Hello. I asked about transfer switch before, and thank you for your advices. Generator is finally here, but the where it is going to be installed has been changed. This is for my parents, by the way, and my mother does not want to lose the view to the generator. It’s been decided to store it in a little storage by the car port. The distance is still about the same, but it involves some turns. And because the cable will follow mostly wood girders and siding (all outside), I want to use metal or pvc (or flex) conduit.
I found I can use fitting called “inside pull corners” to stay close to the house structure. The cable I need to pull is 10/3 romex. I was going to use 1/2″ steel conduit and fittings, but do you think I should go size higher to make the pulling easier? I plan to remove the outside insulation and pull each wire separately.
By the way, if there is a reducer, can I use 3/4 corner fittings, but 1/2″ straight runs? Can I install 4 10 gauge wires in 1/2″ steel conduit?
Thank you in advance.
Replies
To my knowledge it's not legal to strip romex and use the individual wires, since they are not properly marked.
And I'd be skeptical that all four wires would fit (and be "pullable) in 1/2", even without the tight corners.
I like pipe.
Unless you're om ythe Atlantic shoreline, forget about PVC and stick with the thin-wall steel conduit. Since your wall is lilely uneven, you probably want to hang the pipe slightly off the wall with what are called "Mineralac" hangers. That little space made by the hangers also makes your connections to boxes and fittings much easier. Don't worry too much about appearances; a little paint and you forget it's there. (I usually use a cardboard shield and spray paint).
Every pull point MUST remain accessible when the pipe is fully installed; this means you can pretty much forget about those ['inside pull corners,' whatever they are What you want to use are 90 degree 'sweeps' (bent pipe) on the inside corners and "pulling ells" or "LB's" on the outside corners.All fittings should be compression type, rather than set screw. Be careful buying the 'pulling ells,' as some of them will not accept EMT fittings properly; you want to be able to screw the fittings in all the way.
You're allowed a maximum of 360 degrees of total bends between pull points. Do yourself a favor and have more then the minimum number of pull points.
A larger pipe makes for a much easier pull. Larger LB's are easier to pull wire into than the smaller pulling ells. Pay attention to the orientation of the LB's, and your pulls will be easier. You want to have the wire 'come out' the long end, and pull it back into the pipe at the short end.
Forget about Romex in the pipe. There's several reasons that's a bad idea. Instead, as soon as you transition to pipe, have a proper box and make a proper splice of Romex to individual wires. You'll also want to connect the ground wire to the box here, as well as to other ground wires.
That's not much of a generator if you want to use #10. I didn't even know there were 'permanent' generators that small. You might as well just use extension cords when you need temporary power.. If there's any chance of ever wanting more than 30 amps from a larger generator, now is the time to run a larger pipe - at least 1".
You are better off to have the HD/Lowes spool you off a red, black, green and white THHN in the length you need than to use Romex. The price will be comparable and the pull a whole lot easier. It will fit in 1/2" legally but 3/4 is easier to pull.
This sounds like you have a 5500w generator. If you think you are going get a bigger one later, it might be worth going up on the wire size.
One more caution not mentioned by the other guys. You will want to pull all the wires at the same time. You might be able to pull a second one after the first but any more will be impossible. Also, conduit is relatively inexpensive... use at least 3/4" and 1" will be much less frustrating for you.
For crossing the ceiling you could potentially transition to Wiremold or some such.
What Dan said about wiremold,
What Dan said about Wiremold. There are somewhat "attractive" alternatives to conduit.
Or you could enclose the EMT with a nice bit of wood trim if necessary.
When it comes to pulling the wire through the conduit don't forget, like many other things in life, everyone's happier with that special type of lube, available at electrical suppliers.
(But I'd recommend that that stuff not be used for other aspects of life. Unless you're in a tight spot. And it's Saturday night. And you've met with a potentially enjoyable situation....Oh what the heck...give me the bottle....) ;-)
I'll confess that I have used hand cream for pulling wires. Probably not UL approved, though.