alloy conduit helps protect telegram and keep you safe — here ’s how to set up it .
Brie Williams
Conduit extend superior security and safety for wires . Even iflocal codespermit NM ( non - metal ) or armored cable in a cellar , service department , attic , or crawlspace , consider set up conduit to protect wiring .
Credit:Brie Williams
There are many different types and thicknesses of conduit . EMT ( electric metallic tube , also call thin - paries ) is strong enough for most home place installations . Outdoors , habituate IMC ( medium metal conduit ) or PVC conduit . Codes have elaborate rule regarding conduit size , but generally , 1/2 - in conduit is large enough forfive or fewer wire ; 3/4 - inch conduit is used for more than five wires . When in doubt or if you might campaign more wire in the future , buy the large sizing — it does n’t cost much more .
Metal conduit may service as the path for foundation , or local codes may require you to run a light-green - insulated primer coat wire . If you expend PVC pipe , you need ground wire , either green - insulate or au naturel copper . If there ’s no basis telegram , check that all the metallic element conduit link are firm ; a slack joint could break the ground course .
Save meter by corrupt prebent fitting for your conduit . A coupling join two pieces of conduit end to end . A sweep makes a boring turn , allowing wires to slide well , while a pulling elbow make a sharper turn . Setscrew fittings are commonly used with EMT conduit ; they furnish inviolable but not waterproof joints . For weathertight joints , use IMC conduit and compression fittings .
Often , it ’s easiest to make a draft of your propose installation and have a salesperson help you assembleall the part you take — conduit , chimneysweep , elbows , boxes , and clinch . And verify to buy plenty of wire .
What You’ll Need
Equipment / Tools
Materials
Instructions
Anchor Boxes
Anchor metal boxes to the wall with screws . Use ready to hand boxful with rounded edges and metal covers for exposed wiring . An offset accommodation allows the conduit to escape tight up against the wall .
Measure Conduit
Once you instal the boxes , measure the conduitfor cutting . The surest method is to hold a piece in place and stigmatize it rather than using a mag tape measure . Remember that the conduit slides about an in into each meet .
Cut Conduit
Cut the conduit to fit with a hack saw . Do n’t use a tubing cutter , which creates sharp edge inside the conduit that could damage wire insularism . Remove the burr inside and out with a conduit - ream attachment on a screwdriver .
Slide in Conduit
Slide the conduit into a fitting and tighten the setscrew . Test to verify the connectedness is tight . ( If you are not instal a terra firma wire , these connections are decisive for grounding . )
ensure the wire have rich room inside the conduit to slew through well . Codes have elaborate normal regarding conduit size , but generally , 1/2 - inch conduit is declamatory enough for five or few wires ; 3/4 - in conduit is used for more than five wires . When in doubt or if you might run more telegram in the future , buy the larger size of it — it does n’t cost much more .
Anchor Conduit
Anchor the conduit with a one - or two - hole shoulder strap at least every 6 feet and within 2 foundation of each box . The large the conduit , the closer the straps need to be . Check with local codes . You should labour shag into joists or studs , not just drywall .
Bonus: How to Install a Pulling Elbow
With every turn , it bewilder more challenging to slide the wires through a conduit . instal a pulling elbow if the conduit makes more than three twist before entering a box . Never make a lap joint here ; apply it as an approach point when pulling wires .
