DIY Home Improvement Forum banner

Conduit shredding outer sheath...tips please.

3K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  Jim Port 
#1 ·
Hey, today I was running individual conductors through 40 feet of emt for receptacles every 10 feet. I ran 4 wires to the end, but pulled one back through the last two boxes as I only needed 3-wire for the last two. Anyway, when I pulled the one wire back I realized that the clear, outer plastic coating got really shredded pulling it in (even with someone helping feed). I was using standard set-screw emt connectors, and was only pulling 4 wires through straight runs of 1/2 inch EMT.
Are you required to use plastic, screw-on bushings like on rigid??? I suppose I could use one on the fitting I'm pulling through until I'm done with the pull. Thoughts?
Any other tips??
Thanks in advance!
 
#8 ·
when I pulled the one wire back I realized that the clear, outer plastic coating got really shredded pulling it in
If you are talking about the clear coating that is covering the black,white, etc, insulation, it is the nylon coating of the THHN. I've seen it come damaged (flaking or chipping) on the reel.

According to Southwire, it is not crucial to the dielectric properties of the insulation. The dielectric properties are in the colored thermoplastic. The nylon coating provides primarily the grease and oil protection. They say that if the installation is not a grease and oil environment, that you can go ahead and use it.

A close examination should reveal whether the nylon is popping off the thermoplastic, or being scraped off.

If the thermoplastic has scrape marks, I would definitely find the burr, remove it, and replace the wire.
 
#2 ·
Did you debur the conduit ends? Even fresh uncut conduit has sharp edges....

I use a big a$$ unibit and debur the ends prior to putting them together.

I know it's a pain...but you might want to pull those wires out and make sure they are not nicked down to metal
 
#12 ·
Buddy was feeding, so not being careful enough might have been an issue. Also, I forgot my pulling lube, but like I said, it was only 40' with nothing but box offsets. The boxes and conduit were ceiling mounted, so I think he was fighting the weight of the spools too.
Your non-constructive criticism helps a lot... that's why I'm asking for tips from the pros who visit this site. I thought maybe a plastic (pvc) screw-on bushing might help where the wire enters.
 
#14 ·
Just for my knowledge, a potentially stupid question:
It is possible that, with poor wire feeding, the connector damaged the clear coating, right?
Or is it certain that I have a burr? (Which I really don't think I do as I use a conduit scoring tool that claims not to leave them AND an Ideal conduit reamer as well.)
 
#17 ·
bobelectric said:
Usually when you pull wire,you can feel the difference between a snag and the weight of a wire spool.
I don't think there was a snag, but pulling was rough since I forgot pulling lube. When I pulled the wire back out, the outer, clear coating was slinky-ed down like a pushed tube sock in spots. The colored insulation is fine, though.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top