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Electric wire question for Electricians
#8371387
09/01/21 05:01 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
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BearkatHunter2011
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Do I need conduit?
I'm going to run aluminum URD 4/0 cable to provide power to my shop from a pedestal transformer. Although this is direct burial wire, do I need to encase it in conduit due to fireants?
Thanks.
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371401
09/01/21 05:13 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
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ducknbass
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If it’s direct burial no.
Fire ants will only get to it if it’s cut.
I personally would never run direct burial aluminum though. We’ll direct burial at all.
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371407
09/01/21 05:16 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
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redchevy
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Ran dirrect burial from my parents house to the smoke hose in the back yard about 25 years ago. No problems yet, it was coper wire though. Also ran some of the same stuff to a pole barn at the ranch, same no issues with it as well.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371469
09/01/21 06:05 PM
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Old Rabbit
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I would be more worried about gophers. They may not be a problem where you live, but in East Texas, they love to chew on electric wires.
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: ducknbass]
#8371496
09/01/21 06:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
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BigPig
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Do I need conduit?
I'm going to run aluminum URD 4/0 cable to provide power to my shop from a pedestal transformer. Although this is direct burial wire, do I need to encase it in conduit due to fireants?
Thanks. No. Is it going to be near any other lines? Water lines? Gas lines? If it’s direct burial no.
Fire ants will only get to it if it’s cut.
I personally would never run direct burial aluminum though. We’ll direct burial at all. I wouldn’t run direct burial anything moving over 20amps, that’s just me. You have to go a lot deeper if you’re running direct burial service wire. The aluminum is fine, and a better conductor than copper for what you’re running, also a lot cheaper.
Wade Dews, REALTOR ® Rendon Realty, LLC Frontline Real Estate Team www.RendonRealty.comWadeDews@gmail.com 214-356-2410 Up to 1% for closing costs for First Responders & Veterans Proudly partnered with Assist The Officer Foundation https://atodallas.org/
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371500
09/01/21 06:30 PM
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Joined: May 2011
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skinnerback
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Do I need conduit?
I'm going to run aluminum URD 4/0 cable to provide power to my shop from a pedestal transformer. Although this is direct burial wire, do I need to encase it in conduit due to fireants?
Thanks. What dunknbass said. Answer is no, just bury it deep and would run copper vs aluminum. I DO recommend only using PVC Conduit where the cable comes out on each end, to protect it from lawnmowers & weed eaters.
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371501
09/01/21 06:31 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
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redchevy
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Interesting, Ive never heard of aluminum referred to as a better conductor than copper or really better than anything electric related.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371528
09/01/21 06:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
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Paluxy
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If the pedestal transformer is from the power company they will require conduit unless the meter is at the pedestal.
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371604
09/01/21 08:21 PM
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BearkatHunter2011
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Yes, the meter is at the pedestal.
No gophers in our neck of the woods. I'm guessing because of the heavy black clay.
I was at least going to put the last 10 feet of each end in conduit with 90's up to the meter box on one end and the breaker box in the barn.
No other water lines or gas lines in the vicinity. This is out in the county. Connecting a meter on a pedestal (near my light pole and existing transformer) and running 300 feet to a barn that will soon be getting a concrete floor and turned into a shop for FFA projects.
I agree that I would prefer copper but WOW it is high right now.
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371619
09/01/21 08:28 PM
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Joined: Jun 2020
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Giblett
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I would put it in conduit. If it ever messes up it's a whole lot easier to pull wire than dig a ditch.
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371622
09/01/21 08:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 22,729
BigPig
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Yes, the meter is at the pedestal.
No gophers in our neck of the woods. I'm guessing because of the heavy black clay.
I was at least going to put the last 10 feet of each end in conduit with 90's up to the meter box on one end and the breaker box in the barn.
No other water lines or gas lines in the vicinity. This is out in the county. Connecting a meter on a pedestal (near my light pole and existing transformer) and running 300 feet to a barn that will soon be getting a concrete floor and turned into a shop for FFA projects.
I agree that I would prefer copper but WOW it is high right now. Copper has been high. I ran aluminum last year, bought 150 feet of it for $1,050 vs copper being $2,995 and had to buy 200 feet so I would’ve been stuck with lots of expensive waste.
Wade Dews, REALTOR ® Rendon Realty, LLC Frontline Real Estate Team www.RendonRealty.comWadeDews@gmail.com 214-356-2410 Up to 1% for closing costs for First Responders & Veterans Proudly partnered with Assist The Officer Foundation https://atodallas.org/
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371626
09/01/21 08:30 PM
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Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 325
Giblett
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I would put it in conduit. If it ever messes up it's a whole lot easier to pull wire than dig a ditch.
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371766
09/01/21 10:37 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,871
Grit
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I just repaired an underground feeder (UF 12-2) out to my bunkhouse. We had our placed cleared around the house and he cut the line. All my fault as I didn't know exactly where it was buried. But the building is powered off a live plug and has a dedicated panel. But the UF cable is only covered in conduit on both ends and about a couple feet in the ground. The rest of the cable is direct burial.
Last edited by Grit; 09/01/21 10:41 PM.
Garrett
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8371767
09/01/21 10:38 PM
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Joined: Apr 2009
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pdr55
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If it was mine I would run it in conduit.
If you`re running down my country, man, You`re walking on the fighting side of me. (Merle)
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: redchevy]
#8371775
09/01/21 10:51 PM
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Joined: Feb 2019
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Poppa
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Interesting, Ive never heard of aluminum referred to as a better conductor than copper or really better than anything electric related. me neither. why would the nec require bigger Al wire for the same ampacity of Cu? i ran # 2 direct burial to a shop/apartment. its on a 125 amp breaker and feeds a 200 amp panel with a 70 amp sub panel for the shop. 6 yrs old, no problems. It is what farmers electric coop told me to do in conjunction with the electrician i used.
Last edited by Poppa; 09/01/21 11:12 PM. Reason: k
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8372082
09/02/21 03:10 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,952
Simple Searcher
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I agree with most here, run it in conduit. Aluminum is good. How long of a run are you doing?
"Man is still a hunter, still a simple searcher after meat..." Robert C. Ruark
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: redchevy]
#8372189
09/02/21 10:36 AM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,572
ducknbass
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Interesting, Ive never heard of aluminum referred to as a better conductor than copper or really better than anything electric related. Because it’s not.
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: redchevy]
#8372206
09/02/21 11:03 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
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BigPig
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Interesting, Ive never heard of aluminum referred to as a better conductor than copper or really better than anything electric related. Maybe conductor wasn’t the wording I was going for. Aluminum for service cable can be just as good as copper, although you’ll have to step up in size some, but it’s lighter and easier to work with being it flexes easier than copper. We had some right turns when going from house to shop, copper would’ve never made those turns.
Wade Dews, REALTOR ® Rendon Realty, LLC Frontline Real Estate Team www.RendonRealty.comWadeDews@gmail.com 214-356-2410 Up to 1% for closing costs for First Responders & Veterans Proudly partnered with Assist The Officer Foundation https://atodallas.org/
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BigPig]
#8372367
09/02/21 01:46 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,952
Simple Searcher
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Interesting, Ive never heard of aluminum referred to as a better conductor than copper or really better than anything electric related. Maybe conductor wasn’t the wording I was going for. Aluminum for service cable can be just as good as copper, although you’ll have to step up in size some, but it’s lighter and easier to work with being it flexes easier than copper. We had some right turns when going from house to shop, copper would’ve never made those turns. I read through your statement of aluminum being a better conductor and I pretty much figured out what you meant, so I left it alone. But pulling aluminum or copper through a conduit that is installed by code (max 360 degree of bends, minimum radius, etc) it makes no difference, they both will pull. Truth be known that the normal insulation on copper, THHN, is much slicker and will pull easier than aluminum. Weight and cost is about the only disadvantage of copper.
"Man is still a hunter, still a simple searcher after meat..." Robert C. Ruark
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8372374
09/02/21 01:52 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,530
PappawRock
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Steve McQueen is one copper that made right turns plenty in Bullitt...
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Re: Electric wire question for Electricians
[Re: BearkatHunter2011]
#8372389
09/02/21 02:00 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 760
RayBob
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PVC conduit is pretty inexpensive And adds a layer of protection to your line. Everything I put in the ground here is in conduit.
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