The Easiest Way To Pull Large Gauge Electrical Wires Through Conduit

[@jimhelling5188]

Informative video for weekend warriors looking for some tips, but as someone in the trade for years I would make a few suggestions. First, you unnecessarily started pulling the wire from the main panel, which means you pulled the entire length of the wire that will be going underground to the barn through the house. Start at the outside LB that’s on the house and pull what you need to the house panel, and then pull the remainder over to the barn. Second, you can’t re-identify anything smaller than #4 as a ground. Third, forget the fish and vacuum a pull string through. Much easier and quicker and pull string won’t jam up on you. Fourth, there’s no need to pull the extra 20’ you have through the LB inside the barn up to the panel when you only need 7 or 8 feet. Lastly, use a pulling grip and save time by not having to strip wires to attach to the fish and save yourself a half roll of tape.

[@mousetowndude]

Good tips Jim.! I'm retired after 35 years in the trade and all of what you mentioned were used often but not from the get-go when starting in the trade. Your time and advice will be appreciated by lots of the newbies. It's mostly just good common sense but sometimes that's not as common as we might think. :) I'll add a small tidbit that I found very useful down through the years. I soldered small dots to my fish tapes at 10 foot intervals. After soldering the dot, I used a small file or sometimes a knife to make Roman Numerals in the solder to show it's designated position. That way I could stick the conduit run and determine its length without any further ado. That made for accurate pre-cutting wire for a pull to avoid the disappointment of finding that I shorted myself on a pull. I see they sell tape with foot marks laser etched into them now. Sweet progress ... would have saved me the time doing that solder job... it took proper cleaning and flux and my free time before putting the tape in the hands of my help. I also installed a "Speedy Leader" on all my tapes... the only fish tape leader worth having! Newbies can Google that for a source.

[@rontodd6061]

This process for connecting wires worked great for us pulling 4-6awg wires through 150ft of conduit. Thanks for the info!

[@peterdsf60]

Very helpful, particularly the tip on clipping wires from the tip to reduce the width of the bundle attached to the fish tape

[@frontiervirtcharter]

Starting the black tape at the wire rather than the fish tape makes it overlap in a way that won't tear up as much in the conduit .. Think about how fish scales point away from the direction the fish moves

[@Locky78btcourt]

brother man you sound just like Hank Hill for a moment i thought I was watching the real thing 😂😂👊🏽👊🏽

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

When I was a teenager I enrolled in an apprenticeship in electronics at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard while in high school. I pulled a lot of cable my first 6 months. I learned at lot of tricks. I decided to be come a professional pilot and retired from an aviation career! Good video.

[@KevinCoop1]

Fact: “Handier than sliced bread”. The first loaf of pre sliced and packaged bread was done in Chillocothe, Missouri. They still have that first loaf at the bakery. Their second bread cutting machine is at the Smithsonian.

[@rkaraidos]

Nice thank you

[@randymays6089]

I need to run electric out to a shed and was always curious on what type of wire to use. Video helped a lot thanks

[@dewaynehanson3751]

EXCELLENT JOB DUDES ! ! ! ELECTRICAL FISHING 101 I really did enjoy this video... 5 STARS

[@Imwright720]

I always oversize the conduit and wire. I ran some conduit ahead of the electrician coming. He said I just wasted my money. In my mind it’s future proofing it. It was for a generator and when it goes a bigger one will go in it’s place. The larger wire will meet code. The pvc conduit used to be so cheap why not. The wire wasn’t that much more and I won’t have to buy a larger one again for the same thing.

[@eds6569]

7+ years electrician'n now and there's nothing wrong with oversizing if you can afford the difference and it gives you peace of mind for anticipated/potential changes later on in my opinion, you or someone else after you will be able to use it for additional options if needed and I love working for ppl who think ahead before I arrive like that, makes the job way easier and costs less in labor. Thinking ahead like that in most cases isn't a waste of money unless you planned on selling the place within a few years.

