Pulling large wire in conduit

It is easiest to start at a elbow fitting in the middle and feed wires to one end. In any case, for the otherside of the elbow bunch the wires so they remain in the same orientation to each other from the elbow to the loose wire ends and feed the wire into the elbow in that orientation. That prevents 'knots'.

Assuming an LB fitting where one entry to the elbow is out the back, to pull the wires tight into the fitting, pull the wires out through the back as the last step. As the wires get almost tight, pick the wire that will wind up furthest back in the fitting and bend it at 90 degrees at the location it will have when the wires are tight. Pull just that wire out through the back until it is tight. Repeat for the remainng wire that will be furthest back in the fitting.... If the back-entry of an elbow connects to the back-entry of another elbow it is a real PITA.

If you had used all sweeps as John Ray suggested think of the fun you would have avoided. Electricians have nifty motor drive wire pullers to make pulls like this easy.

bud--

Thus spake Bud--:

Tried sweeps originally. Couldn't pull the wire. Changed to L's, and each pull was do-able. Didn't know about keeping the wires parallel (no cross-overs) which would have made the original attempt OK, probably.

Next time (!) I'm better armed with know-how.

Rentable? Will consider that next time...

Thanks,

I you mean cross-overs in the pipe, they can make a pull extremely hard. In some cases could also probably damage the insulation.

We get too soon old and too late smart.

bud--

Thus spake Bud--:

I can picture how to set up the wires (separate loops on the floor) for feeding in the initial pull. This will avoid cross-overs. But if you need to do more than one pull (via inspection L's), how do you avoid a similar tangle in the successive pulls? Is this automatically avoided by making your first pull organized?

"Awww, youth is wasted on the wrong folk!" (the neighbor in "It's A Wonderful Life")

Easy pull, even with no lubricant(if the conduit is new)

From someone who actually does it.

RE

If you are using cut lengths of wire on the initial pull, as SQLit said lay the wire out straight on the floor. Someone feeds the wire in maintaining an 'orientation'.

If I was pulling out of an elbow then feeding back in the other side, I would usually pull out enough wire for the rest of the run then feed it into the other side of the elbow. It may be easier if the wires are taped periodically in the right 'orientation' as they are pulled out of the elbow (keeps the 'orientation' and is less mess on the floor). It is typically easiest to feed wire into the back entry of an elbow. If the pulling rope stays connected to the wire (that is the 'orientation' stays the same at the end of wires) you probably can just feed the wires into the other side of the elbow but you have to get the 'rotation' of the wire bundle right (or close). Correct the 'rotation' as you pull the wires so when the wires are tight at the elbow the wire that is at the back of the elbow is the same coming in and going out. Especially if you are using pulling lubricant the floor has to be very clean.

If I was starting in the center and pulling both ways, after pulling one side, I might start at the elbow and temporarily tape the wires in the right 'orientation' every 3' or so. Then attach the pulling rope with the wires in the right 'orientation'. Feed the wires in the other side, preferrably the back side, as above. But remove the tape first so 1 wire can be pulled at a time to get the wires tight into the elbow as described before.

bud--

Thus spake Ryan Evans:

Couldn't do it. Worked up quite a sweat trying.

Probably younger and stronger than I.

there is a rhythm that you have to get into. One side pulls and the other "pushes" but this has to be done in sync. Ya I know pushing on a rope sounds stupid, but it works. Also the feeder of the wires is responsible for "training" the wires into the smallest area.

I have worked with a lot of people that are in the electrical industry few if any know the sync to make wire pulls easy and effortless. I pulled 175 feet of 3 #10's and 2 12's in a 3/4 conduit. The friend I had working with me had not a clue how to assist. We were close enough that I could give him instructions and we were done in less than 20 minutes including the "training".

Hope ya pulled the conductors out. Leaving them in the conduit is a recipe for disaster.

Huh??

For each 180 degrees of bend you must place a pull box, NEC requirement.

idiot!

Actually what you actually did is probably better; more hassle but less damage to the conductors (insulation).