Installing Electric To The Barn

Inspector507 · Jan 29, 2003

Oh yeah........"The Tugger" has helped out quite a bit too.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.greenlee.com/download/archive/103-104.pdf>LiL Tugger</A>

MossRoad · Jan 29, 2003

Now that would have been handy on several ocassions. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkV · Jan 30, 2003

An electrician was talking to me about running extra empty conduit to a location so that you could "blow" a string for pulling lines in the future if your needs change. He left me with the impression that there is a way to use an air compressor and "blow" a string through empty conduit. He was saying this could be done on pretty long runs as long as there are not many elbows. Is anyone familiar with this method and how you actually go about doing it?

MarkV

RobS · Jan 30, 2003

I've heard of a similar technique with a vacuum cleaner and yarn. The vacuum sucks the light yarn through the conduit then you can use the yarn to pull a heavier string for pulling your wire.

The compressor method should work about the same and would probably be better for longer runs of conduit /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Anonymous Poster · Jan 30, 2003

At work here we use a vacuum cleaner to suck a "mouse" through the conduit. All it is, is a foam plug the size of the conduit with a fine string atached. We suck this thru the conduit and use the string to pull a stronger pulling line thru. We've also used compressed air to do the same thing. Only difference is that we use a small spool of string that unravels its self as it goes thru the conduit. Works extreamly well. The tugger we use only for the very large wire. ie..4/0 or bigger.

MossRoad · Jan 30, 2003

When I ran electric, phone, computer network and TV cable to my garage I ran two conduits. I used a piece of foam and some string and sucked it through about 60 feet with a shop vac. Took about 5 seconds. Then I used the string to pull in a rope. Used the rope to pull the wires. Used lots of pulling lubricant and it worked great.

CTyler · Jan 30, 2003

We used to use a blow fly to shoot down the conduit. Pull the rope back thru and then use the rope to pull the wire. Blow...suck...what ever works.

Soundguy · Jan 30, 2003

I ran phone and power out to my barn .

Just a sugestion. Run to allow more capacity that you need right now.

I originally ran two legs outside, one to the barn, one to the garage ( barn and garage are contiguous, but garage is enclosed and has siding, barn is stalled and has a pull thru. )

At the entry point to both locations I chose a load center that also had an external shutoff switch. The barn one is a wet location box.

I had originally planned for low wattage flourescent lights and low usage.. but i ran something like a 10-3 anyway.. glad I did, as i added some halogen spots in the barn.. and now have some power tools & saws, etc.

Works out great

Soundguy · Jan 30, 2003

<font color=blue>compressor and "blow" a string through empty conduit. He was saying this could be done on pretty long runs as long as there are not many elbows. Is anyone familiar with this method and how you actually go about doing it?

<font color=black>We blow strings to pull new line in spare chase pipes all the time. Fairly easy.. and yes.. long runs are ok without many right angles.

Soundguy

kcbarnes · Jan 30, 2003

I use a shop-vac all the time to suck pull lines in a raceway. As far as the "mouse" goes, I have used the foam ones and also ballons, sadwich bags and even once I used a condom.