[@roswald392]

You can tell this guy is a professional electrician...just having proper conduit and conduit body fill, GFI breakers in the panel, correctly marking his ground and neutral conductors, using plastic insulating bushings, and explaining sub-panel ground/neutral separation shows his familiarity with the 2020 NEC. It is refreshing watching a video that does NOT have a handful of glaring 2020 NEC violations. If more electrical installation videos were made by qualified tradesmen like yourself, we would all be much safer from electrical hazards and fire.

[@beauwoodbury1112]

It’s not even about qualified persons most of the tine just because they come out with a new code every three years doesn’t mean everywhere follows suit most places aren’t even on the 2014 still. I actually haven’t worked in a place besides Kansas City that requires 2017 I imagine it’s probably different in metropolitan areas on the coast but out here in Kansas and Colorado it’s all governed by the county there is no state licensing or regulation I’ve worked in places where it’s only enforcing 2002 NEC

[@B_dilly]

There’s several violations actually lol. I would hope you’re not an electrician yourself 😂

[@christophervallejo9838]

​@@B_dillyright, couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not

[@DaveHarris75]

@@B_dilly What are those violations?

[@kimandylawrence4199]

Nice video. The #8 EGC should be either bare, green or green with one or more yellow stripes per NEC 250.119 . It appeared to be black. Tape cannot be used on conductors smaller than #4 per NEC 250.119(A). Also, the fires associated with aluminum wiring occurred because the terminations were not listed for aluminum conductors at the time. Today, most terminations are listed for aluminum or copper so there is little to no risk of fires.

[@beauwoodbury1112]

Meh it’s his property out i the middle of nowhere 😂 he is the Authority having Jurisdiction I imagine they probably don’t have any regulation where they are anyways

[@supporterofeverythingyouli6255]

Also #6 copper is inadequate AF for a 70amp circuit. Dude's old and clueless!

[@jeremyromero9790]

This works good for propane and propane accessories..

[@oliverburke]

Nice King of the Hill version 😄. I liked it!

[@Rockman05X]

I like that you got the job done, but pulling string or rope would have helped lots. You wouldn't have needed two fish tapes. Nor would you have to undo the wires from the fish tape after reaching the first LB corner because it would have been made up on the pull string. Untie it and re-tie it to the fish tape. Or is the fish tape is long enough, you can also push it from the beginning, then through each LB and pull the wire through it the same way. Also, i believe you need another grounding rod since it's a separate building.

[@Sparkeycarp]

I agree with routing through the LB and avoiding reattaching every time. Saves a lot of time. I use pull string or 1/2' nylon pull tape for this. The pull tape handles better and does not twist up as bad as the jet string. Also you can suck a mouse attached to the jet string through PVC easily with a vacuum.

[@fanzfanzilla]

Thank you for the video. I see you ran the conduit from the bottom into the breaker panel. Is it allowed to enter breaker from rear straight from the outside wall?

[@ei1209]

"handier than sliced bread" god I'm gonna miss this generation when they're gone!

[@heyyou9693]

We are that next generation. We can pass along this information. This is definitely going to help me with my project at work.

[@BlackVibeBallsack]

Rolling that fish back up isn't very handy....

[@joshthompson2152]

Damnit Bobby!

[@jrpritchard1622]

awesome video i wish we at video like this back in the day when i was learning keep the videos rolling

[@gnoswtx]

heres a tip, buy some wire strippers

[@JesseKlaus]

I like to use a couple courses of bale twine, a rag, and a shop vac 😅

[@taylorjams4845]

Always tape towards the head, not away from it. Otherwise It barbs and creates restrictions.

[@jimhelling5188]

In addition to my other comment, I always use white tape when I am taping something together to pull it. Black tape leaves that nasty black sticky residue if you need to I tape anything. White or any light color tape doesn’t.

