How to connect external PVC electrical conduit to interior box?

plowhog · Nov 26, 2017

Here are some pictures. I made an unwelcome discovery also. Where I want to trench is within the canopy of some gigantic oak trees. I might move a ways down the building away from the trees to trench. But I can't very easily trench along the foundation.

I guess I could run some 2" conduit above grade and outside of the barn to move away from the trees, and fasten it to the concrete foundation of the barn? I could do it with a few LB's and still only have two 90's below grade. A sweep going down and a sweep coming back up.

One picture shows the wires that feed the existing Zinsco panel. I put a tire pressure gauge next to them for reference about their size.

One picture shows an electrical switch in an unfinished wall of the garage that I want to pull power to. This is near the location where I would put a sub-panel. (That switch was somehow in past days connected to a long extension cord in the barn.)

Tractor Seabee · Nov 27, 2017

Are you getting rid of the Zinsco panel? They are like Federal panels are today. Breakers not considered reliable (maybe dangerous), modern features/requirements not available, parts not available except on the used market, breakers when available get pretty expensive. I know an old electrician who salvages all the old stuff and sells parts. He even has a bunch of brand new. He always said; "someday this stuff will be valuable". He even had a lawyer draw up a non-guarantee that he makes buyers sign.

Ron

GLyford · Nov 27, 2017

For the price of a small panel like that, I'd have your friend change it over to a newer one in a heartbeat, especially if they have a "reputation"...just saying. He might even have a used one on the truck you could use.

plowhog · Dec 4, 2017

Thanks to all for helping me complete this project. I cannot believe it took most of 3 1/2 days to trench, lay conduit, backfill, route above grade conduit, penetrate the wall, and pull wire. I still need to fasten the conduit to the concrete foundation, which I could not do as I didn't have a roto-hammer. If I were paying someone by the hour to do this, in the same amount of time I took, I might have fired them for milking the hours on the job.

Trenching between two buildings close to each other was a challenge. Digging was easy, but I ended up with my SCUT marooned in the center while straddling the recently dug trench. It took some juggling of 4x4 posts, some 3/4 plywood, and a little manipulation of the hydro pedal and backhoe to encourage it back to safe ground without dropping a wheel in the trench.

I installed 2in conduit for the high voltage, and 1in conduit for the low volt/internet, etc. Glad I used the bigger pipe for the high voltage.