EMT: Pulling Wires


  #1  
Old 08-31-15, 10:55 AM
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EMT: Pulling Wires

Separated from: http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...ling-wire.html

I am pulling (4) #12 wires in a 1/2" EMT. I attached all 4 wires to the fish tape loop and then wrapped with electrical tape. I was about 3/4 of the way and now stuck. I think the taped head got stuck at a bend. I will have to take the coupling appart and then re attached the wires to the fish tape using Mr. Awesome's approach to thin out the taped head.
To help reduce scarring, I placed electrical tape at the raw end of the EMT where the 4 wires are being pulled into the pipe.
Any other advice would be appreciated.
 

Last edited by ray2047; 08-31-15 at 11:49 AM.
  #2  
Old 08-31-15, 11:14 AM
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Welcome to the forums! Wish you had come here before you did your conduit. About all I use 1/2" for is low voltage any more. It would have been better to run it in 3/4" for no more than the cost would be. Are you using sweeps, or elbows?
 
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Old 08-31-15, 11:23 AM
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There should be no raw edge of the EMT. It should have been a complete system and had fitting on both ends. Any burrs should have Ben removed before assembly.
 
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Old 08-31-15, 12:00 PM
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Solid or stranded conductors?
 
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Old 08-31-15, 12:21 PM
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I realized this as I was pulling the wires and thought that the 3/4" would have been easier. Most of the EMT in my basement is 1/2" and thought that would be adequate for 4 wires. I am using sweeps at all the turns. No elbows.
 
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Old 08-31-15, 12:25 PM
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I'm using solid conductors.
 
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Old 08-31-15, 12:46 PM
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I reamed all the cut EMT and made sure all burrs were taken out.
 
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Old 08-31-15, 12:48 PM
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Four #12 should fly through 1/2" EMT.
 
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Old 08-31-15, 02:59 PM
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I agree with PCboss. Normally you can just push 4 #12 solid THHN wires in a 1/2" pipe. How many 90's do you have? Are you just using straight connections the boxes or are you using box offset fittings?
 
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Old 08-31-15, 03:33 PM
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You did use lube didn't you?
 
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Old 08-31-15, 03:49 PM
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Four #12 s should not need lube, but it would not hurt anything. How did you make the head of the wires?
 
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Old 08-31-15, 03:52 PM
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Are those new solid conductors or re-using old ones with kinks and knots?
 
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Old 08-31-15, 05:58 PM
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Depending on how you made the head up.....

It sounds like you folded four wires over the hook and taped that. Too tight.
For a basic short run..... put one conductor thru the hook and tape the others to that one about 2 " from the hook. This allows the head to travel thru the bends easier.
 
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Old 09-01-15, 08:10 AM
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I am using sweeps at all the turns. No elbows.
Do you know what a conduit elbow is?

POWER FIRST EMT Conduit Elbow,90 Deg,3/4 In - Conduit Fittings - 2CLK6|2CLK6 - Grainger Industrial Supply
 
  #15  
Old 09-01-15, 11:01 AM
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Taping

When taping the head, be sure to progress the wraps toward the direction of pull.
 
 

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