How to Run a Wire Through a Flexible Conduit
Conduit provides a safe, secure barrier between wires and weather conditions or dirt. Flexible conduit is a protective piping that allows wires to navigate around obstacles in the ground or above.
Other than protecting wires outside of a home, flexible conduit hides wires inside a home protecting from tripping hazards and tangling. It is available in galvanized metal or plastic; both are long-lasting and durable, making either an appropriate choice. There are several methods for fishing wire through flexible conduit.
Things You Will Need
- String
- Non-flexible rod
- Fishing line
- Fishing weight
- Fish tape
Tip
These methods work just as well for rigid conduit as they do for flexible conduit. Having a helper feed or pull wire through conduit makes the project easier to complete.
Warning
Do not hook up wires to a power source until they run through the conduit.
String
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Tie a string to a long, thin nonflexible rod.
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Push the rod and string through the conduit until the string emerges from the opposite end.
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Tie electrical wires onto the string.
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Pull the rod back through the conduit, bringing along the wires. This method works best for shorter pieces of conduit.
Fishing Weight
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Tie a thin, heavy fishing weight onto the end of the wires with string or fishing line. Allow the fishing weight to have a 2 to 3-inch lead in front of the wires.
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Place the fishing weight into the conduit.
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Lift the end of the conduit higher than the weight, allowing gravity to pull the weight and wires through the conduit. Move along the conduit, lifting it, allowing the weight to slide and continuing until all wire is through. This method works best for vertically run conduit.
Fish Tape
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A fish tape is a thin, sturdy wire inside of a plastic housing and acts like a snake to move through conduit. The housing can usually be cranked to feed or reel in the tape. To start, feed fish tape through the flexible conduit until it comes through the opposite end.
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Insert wires into the loop located at the end of the fish tape and twist wires securely onto the loop.
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Pull the fish tape slowly and steadily while pulling the wire through the conduit.
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Continue to pull the fish tape and wire through until the end of the tape attached to the wire exits the conduit.
The Drip Cap
- Conduit provides a safe, secure barrier between wires and weather conditions or dirt.
- Flexible conduit is a protective piping that allows wires to navigate around obstacles in the ground or above.
- Push the rod and string through the conduit until the string emerges from the opposite end.
- This method works best for vertically run conduit.
- Insert wires into the loop located at the end of the fish tape and twist wires securely onto the loop.
References
- "Basic Wiring"; Time Life Editors; 1989
- "Grandpa's 5001 Handyman Secrets"; Dr. Myles H. Bader; 2006
Writer Bio
Sal Marco began writing professionally in 2009. He has written many online home improvement articles based on his more than 20 years of experience in the home improvement and building industries. He has worked as both part of a team and as a site supervisor. Marco has a Bachelor of Science in management science from Kean University.
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