to fix this. The house is less than 5 years old.
A light failed. They've tried for days to get the light cable out of the conduit, breaking the light cable at the end where the failed LED light was. They've tried a metal fishtape from both directions but it comes up against a blockage. They've brought out an electrician that is involved with swimming pool light installation, and he's spent a couple days on it. He's managed to get some chunks of plaster or mortar or concrete out of the conduit.
He's tried a can of Coca-Cola. He's said he's tried some Muriatic Acid, although I don't know how much.
From the equipment side, the electrical cable to the LED light is still there. They haven't tried to yank too hard as they don't want it to snap inside the conduit.
I'm wondering if maybe a stronger acid than Muriatic (not sure what) to eat through the mortar/concrete inside that conduit. Or maybe a higher concentration of acid. We presume the old electrical cable is embedded in some concrete inside the conduit.
Or, I'm wondering about maybe having a Roto-Rooter type guy try to use a power snake to grab on to something and yank it out.
Any thoughts?
This is technically not garage related, but I'm hoping someone might have some advice. We need to clear an electrical conduit that has some concrete inside it.
See the following picture:
I have a courtyard water feature, and in that feature are 3 LED lights at the bottom of the water. These wiring for these LED lights, of course, goes inside plastic conduits that go underneath the slab foundation of the house, coming up on the side of the house where the wires then go into a Pentair system that controls the pool lights, water feature lights, pumps, etc.
So far, this isn't a matter of money out of my own pocket - my home builder and pool builder have to fix this. The house is less than 5 years old.
A light failed. They've tried for days to get the light cable out of the conduit, breaking the light cable at the end where the failed LED light was. They've tried a metal fishtape from both directions but it comes up against a blockage. They've brought out an electrician that is involved with swimming pool light installation, and he's spent a couple days on it. He's managed to get some chunks of plaster or mortar or concrete out of the conduit.
He's tried a can of Coca-Cola. He's said he's tried some Muriatic Acid, although I don't know how much.
From the equipment side, the electrical cable to the LED light is still there. They haven't tried to yank too hard as they don't want it to snap inside the conduit.
I'm wondering if maybe a stronger acid than Muriatic (not sure what) to eat through the mortar/concrete inside that conduit. Or maybe a higher concentration of acid. We presume the old electrical cable is embedded in some concrete inside the conduit.
Or, I'm wondering about maybe having a Roto-Rooter type guy try to use a power snake to grab on to something and yank it out.
Any thoughts?
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