39
votes
Accepted
How to future-proof a long cable run
Empty conduit is your best bet here. No point in guessing what (if anything) you may get, and guessing wrong. While you can leave a pull string in it, you can also just vacuum a pull string into it ...
- 175k
38
votes
Accepted
Why can I not assemble conduit around cable, but must pull it after assembly?
Guaranteed Reusability
If you run the wire as you are putting together the conduit, there is a possibility, unless you are truly careful about all the details, that you could end up in a situation ...
37
votes
Is there a need to replace wiring if I tripped the microwave oven when drilling through drywall?
Code never prohibits the use of conduit. Even if it isn't required, some installers might want it for future pulls or just protection. Non-metallic cable is the minimum standard. Many municipalities ...
- 120k
29
votes
Why can I not assemble conduit around cable, but must pull it after assembly?
Well, it's never a good idea to "divining rod" the intent of the NFPA. Because jackasses mainly are looking for one reason that they can rationalize around, so they can fabricate a reason ...
29
votes
How do I place electrical conduit under a creek?
Just grab a shovel and have a go at it.
Seriously, given that we're talking about a mere 4 feet (and a bit) and 24 inches aren't that deep either, I can't imagine it being worth the hassle to bring a ...
- 2,263
28
votes
Why can I not assemble conduit around cable, but must pull it after assembly?
Far more opportunity to damage the wire insulation - either by mechanical damage from the exposed ends of the conduit/fittings being slid along the wires (metal or PVC), or from cement/primer if PVC.
...
- 175k
25
votes
Accepted
Can I run stripped Romex/NM through conduit?
The wires in NM aren't labeled for use outside the cable jacket, and may not be the correct type for use in conduit to begin with
First off, the wires inside a NM cable are not marked or labeled at ...
- 79.2k
24
votes
Is there a need to replace wiring if I tripped the microwave oven when drilling through drywall?
Answer based on new images, previous answers were assuming conduit.
Based on the picture that was edited in later, you have nicked an electric cable directly rather than drilling into conduit. I don'...
- 27.1k
23
votes
Accepted
Does it matter if my underground conduit overlaps or crosses over existing conduits?
Crossing existing utilities is no problem; it happens all the time. Just be careful when digging. There is probably a prescribed margin to either side of the marks within which digging must be done ...
- 24.4k
20
votes
Where to land ground in main panel
You might as well just replace the whole panel
There's absolutely no sense trying to hunt down the correct grounding bar for your panel -- it's a FPE Stab-Lok, whose breakers and busbars are both ...
- 79.2k
20
votes
Can I have breaks in electrical conduit?
No plans to pull more wire
Does not matter.
and the spot is easily accessible
Does not matter.
As I can read the code this is not allowed unless the wire is allowed to be used without conduit, ...
19
votes
Can an incoming optical fiber cable be wired internally in a house's walls?
So you want access behind the walls to upgrade your network wiring (since it changes really often compared to the lifetime of the house). But, you also want to seal the walls up in drywall, mud and ...
18
votes
Accepted
Replacing an outdoor PVC junction box where it rains a lot
Wrong box. Bad installation.
Why is the lid so warped? Far too much stuff was crammed into that box than was legal (cubic inch rules) or practical. So the installer just cranked down the lid screws ...
16
votes
Can Romex (NM-B) cable be run through conduit?
You can, but it really isn't worth it...
It's a nightmare to pull
NM (Romex) is already solid wire except in the large sizes, and now you have 3-4 wires bound together. You are trying to pull this ...
16
votes
How should I mount conduit to my wood-laped siding?
Those hangers will stick out and potentially catch on clothing.
I would use saddles.
- 17.7k
16
votes
Is there a need to replace wiring if I tripped the microwave oven when drilling through drywall?
Actually, it is quite the opposite. Most states allow the use of non-metallic cable or conduit, but some only allow conduit. Conduit comes in several varieties, including PVC. PVC conduit is similar ...
16
votes
How do I properly prepare stranded wire for a screw down connection?
As a Brit who uses far more stranded wire than solid [I don't do first fixes, that's someone else's job], there are two ways to do it 'properly', but this can depend on how much room you have in your ...
- 7,716
15
votes
How do you mount conduit to a wall so that it stands off a standard box distance?
If you don't want to get a conduit bender, you can use conduit hanger clamps like the one shown below from Home Depot. The clamp fastens to the wall and holds the conduit away from the wall.
- 72.3k
14
votes
Is it wrong to run ground wires all the way through conduit to each junction box?
Yeah, what you did was "belt and suspenders". Doesn't hurt, doesn't help much.
Feel free to do that anytime you want. I tend to do it when I am concerned with physical damage to the EMT, e....
14
votes
Is there a need to replace wiring if I tripped the microwave oven when drilling through drywall?
The wire is nicked. It is thinner than it's supposed to be, and will overheat and start a fire there unless it is repaired. PVC's fire retardant capabilities are notional at best, so you really want/...
14
votes
How do I place electrical conduit under a creek?
Sounds like the first thing you need to do is get out there and dig a test hole. Find out what the subsurface soil is like, just how high is the ground water, and just how quickly does a hole refill ...
- 24.4k
14
votes
Does wiring under a waterproof deck need conduit?
If this is outside in any fashion, it's considered a wet zone, even if the area is totally dry. A deck with Trex is no different from a standard wood deck in that regard.
Generally speaking, conduit ...
- 23.2k
13
votes
How to future-proof a long cable run
The best future proofing you can do is over-provisioning the amount and size of conduit. Pulling a cable through a relatively straight 200m run is not out of the question especially with proper cable ...
- 27.4k
13
votes
Can an incoming optical fiber cable be wired internally in a house's walls?
Yes, fiber can be run internally as well as externally. Your vendor may not provide any way to hand off to internal fiber, though, and may prefer to keep their interface external so they don't have to ...
- 175k
13
votes
Best way to cover exposed THHN cables where conduit has been pulled out
The conduit entering the box evidently needed, but someone thought it didn't need, an expansion fitting. They appear to have also skipped glue, as I don't see any remains of glue or broken conduit in ...
- 175k
12
votes
Why is it good practice to remove sheathing from NM wire when going through conduit?
You can run type NM cable in conduit, as long as the conduit is sized appropriately, and is not in a wet or damp location.
If you remove the sheath from the conductors inside NM cable, you cannot use ...
- 130k
12
votes
THHN through EMT - then convert to Romex?
You can transition wiring methods at a junction box. Use the EMT wiring method up to the junction box (whole nine yards with fittings and clamps). Then use the NM wiring method beyond it. The ...
12
votes
Accepted
How do I run more than 2 circuits in conduit?
You can mark the white or gray neutral wires with colored tape. Unlike marking a switch loop wire in cable (where it changes white from neutral to hot), this does not change the function but is simply ...
12
votes
Does wiring under a waterproof deck need conduit?
Wire is not allowed without conduit. All exterior conduit is defined as wet. All wire in exterior conduit must be wet-rated. It usually is wet, from condensate if nothing else. A "waterproof deck&...
- 175k
12
votes
Does wiring under a waterproof deck need conduit?
Be more concerned about rodents nibbling. They love the shelter of decking, and even if not living there, will visit for the odd meal - of plastic. Conduit will supply the necessary protection from ...
- 4,905
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible