REAMING ELECTRICAL CONDUIT:

[machmeter62]

In 1968 we had a new in ground swimming pool installed in our home. We wanted the pool equipment mounted as far away from the master-bedroom of the home as possible; to reduce the noise that would effect the master bedroom for any daytime sleeping. Since the landscaping was already in, with an in-ground sprinkler system, the routing of the pool plumbing would have to run from the home, directlly back towards the property line of this 10,000 sq. ft. lot in Calif. first.... then make a 90 degree turn to the pump-house near the corner of the lot.

Pool sweeps of that vintage, did a poor job of cleaning the pool, and mostly just re-circulated the leaves, leaving them etc at the bottom, so we didn't install one. Well, twenty plus years later, with the advancements of pool sweeps, we opted for one that has created a real problem, because of the "ampacity" of the wiring (#12)? It isn't/wasn't able to carry the needed amps for all the improvements we made. We have a total of 3hp. on the pool wires, just with the swimming pool equipment.

A small change room/spare bdrm, or used as a small office was added several years later (over the pump-house conduit route.) We started renting the home 20 years ago, as we moved to another location. A riser located near the above bldg, also gets it's power from the same wiring. We assume the renters ran space heaters, etc. in that room for heat, plus the pool lights two 500 watts.

The riser provides a switch for each of the pool lights, and power for an electric barbacue.
The wiring from this riser to the pump house has "melted/welded" itself to the 1/2" under-ground conduit that goes to the pump-house. I have access at both ends, but unable to get less than half the burnt wiring out, since I am going to have it replaced with two #10 stranded wires for the 220V pool pump/pool sweep, and change room space heater.


My question is, since another re-routing is impossible, because it would require tearing the lawn-up, rupturing the sprinklers, plus a 2" natural gas-line that goes directly there for a pool heater that is no longer used, creating another massive problem. What I need is a 1/2" diameter reamer capable of reaming at least 20' on each end of the line under the change room/pump-house. The reamer would have to be a long flexable to make a 90 degree turn as it passes under that room. (Do they make or rent such a tool?)

Also, is there any type liquid that I could poor safely into that riser to free the welded lines under that bldg, that sets on a concrete slab, if all other methods fail? Thanx in advance for all your help and advice!

Things worked fine all the years we lived there, but was turned into a "party-home" several times after we left in '86!!

 

[CharlieS]

Having been an electrician for more years than i care to admit to, I'm not aware of any method to do as you wish to do. The main problem being such a tool would attempt to push or twist the wire inside the conduit. Another potential problem would be damage to the inside of the pipe, particularly with pvc, creating sharp or rough edges that might cut or damage the wire insulation when repulling new in.
If you have to rerun conduit, is it possible to run it underneath part of the structure, say attached to floor joists rather than direct bury? that would leave only the ends not protected by the structure in need of being run underground.
On another note, if you do have to rerun the pipe, use 3/4, not 1/2 inch, then if any future wireing is added, or further problems exist, it will be much easier to add/repull wire. I'd also add a pullstring at the same time so any future pulls would be much easier.