[@spelunkerd]

People talk about not putting two LB fittings back to back, but you did it and it worked great. I guess they are concerned about the radius of the double turn being too tight. I don't see a problem, because you weren't trying to stay inside a thin finished wall. In fact this is the best option, since inside the room you don't want a wide turning elbow.

[@stephenvancampen7393]

but going more then 360 turns isn't to code, is it, or is it that you are not pulling thru more then 360 at a time the reason for the code so that you don't stress the wire with resistance? The radius seems ok because its individual wires (should do the calculation).

[@alexjones7845]

@@stephenvancampen7393 "you are not pulling thru more then 360 at a time" is the limitation in the code because any more turns can quickly become impossible to pull wire through. It's perfectly fine to have greater turns in the whole circuit as long as there are sufficient pull points for each section.

[@lakeridgebordercollies]

What size conduit would you use for running 2-2-2 wires?

[@jesseruiz2337]

His voice reminds me of Hank Hill from that one cartoon King Of The Hill lol. Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@vy10mac9]

My go-to for making my bay leaders. Haven’t failed me yet.

[@thegeekisland]

Great job on the video! Thanks for making it

[@BrianHinton-w3o]

How many wires do u need to connect to the fish tape?

[@librealbedrio367]

Thank you gentlemen. Very helpful. Nothing like experience and the ability to convey what you know as well as do with excellent communication skills. Do you recommend a similar technique when running 2-2-2-4 aluminum SER through 2 inch PVC conduit on an exterior wall to connect to a sub-panel in a garage? Or is it ok tosnake the cable through the separate pieces of PVC build and cement the conduit run around the cable , then install it as a made unit?

[@todd5082]

I was wondering the same thing with my install, 2-2-2 alum wire through 2” conduit. What did u come up with for your situation?

[@VishalRaoOnYouTube]

Will this method work for 4 90 degree horizontal turns and 1 90 degree vertical turn? I need to pull one 4 AWG black wire + one 4 AWG red wire + one 8 AWG green wire about 150 feet underground. I am thinking of using 1.25" schedule 40 Cantex conduit buried 12-18 inches underground. I'm worried the stiff wire wont be able to handle so many turns. 😮

[@Combat556]

Your ground was #8 black, no green phase tape ?

[@beauwoodbury1112]

He is a master he’s got this

[@morgan79347]

No expansion relief coming out of the ground?

[@sh2697]

I am running romex 6 gauge from my main to my tesla outlet. I plan to run through emt first and then it has to go underground, in gray PVC. Can I place the romex in there the entire length from main to my outlet?

[@FliesLikeABrick]

What size conduit was being used in the video? Apologies if I missed it being said. Looks like maybe 1-1/4"?

[@benjaminhammell1272]

Hi, how did you affix the PVC conduit to the non-threaded LB? Just insert with the glue and no fittings needed?

[@alexagiyants8373]

Yes the conduit is able to slide into the LB without any fittings. Make sure to glue for a strong connection.

[@deaconpladek]

general question: if I have proper earth ground on main panel, and I run a sub-panel box in garage, do I need to add an additional earth ground? or is the smaller ground connected to main box acceptable?

[@chrisruss7863]

You need a 4 wire feed to all subpanels, and whenever the building is detached, you need 2 ground rods

[@deaconpladek]

@@chrisruss7863 Hi Russ, OK good with the four wire and separated buildings have a ground rod. Can I assume I can tie the two "ground" wires together in the garage sub-panel since they are both "earth ground" 75 feet from one another?

[@chrisruss7863]

Yes, the 2 ground rods tie into the subpanel at the detached building with a #6 AWG or larger copper conductor.

[@CSFitness1]

Shouldn’t 4AWG be used with a 70A breaker according to the NEC?

[@Ryan-ws3rc]

6 AWG THWN in a raceway is good for 65A at 75 F. Next standard OCPD is 70A. This is a-ok by NEC. You're probably thinking of NM-B. That would need 4 AWG.

[@hankkline7300]

@Rese Shively NEC requires outside disconnect for outbuilding more that one 20A circuit. Also requires smaller than #4 to be of the correct color. Cannot tape #8 green must be green insulation. (which he didn't do any way). Needs ground rods. He did not need a flex leader for a little run like that, and if you get stuck because you didn't push the PVC 90* all the way into the coupling, you can tie several loops of pulling string on the end of the first fish tape, and then open the hook on the second one and hook it very easily then pull it through.

[@Sparkeycarp]

I agree, I would have used #4 for this distance at 70 amps. Especially if the are putting in a car charger or some other constant use device as defined in the code. Yep, missed the exterior disconnect.

[@ranjodhdhindsa1479]

What does JAT mean written on fish box?

[@robinsymonds5353]

This old timer knows his stuff just like me

[@crimoney]

what's the size of each wires and the hole of the pipe?

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

The correct terminology is your father removed some of the strands of the conductors so they are thinner in the eyelet! I agree I support local suppliers over big box stores when I can.

[@SMILEYRLR]

They make wire jacket stippers that make life easy.

[@martyflickinger]

You forgot the last step: documenting the new breaker on the door label. It's a pet peeve of mine that every house I've ever owned had missing/outdated/vague labels in the load center. Do your future self or electrician a favor and update the labels

[@slimsung3971]

I thought 6 AWG was rated for 65 Amp, you would need 4 AWG to avoid frying the wires on 70A breaker.

[@hliz8818]

Yep.. poor dad.. probably read the table wrong by accident..he definitely knows what hes doing.. father is the tradesmen.. still valuable video.. but should downsize breaker thats all.

[@thomasmarable6818]

Its a feeder 65 not a standard breaker so you can go up 1 size to a 70 amp

[@Pepe-dq2ib]

@@thomasmarable6818 where does it say that?

[@johndavies2949]

No. You can put the # 6 on the 70 amo breaker because there isn't a 65 amp breaker and the code allows you to go to the next size up if this is the case.

[@Anon-bf8zs]

That ground needed to be green per NEC. Only ground conductors larger than #6 can be black and taped on the ends.

[@AquaTech225]

Who’s gonna check it 😂

[@YourAflacGal]

GREAT instructions!

[@willcamp6319]

When you use black wire with ground put green tape so you can tell what the ground is or use green wire

[@AM1015-]

wheres the expansion coupling before the LB's? ground thaw will stress those pvc conduits apart

[@phyde1885]

Yes they will ,I forgot to install 1 in Just a 11.5' vertical and it Banana'd over Time. I Just took care of it though. I didn't have any wire in it yet,have to finish the main side upgrade.

[@Tassadar4Ever]

What a great video!

[@dondrier1051]

Stupid question maybe but why can’t you put the conduit on the wire as you’re burying it?

[@johndavies2949]

You could but the code says your conduit system has to be installed as a complete system before you pull wires. But people do it anyway. See nec 300.18 (A). Complete runs.Raceways(conduit) shall be installed complete between outlet,jinction, or splicing points prior to the installation of conductors.

[@dondrier1051]

@@johndavies2949 now I know. Thanks

[@JacquesofAllTradesDIY-m5k]

@@johndavies2949 Could your PVC glue damage your wire insulation?

[@al52269]

Great video Thanks for sharing

[@robertplas3947]

70 amp breaker shown on 6 awg??

[@billmonroe8826]

Any reason why you didn't run the wire before you buried it?

[@1ltlbrnc]

You almost always are pulling wire through a conduit after it is completely installed including buried. Unless you're using the incorrect wire or to small of a conduit it shouldn't be an issue to pull the wires through.

[@fuzion430journey3]

Wire is un size ,for 70 amp breaker , especially for the run u have

[@hliz8818]

Sure is..

[@thomasmarable6818]

If he is less then 150 feet and his continuous load is not more then 80% then he is ok. This is a feeder and #6 is good for 65 amps which is not a standard overcurrent device so you can go to next size up 70 amps. Learn the code

[@beauwoodbury1112]

Ah but if you remember he was talking about how the wire he was using had a different kind of insulation it’s not thhn so if I had to gues its probably Thwn that he used rated at 90 degrees ambient and technically I wouldn’t even consider that a long pull it’s probably only 100 feet at most not that long

[@Eastbaypisces]

​@@beauwoodbury1112how do I do this with multiple 90s horizontal too? 100'

[@heypauly2002]

70 AMPS on 6 AWG??

[@ricktryder787]

Damn it Bobby.... That boy ain't right.

[@jonathanwells5508]

Best video I've seen on this topic! Thank you.

[@vipero00]

Doesn't that fish eye unscrew from the end of the tape? Just unscrew it, fish the tape, and reattach for your 2nd pull.

[@MattMuckleroy]

Use 2" conduit with large sweeps and 30" ditch you wouldn't have to go through all of that, would you? I mean with the fishing tape.

[@love2gocamp]

Just curious. Is it okay to use a smaller wire for the ground? I have to run some 6 gauge wire in my trailer. Thanks.

[@robmespeedy]

I just got an estimate to install a sub panel in my garage. The electrician said all the wires would be 6 gauge.

[@Nick-bh1fy]

@@robmespeedy ground can be slightly smaller size wire

[@1970jeffreyg]

@@robmespeedy ground can be next gauge smaller, not a problem

[@sparkyjerred419]

You could use #10 for the ground

[@sparkyjerred419]

#10 ground for 25-60 amp, #8 for 65-100 amp.

[@211dabomb]

Love this video

[@nest1000]

Pops is very smart

[@1hons1]

Omg at 8:10 you start sounding like Hank Hill 😮

[@mistervacation23]

No wonder the water don't work those pipes are all clogged up with wire.

[@shad0wrealms116]

Great 3 stooges reference 😂

[@mistervacation23]

@@shad0wrealms116 Classic

[@jamesonsonoma748]

You can’t put 6 gauge on a 70 amp breaker

[@badgthom]

Why not? You can oversize your wire, but you can't undersize your wire to your breaker ampacity, meaning your breaker ampacity can be lower than the wire ampacity that it is fedding, but you can't have a larger breaker ampacity feeding a wire with a lower ampacity.

[@3x3q-hw7uy]

you obviously can.

[@andrewbrooks534]

@@badgthom 6 gauge is rated lower than 70 amps, therefore, in this application, the breaker is oversized for the wire. Just like what you said is not allowed.

[@kuuleiimokihana4523]

But THHN AND THWN IN THE 90 degree category can handle 75 amps correct ?

[@Roadglide2020.]

​@@kuuleiimokihana4523the breaker terminals are not rated 90c so no you cant

[@torykarovlogs3463]

nm b indoor wire can be bury? Or is under ground

[@JustinSpakable]

Fuck in rush current. KABLOOM

[@lesliewood4069]

Great job🌹🌷❤️👍🙏🙏🙏

[@yaboiii9062]

Mule tape is what you needed to use . Local 613

[@brandoncole6358]

I'm pretty young haven't run into that problem yet

[@mrindependent1]

Should have left the flex lead on the wire and and disconnected it from the fish tape Then pushed the fish tape and reattached the flex lead

[@cryptocred5754]

Large?

[@thecopperiris]

Why didn't you color code the wires? I get that they're both hot, but as a general rule, you always mark the different phases..

[@edgarzamora1996]

Is the same phase

[@KevinCoop1]

I can tell your father is an electrician! All the cut off crap is thrown on the floor. Laborers job! I’m a retired electrical design engineer. I see an issue that is important. Article 225 Outside Branch Circuits and Feeders has a requirement for a means of disconnect when you feed a detached building from another. Often missed because most do not read 225. You are supposed to be able to disconnect at one point at or near where the feeder enters the building. So, a main circuit breaker or a Safety Switch are needed to meet NEC. Going to try to find the next video for something else possible but will not know until completed install. My purpose is only Safety, not just pointing out errors.

[@joer3089]

is this Hank Hill? lol

[@rudyardgomeas6042]

It's odd you say aluminum is "dangerous" for houses, yet the large wires that come from poles; aren't they aluminum?

[@edbouhl3100]

The hardware has to be designed for aluminum, or both aluminum/copper. Aluminum wire expands and contracts more with temperature than does copper. Aluminum wire in a copper only fitting can work itself loose and cause arcing and possibly fire. Aluminum in contact with copper also corrodes, so a protective paste is needed for those connections.

[@hbparmer9787]

great job, Father and Son

[@chaser9363]

With all due respect. WTH is a cepticle?

[@armorstef]

Start in middle of run easy 1/2 runs Instead a full run???

[@Kerem-qh1jm]

that conduit is so thick you don't really need any special instruction at all.

[@jeanettaervin5807]

Hello Chris

[@TipsNNTricks]

Hello Jeanetta:) I hope your doing amazing:)

[@clintonr362]

Sounds like Hank Hill

[@jimcook8241]

Large gauge? Im using mule tape and rope to pull with. Large gauge I assume is 3/0 and up.

[@beauwoodbury1112]

Yeah # 6 through two in is a piece of cake compared to a 3/0 service entrance pull

[@liyoung7149]

wire stripper not available?

[@joewebb4836]

I would have fished from garage, then into house....no removing wire. Smarter not harder...I beg to differ !

[@peterturner5073]

I thought this was for large gauge. I'm trying to bend 150 amp cable through a two inch conduit and these guys are minor league.

[@SB-vl4rh]

Ibew electrician here, they are called fish tapes, not fish tape “pullers” never pull your cable with your fish tape. Use a PULL string:

[@johndavies2949]

Bullshit!

[@stargatemaster94]

That is the whackest tape job I've ever seen, and the fact that a veteran sparky is doing it blows my mind.

[@BlackVibeBallsack]

Well...he was using a 1" pipe so...it worked..

[@mitchellhardy8053]

Friends don’t let friends use Commercial Electric tape. 😑

[@hliz8818]

Wait what..??!!! 6awg wire for 70 amp breaker.. ??

[@hliz8818]

That should be number 4 wire.. for 70 amp breaker... 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@thomasmarable6818]

On feeders if it just under a standard over current device you can go up next size. #6 good for 65 amps so you can go up next standard size which is 70 amps

[@stevenreeves4766]

That wire is not large Guage wire. Try pulling 1/0

[@gsibert1]

Everything is relative, 1/0 is on the small end of the spectrum where I work. Try pulling 1000 MCM copper 1000' thru 6 -90's and then vertically 18 stories Reply

[@stevenreeves4766]

@@gsibert1 I hear you, I was just trying to say that I consider pulling #8 wire fairly easy but you start getting into #1 and larger is gets to be a pain. I can only imagine that larger stuff you mentioned.

[@wvcaver774]

hahaha try 750 MCM

[@doobeone]

Hank hill?

[@michaelfasciani537]

🤣

[@supporterofeverythingyouli6255]

Number 6 wire on a 70amp circuit? 😂😂😂 it doesn't cost to hire professional it pays....😂😂😂

[@thomasmarable6818]

Glad I wasn't pulling that wire, what a messy head.

[@brianshaw6072]

Hank hill. Is that you doing electrical work?

[@stevenreeves4766]

appreciate the video but #8 wire is not large gauge. I have to pull 1/0 wire.

[@dannydee9919]

Cot damn does he talk too much. Just pull the freakin wire!!!!

[@thomasheyman2524]

Ok sure. Terrible wire stripping technique. Painful to watch. Also, why would you tape the fish tape like that?? Adds friction to the pull.