Just another electrical question

[outinthetalgrass]

Background:
Putting up a 30' flagpole. In process of digging 4 foot round by 4 foot deep footing for it. I have an 8' ground rod to drive in below the footing and will run "bare copper wire up through the concrete and rebar to the anchor bolts so it will be grounded.

I am not going to bring power out to the pole at this time, but I want to plan for the future. I want install a 1" conduit from the top of the concrete down 24" to a sweeping 90 degree turn and out the house side of the concrete footing and cap it off for future power.

Now for the question. When I run the power does it have to be single wires, or can I run 8/3 w ground underground cable through the conduit? I have read that underground cable can't be put in conduit, that single wires have to be used if using conduit.
Same question for the other end when it comes up along the house, can I use conduit to protect it.
The codes are confusing me.
Thanks.

 

[JerryK]

I have not taken a code class in years, but you can run undergound cable for short distances in conduit... I think under 10 feet you should be OK, you have to protect the cable as it surfaces...

 

[Inspector507]

According to the latest National Electrical Code there is no restriction on putting it in conduit all the way.

 

[topbuilder]

8/3? What are you powering?

 

[LD1]

Seems like an extremely huge footer for a flag pole, and never heard of anyone driving a ground rod at one before? Whats the point of that? And what 240v light/appliance/fixture are you powering at this flagpole?

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Seems like an extremely huge footer for a flag pole,

Seems like massive overkill. That's almost two yards of concrete for a 30' pole. Massive overkill. So is the ground rod.

 

[outinthetalgrass]

Seems like an extremely huge footer for a flag pole, and never heard of anyone driving a ground rod at one before? Whats the point of that? And what 240v light/appliance/fixture are you powering at this flagpole?

Well, as my grandpa said, better to overdo than under do it. Yes big footing but I'm sure it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. No matter what I tie to it.
As go the power issue, planning for lots of power needs in the future, maybe a sub panel ( besides lightning it's another reason for ground rod) I would like to hope that in the next 5 - 10 years (if swmbo allows) I can build up my 2 acres of front yard into one heck of animated Christmas light show.
I tend to over build I know that, but oh well.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Not a electrician by trade but done a LOT of concrete work. Telephone system back up power units concrete pads for instance. The pads for a back up generators that we have done have ground rods set in place UNDER the slab. The ground wire to the panels was protected from the concrete due to corrosion. There was a couple more ground wires from the panel that was attached to the rebar mat in the pad. I was told they were after as close to zero ohm reading for ground as they could get due to some type of switching equipment that was part of the project. The concrete attracts moisture and and is usually moist under the slab. The ground rods into the ground was about 10 feet long, i am use to seeing around 6 ft long for homes. Everything was copper, except for the rebar mat.

 

[Cord]

Background:
Putting up a 30' flagpole. In process of digging 4 foot round by 4 foot deep footing for it. I have an 8' ground rod to drive in below the footing and will run "bare copper wire up through the concrete and rebar to the anchor bolts so it will be grounded.

I am not going to bring power out to the pole at this time, but I want to plan for the future. I want install a 1" conduit from the top of the concrete down 24" to a sweeping 90 degree turn and out the house side of the concrete footing and cap it off for future power.

Now for the question. When I run the power does it have to be single wires, or can I run 8/3 w ground underground cable through the conduit? I have read that underground cable can't be put in conduit, that single wires have to be used if using conduit.
Same question for the other end when it comes up along the house, can I use conduit to protect it.
The codes are confusing me.
Thanks.

Your design sounds pretty much spot on. I like the ground rod because it'll help ground a lighting strike and reduce the chance of current back feeding to the house. I too wonder why such a heavy wire? Must be quite the run to the flag pole. Honestly, if you just want a light and use a LED lamp you won't have more than a single amp. Even using 12g, you can get a several hundred foot run before the voltage drop becomes excessive. Lights are less sensitive to voltage drop than motors ago ir'a OK to exceed 3% drop for a lighting only circuit.

If the wires are 24" or deeper, they don't need to be in conduit. PUtting them in pipe let's you set them shallower, I believe at 18". However, where the wires turn up they need to be protected so the proposed 90 conduit is correct. Just be sure to deburr the end of the elbow so it doesn't damage the wire jacket when it's pulled through. A little time with a round file will work or you can glue a metallic box adapter on.

 

[Cord]

Background:
Putting up a 30' flagpole. In process of digging 4 foot round by 4 foot deep footing for it. I have an 8' ground rod to drive in below the footing and will run "bare copper wire up through the concrete and rebar to the anchor bolts so it will be grounded.

I am not going to bring power out to the pole at this time, but I want to plan for the future. I want install a 1" conduit from the top of the concrete down 24" to a sweeping 90 degree turn and out the house side of the concrete footing and cap it off for future power.

Now for the question. When I run the power does it have to be single wires, or can I run 8/3 w ground underground cable through the conduit? I have read that underground cable can't be put in conduit, that single wires have to be used if using conduit.
Same question for the other end when it comes up along the house, can I use conduit to protect it.
The codes are confusing me.
Thanks.

Your design sounds pretty much spot on. I like the ground rod because it'll help ground a lighting strike and reduce the chance of current back feeding to the house. I too wonder why such a heavy wire? Must be quite the run to the flag pole. Honestly, if you just want a light and use a LED lamp you won't have more than a single amp. Even using 12g, you can get a several hundred foot run before the voltage drop becomes excessive. Lights are less sensitive to voltage drop than motors ago ir'a OK to exceed 3% drop for a lighting only circuit.

If the wires are 24" or deeper, they don't need to be in conduit. PUtting them in pipe let's you set them shallower, I believe at 18". However, where the wires turn up they need to be protected so the proposed 90 conduit is correct. Just be sure to deburr the end of the elbow so it doesn't damage the wire jacket when it's pulled through. A little time with a round file will work or you can glue a metallic box adapter on.