Pulling Wire through conduit- tips ?

jkski · Mar 16, 2012

Came across this thread as I am preparing to build a home and need to get power back to my site which is about 800' back. The power company said I am responsible for the trench and conduit (4" Sched 40 with a 36" radius to 90 degree at each end) and they will pull the wire.

I have not yet asked them this question, but when I assemble the conduit, I assume I have to feed some type of rope or something in it so that they can pull, but what can I use that would stand up to an 800' pull of 200amp service wire?
Should I bury the conduit in spots so that is does not move while they are pulling?
Any advice would be appreciated.

Bigkrank · Mar 16, 2012

jkski said:
Came across this thread as I am preparing to build a home and need to get power back to my site which is about 800' back. The power company said I am responsible for the trench and conduit (4" Sched 40 with a 36" radius to 90 degree at each end) and they will pull the wire.

I have not yet asked them this question, but when I assemble the conduit, I assume I have to feed some type of rope or something in it so that they can pull, but what can I use that would stand up to an 800' pull of 200amp service wire?
Should I bury the conduit in spots so that is does not move while they are pulling?
Any advice would be appreciated.

My electric company had me put a twine string in the conduit and when they came to put their wire in they used that to pull their rope thru to attach to the wire. Mine was only 100+ feet though, the rest was left open trench and they pulled the wire thru 4" plastic drainage tile before putting it in the trench.

I would ask them what they want, maybe they will blow there own string in.

aczlan · Mar 16, 2012

jkski said:
I have not yet asked them this question, but when I assemble the conduit, I assume I have to feed some type of rope or something in it so that they can pull, but what can I use that would stand up to an 800' pull of 200amp service wire?

The electric company will tell you if they need anything left in the conduit to pull with, so i would ask them first.
If you want to put a string in, get a container of pullstring from Lowes and tie it to a 3' piece of re-rod. That will let you throw it through each piece as you go.
If you want to wait till later, put a shop vac on the end of the conduit and tie a bag to the end of the string so that the shop vac will pull on it and stuff it into the far end of the conduit.

Aaron Z

davedj1 · Mar 16, 2012

Forget all that weights and pushing a string, put your pipe together and take a shop vac and tie your string around a sandwich bag and blow it through. You will be amazed at how fast it goes through. Don't worry about how you will know when it's through, it will stop moving once the sandwich bag is out the other end. Make sure the string roll is unobstructed and there is no water in the pipe.

E/S · Mar 16, 2012

How far apart does the power company want pull boxes ?
I did 900 ft. A few years ago with pull boxes at 300 ft and 600 ft. Once the conduit is in you need to make a mouse and get a box of twine.
The mouse is a produce bag that has insulation in it. Just enough insulation to make it fit the id of the pipe.
Duct tape a shop vac to the other end and drop the mouse in. It will get there fast.
Do this to the entire run and turn it over to the power company. They will use your twine to pull in there rope and then the wire.

creekbend · Mar 16, 2012

How to Fish Wires Through a Conduit or Pipe: 5 steps - wikiHow I have a 200 foot "Fish Tape" that I always used. I would tape the ends of the wire with electrical tape and apply adequate "Electrical Soap" - usually yellow in color.- to the end and it should pull through easily.

charlz · Mar 16, 2012

They will use a winch to pull the wire so you usually just need to provide some pull string to help get the process started. The baggy on twine with a shop vac works great. Just need some type of adapter between the nozzle and pipe so it can only suck through the pipe... duct tape can work in pinch

When that twine starts flying in there don't touch it... rope burns for sure!

gengine · Mar 16, 2012

We just pulled 600' of wire through 4" conduit here about three months ago. We dug the trench, laid pipe, and filled it back in except for the last 15' or so on each end. When the power company cam out, they had a fiberglass "rod" on a reel that they pushed in. When that 200' ran out, they screwed on another 200' reel, and pushed on. When the third reel poked out the end, they tied their rope to it, and pulled it back with rope in tow. Three guys pulling and one guy squirting soap, they pulled the wires through by hand. When all was said and done, they left me the 600' of the rope they used, great stuff BTW.

zonta223 · Mar 16, 2012

KJM said:
Hmmmm - most people who have pulled through conduit seem to use a liquid lube. I've always used talc - "Johnson's Baby Powder" to be precise. Clean and doesn't risk messing with the insulation. And cheap!

My $0.02.

+1
In all my years working as an Electrician that's what I used. Clean and effective. And if you run into problems and have to pull the cable back you won't have cable on the ground collecting all the crud on the floor.

Stimw · Mar 16, 2012

I pulled 4-0 service through 60' of 2" PVC with a 90*sweep on each end last summer. I was afraid it was going to be ****! It was not! Pulling took 5 minutes!!!
I blew a 1/4" rope through with a paper towel tied to the end with shop vac, then pulled a 5/8" rope back through. Taped/wired the rope to the 4-0 and fed while friend pulled. One hand full of lub and it slide right through. I pulled from inside the home to the pole which kept the wire clean.
One of the easiest things I have ever done! All that sweating before hand for nothing.