Electrical conduit installation acts as a backbone of protecting and safeguarding wires from harsh outdoor elements, physical damage, and potential electrical hazards. It offers a structured way to organize wiring, reducing the risks of accidents and making the home or workplace look organized at the same time. Electrical conduit installation also helps you comply with regulations widely followed in electrical engineering.
However, the electrical conduit installation is a technical process that should be carried out with extreme caution. Let’s have a look at the step-by-step guide to installing these conduits.
How to Install Electrical Conduit?
Proper electrical conduit installation contains a hierarchy of steps. How to install electrical conduit? Let’s see:
1. Preparation Before Installation
Before diving into the installation process, taking care of some prerequisites is the key to perfect electrical conduit installation. Here’s what you need to do at this stage:
1) Material Preparation
Start the electrical conduit installation process by selecting high-quality materials according to the project needs. PVC, PE, and metal conduits are common options at this stage. Assess the environment where the installation is needed. Outdoor settings usually require weather-resistant materials, while industrial setups mostly demand sturdier and metal conduits.
2) Tool Preparation
Prepare the necessary tools, such as a saw, measuring tape, level, junction boxes, elbows, adapters, adhesives, and screwdriver. The right set of tools will streamline the electrical conduit installation process and help avoid unnecessary delays.
3) Conduit Run Planning
Before starting electrical conduit installation, it is necessary to determine the direction, branches, junction box positions, etc., of the conduit and plan a reasonable route. Try to keep the route simple, reduce the number of bends in the conduit, and consider the coordinated layout with other pipelines.
2. Installation Steps
Once the preparation phase is complete, it’s time to move on to the installation phase. This stage includes:
1) Choose Conduits of Appropriate Size
Undersized conduits can lead to overheating and reduced efficiency. Oversized conduit will lead to an increase in material costs. Select conduit sizes based on the diameter and type of wires they will house.
You can search for the maximum fill percentages of the conduit in your local electrical regulations. Then, by dividing the total cross-sectional area of the wire by the filling percentage, the minimum size of the required conduit can be obtained.
2) Cut the Conduit
Many people are also confused about how to cut pvc conduit and make some common mistakes that could prove costly down the line. In order to cut the conduits, measure the required lengths precisely and use a hacksaw, an angle grinder, or a pipe cutter for clean cuts. Smooth the edges with a deburring tool to avoid damaging the conduit insulation layer or the wires during threading.
3) Bend the Conduit
If the layout demands a bend, you can create it by heating and deforming rigid pipes. For smaller diameter conduit, insert bend springs into the conduit, held at both ends of the conduit, and gently bent.
Before bending, remember to search for the minimum bending radius of different rigid conduits. Avoid sharp angles, as these bends can result in line losses, which eventually impact the efficiency of your whole system.
4) Connect the Conduit
For PVC cable conduits, use PVC solvent cement to create a strong bond. Apply the cement evenly to both the conduit and the fitting, then quickly insert the two pipes into the joint and rotate them 1/4 turn.
In the case of metal conduits, connectors with proper threading or compression fittings are used. These connections must be tight and correctly aligned to maintain both mechanical stability and effective grounding.
5) Lay the Conduit
Lay the connected conduit along the predetermined path according to the route plan. During the laying process, pay attention to the spacing between the conduit and other objects to avoid crossing, overlapping, and other situations.
6) Fix the Conduit
Secure conduits firmly to walls, ceilings, or floors using straps or brackets. The maximum spacing between fixed straps should be determined based on the diameter and material of the conduit, which can be found on your local electrical regulations. All the supports should be spaced evenly along the run to prevent sagging or shifting.
7) Conduit Wiring
Once the conduits are in place, pull electrical conduit cables through them using fish tape. Avoid excessive force to prevent damage to insulation during the conduit pipe wiring process.
3. Inspection and Testing
After installation, inspect the entire setup. Verify that conduits are securely mounted, connectors are tight, and there is no visible damage. Defects such as exposed pipe walls, cracks, or holes on the wall surface should not occur. For areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, waterproofing measures should be taken.
What Should be Noted During Conduit Wiring?
During the electrical conduit installation process, here are some important things to note:
- Ensure the conduit is free of debris or moisture before pulling wires through it. It prevents the wires from being scratched or stuck by debris inside the conduit during threading, which can affect the threading effect and the service life of the wires.
- Wires cannot have joints inside the conduit. If the wire length is insufficient and needs to be connected, the connection should be made within the junction box. This is because the space inside the conduit is limited, and problems such as poor contact and short circuits are prone to occur at the joints, making it difficult to maintain and inspect.
- To reduce risks, keep conduits away from water, gas, steam lines, or any other nearby pipings. This separation minimizes potential hazards like corrosion or overheating.
- Document the conduit pipe wiring layout with a detailed circuit diagram. This will be invaluable for future troubleshooting or upgrades.
Order Reliable Electrical Conduits
In addition to understanding the above electrical conduit installation steps, high-quality conduits also play an important role in electrical conduit installation. They ensure the durability and lifespan of the electrical system, capable of withstanding various environmental conditions without corrosion or degradation.
LESSO PVC conduit offers a dependable solution for electrical wiring in residential and industrial settings. These conduits are engineered to meet certifications such as IEC 614, IEC 61386-1, IEC 61386-21, and AS/NZS 2053.2, which ensures consistent performance and safety across diverse applications.
Except for this, LESSO provides a range of other options to suit various project needs, such as multifunctional trunking systems and corrosion-resistant galvanized steel conduits. Our commitment to innovation is reflected in our advanced research facilities, extensive patent portfolio, and rigorous product testing processes. With production bases and an efficient logistics network spanning multiple countries, LESSO ensures timely delivery and reliable service worldwide.
Wrapping-Up
Electrical conduit installation is vital for protecting wiring, ensuring safety, and maintaining a neat layout. Following proper steps, using quality materials, such as PVC conduit wiring, and adhering to best practices are key to a successful installation. For a reliable solution, LESSO PVC conduits stand out with their compliance with international standards, durability, and versatility. Contact us now to choose the sizes and models!
