How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit

   / How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit #31  
You know I did ask for help and do appreciate those who offered suggestions and yes my asking opened it up to tell me what I did wrong...some I disagree with, the one I totally agree with is I knew Romex was not the wire to run in conduit but also KNOW it will work and hold up, which it did. It was not moisture, it was not the 1/2 conduit that caused the fail, it was not the tree roots that pulled out the ground, it was an excavator bucket. It is amazing how many things that are not per code or local or even federal regulations that have proven to work very well. That conduit has been there for I think 17 years but certain it has for 16 years and the 10 plus feet I see looks as good as the day installed. The conduit was used to protect it from moisture and it did. I realize paper does not hold up to water but for that to be an issue the conduit had to fail as would the outside insulation of the romex itself.

I have seen Romex used in the air with no protection for what ever reason (no idea who installed it just knew what I saw) and it held up for many years. Was that smart, was that per code when done? I have no idea what the code was like in the 60's when the romex was run between two post in the air. I WAS NOT WHO RAN THAT WIRE.

Mine run was very with about 150 basically straight and buried as it should have been with a 90% elbow up out the dirt at each end of the run. I did remove the damaged conduit first before trying to pull the damaged wire out.

Oh on the light side came up with a simple fix...buy the solar power lights as shown on tv...no pulling, no wiring, no conduit and little light. lol

You are right it held up.

Poking the bear again, you do know a good rule of thumb over 75 feet is to upsize the wire. One small light maybe it didn't matter.



I think it is important to point all the bad choices out, because many people should not be working with elecricity. Not to say you can't by, and not to say it is always unsafe. IMO that you used 1/2" conduit sends alot of red flag about the job in general. Electricy is not for everyone. Though I am a jack of all trades. But I also spend to much time thinking about it.
 
   / How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit #32  
W but Romex outdoors is just a huge no-no, in our out of conduit, regardlesIt has none of the material ratings needed to deal with moisture, exposure, etc, and that paper sheath is a huge liability in moist environments.

I dunno, it is used in attics, basements, garages, outside walls, and pole barns. If I was charging customers, I would not run it. But myself in PCV glued conduit, I would .The 1/2" conduit bothers me the most, even without 180 degrees.

But if the load was low enough you could argue the fill maybe wasn't problem if it was wired direct and not an outlet.


150 feet is also a long way. Obviously he did not increase conductor size for voltage drop. This bothers me more then romex.
 
   / How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit #33  
1. Romex is not approved for use in a conduit.
2. The maximum fill of a conduit is 40% of the net free area.

Cut the conduit into sections, remove the wire, use couplers to put the conduit back together, and replace the wire with THWN.
 
   / How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit #34  
He meant that 1/2" is only good for THWN/THNN wire with a black, white and green wire.

Aaron Z

This is exactly what I meant. To be more specific, the green or bare copper wire is the most important wire in the group. It can save lives.
 
   / How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit
  • Thread Starter
#35  
With the input of you all have decide on a attack to this issue. First I am going to inject all the lube I can... beginning with part of the conduit that would be easiest to replace am then going to see if can pull maybe even use come along and if the wire breaks it breaks. Just do not want to pull conduit from in place then. I will then try getting another pull method through the conduit and if so will see about pulling in new wire and NO it will not be romex. If that fails then will try pulling the conduit itself out with tractor with new conduit glued to the old one trying not to have to redig the lawn. If that fails, well have excavaor with 20 inch bucket near by, just DO NOT cut water main which crosses below the wire conduit.

I really do thank each one who helped.
 
   / How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit #36  
1

Cut the conduit into sections, remove the wire, use couplers to put the conduit back together, and replace the wire with THWN.

Can he even get big enough wire in 1/2 conduit for 150' run? If it is just simple yard light, probably not much load. Heat, voltage drop, and scraping wire when you pull.

Been awhile since I didn't something like this, but even with THHN I probably would have went 3/4, with 150 feet, and 180 degrees. Maybe someone who does that more can say.
 
   / How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit #37  
With the input of you all have decide on a attack to this issue. First I am going to inject all the lube I can... beginning with part of the conduit that would be easiest to replace am then going to see if can pull maybe even use come along and if the wire breaks it breaks. Just do not want to pull conduit from in place then. I will then try getting another pull method through the conduit and if so will see about pulling in new wire and NO it will not be romex. If that fails then will try pulling the conduit itself out with tractor with new conduit glued to the old one trying not to have to redig the lawn. If that fails, well have excavaor with 20 inch bucket near by, just DO NOT cut water main which crosses below the wire conduit.

I really do thank each one who helped.

I am not sure you can inject lube. Lube is put on as cable enters the conduit, not after. I don't think it will get very far.

Did you originally pull this, or slide conduit over it as you went?
 
   / How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit #38  
Injecting wouldn't be a huge deal.
Glue a threaded cap to the uphill end, connect a 10-30PSI air source to there and blow out water that is in there. Once that is done, stuff in as much wire lube as will fit, then reconnect the air. Repeat until the wire lube runs out the other end.

Aaron Z
 
   / How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit #39  
Injecting wouldn't be a huge deal.
Glue a threaded cap to the uphill end, connect a 10-30PSI air source to there and blow out water that is in there. Once that is done, stuff in as much wire lube as will fit, then reconnect the air. Repeat until the wire lube runs out the other end.

Aaron Z

Maybe. Never tried blowing lube, only mice Have to do it from both ends, if there is a crack.

Have you ever actually blown lube, or is this a theory? I like trying stuff too.



I would pull wire out until it breaks, measure length and start digging. Or I would trench a new line out, but that would tear the yard up, but it is only April.
 
   / How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit #40  
Can he even get big enough wire in 1/2 conduit for 150' run? If it is just simple yard light, probably not much load. Heat, voltage drop, and scraping wire when you pull.

The answer to the question is YES. In 1/2" schedule 40 PVC conduit you can run eight 12 gauge wires or five 10 gauge wires and be within the 40% fill limit.

For a single light in a run of 150' of conduit, 12 gauge will work just fine. For peace of mind you could run #10 wire should there be an occasion to add more to the circuit.
 

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