Pulling 6-6-6 w/ ground in 1-1/4" conduit

[grsthegreat]

Romex is not ever supposed to be pulled underground....never. The wires used are not moisture resistant nylon shielded. I have personally seen how wires corrode when you strip insulation back and look at the copper.

but pulling even 4 of the #6 alum underground thru the sweeps should be easy enough with lube. Without looking at charts, and as mi mind tries to remember, #6 alum should be good for 50 amps.

as for wire fill, 1-1/4” sch 40 pipe can carry 13 of the XHHW Alum #6 wires.

 

[STx]

I pull Al SER more than I'd like. The best way to do it is to use rigid PVC conduit and do it one joint at a time. I like to pull the wire the full length of the run and lay it out flat, then pull the conduit on from one end until I hit the 1/2 way point and then switch to the other end. Straight wire is easier to get through the conduit. I've found that I can do a max of 5 sticks (50') at a time. I just recently did a couple of runs with 1/0-1/0-1/0-2 Al SER, one was 200', the other 250'. I can't afford the copper to run 100A service to outbuildings that are 200' away from the meter.

 

[grsthegreat]

I hope you did not place SER cable underground. If you look at article 338 of NEC, IT strictly forbids SER cable used underground even in a raceway or conduit. The wire cannot handle moisture.

it can be placed in conduit aboveground to protect against damage.

they DO make an underground rated ser style cable, it’s called USE, NOT SER. It’s usually sold as a twisted set of wires in either 3 or 4 wire runs.

SER stands for service entrance, and can be called either SER or se

USE stands for underground service entrance

 

[STx]

I guess it's actually SE Type U, not R. Approved for wet location. When you're pulling it, it's the same PITA regardless.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I made the mistake many times over the years burying jacketed electrical cable like NMW, thinking I was just doing GOOD. Still, although against code, I am assured many years later that the cables are in first class condition.

I found out, that a leaking buried cable to ground can cost you plenty in power usage.

 

[Diggin It]

For 12 or 10, I use UF. I usually put it in some form of conduit just as added protection for shovels and other sharp things. I broke my own rule there recently, running 12/2 w/ground MC cable in 1/2 PVC conduit underground. It was a matter of $$$ at the moment and something that isn't critical and can be replaced someday.

4 #6s in 1 1/2 should be no big deal for a short run with minimal direction changes.


You want fun? Try 4 100 pair telephone riser cables in conduit (can't remember the diameter) vertically between 4 floors.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have 100 pair between house and garage, about two hundred feet in plastic pipe. From the 80s, EXPECTED some major expansion some day I guess!

 

[paulsharvey]

Thanks everyone, just placed order for individual 6 awg aluminum XHHW-2. I think i measured 98 lf, but i ordered 105 lf just to be safe.

I like to use conduit, even though I could have saved, and went with direct bury.

 

[grsthegreat]

Conduit is always better than direct bury. The only underground wires I have ever fixed were direct bury...except for a few conduit runs hit by excavator....but nothing short of concrete encasement would have stopped that.

youll fine XHHW pulls real easy.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It does remind me. After the individual alluminum conductors for our main 200 amp service (after the meter) have been in the ground since 72, I should do a high voltage insulation, to ground test. Like I said, you could loose a lot of power over time through a leak.

I installed a NMW CU 6/3 in a 3" super duct for another project, maybe 500 feet. I can't see why that wouldn't be allowed.