Getting 2 x 2.5mm into oval conduit?

[HappyHippyDad]

I am continuing my practising today and am trying to get 2 x 2.5mm into oval conduit. It's not as easy as I thought it would be.

First of all I used some old cable that I had all twisted up ready to be scrapped. No way was this going to go through either the 20mm or the 25mm conduit.

I then tried some new cable so that it wasn't all bent up. This went in fairly well to both 20mm and 25mm, no real difference, but it did take some force at one or 2 points to get it through a 2m length. The whole idea is for me to speed up on a rewire, so I'm just looking for tips for getting the cable through the conduit?

1. Lubrication?
2. 20mm or 25mm?
3. Completely unbent cable?
4. Do different manufacturers have oval conduits with different internal dimensions, or are they pretty much the same?
5. Both cables in at the same time, or one at a time?

Also, I can see how oval conduit helps speed things up if you have one or 2 cables in the drop, but what if it's 3+ cables? Do you then just use a second piece of conduit, larger conduit or go back to capping? If you use a second piece of conduit isn't that going to take longer than one piece of capping?

Wouldn't a piece of trunking be a good idea in a chase? Easy and quick to screw into the chase with concrete screws and you can use 32x16mm trunking if you have lots of cables?

Cheers guys. Back to work on Thursday, so all my practise threads will stop then! ?

 

[Megawatt]

I am continuing my practising today and am trying to get 2 x 2.5mm into oval conduit. It's not as easy as I thought it would be.

First of all I used some old cable that I had all twisted up ready to be scrapped. No way was this going to go through either the 20mm or the 25mm conduit.

I then tried some new cable so that it wasn't all bent up. This went in fairly well to both 20mm and 25mm, no real difference, but it did take some force at one or 2 points to get it through a 2m length. The whole idea is for me to speed up on a rewire, so I'm just looking for tips for getting the cable through the conduit?

1. Lubrication?
2. 20mm or 25mm?
3. Completely unbent cable?
4. Do different manufacturers have oval conduits with different internal dimensions, or are they pretty much the same?
5. Both cables in at the same time, or one at a time?

Also, I can see how oval conduit helps speed things up if you have one or 2 cables in the drop, but what if it's 3+ cables? Do you then just use a second piece of conduit, larger conduit or go back to capping? If you use a second piece of conduit isn't that going to take longer than one piece of capping?

Wouldn't a piece of trunking be a good idea in a chase? Easy and quick to screw into the chase with concrete screws and you can use 32x16mm trunking if you have lots of cables?

Cheers guys. Back to work on Thursday, so all my practise threads will stop then! ?

@happyhippydad yes on the lubricant, yes on the wire being straight, when you say 2 mm or 2.5 mm I would have to say 2.5 mm and pull your cables in at the same time. I also pull a string in each conduit in case I missed something or need it for the future. Have a great day my friend

 

[littlespark]

Not all the answers, but like @Megawatt yes to lube. Fairy liquid is good enough.
All cables in together, the friction of one cable to another is much greater than cable to the inside wall of conduit.

Push through a draw string first.... cable rods, a length of 6491x or something, and another pair of hands, One pulling, one feeding ....

If all else fails, strip off the outer sheath off t&e.
I didn’t just say that

 

[Mike Johnson]

Doesn't Appendix E of the OSG apply to this? if it does then is not the conduit too small?

 

[Mike Johnson]

Have not done the calculations, but is T&E outside dims larger than three single cores, they may be easier to pull through, although may make the work time longer.

Ohhh just thought two live, two neutral and one earth, much reduced c/c. ?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Doesn't Appendix E of the OSG apply to this? if it does then is not the conduit too small?

You love your appendix E Mike! ?
Using singles just isn't going to happen in a domestic situation, it would be great for conduit down the walls but an absolute nightmare to run the rest of it in conduit under floorboards etc.

 

[Mike Johnson]

It's not that difficult. ?

 

[Pete999]

You love your appendix E Mike! ?
Using singles just isn't going to happen in a domestic situation, it would be great for conduit down the walls but an absolute nightmare to run the rest of it in conduit under floorboards etc.

I think he was jesting, at least I hope he was!! Not Been indicated what size oval conduit has it?

 

[Mike Johnson]

Who me jesting never, whatever makes you think that.

 

[Rockingit]

Why I stopped using oval! In the pros -v- cons game, by the time you've threaded the stuff, sat it back in the channel, realised it's a couple of mm too long...... could have done three lots of capping.

 

[telectrix]

easy to get 2 x 2.5's down a 25mm oval. and the propritry clips drilled and fixed saves bashing your fingers, or mortar crumbling when nailing capping.

 

[littlespark]

Do you need 2 x 2.5’s? Just spur one socket off the other.

 

[Dartlec]

Lubrication definitely helps I find - in multiple situations!

This is the proper stuff, though washing up liquid works too - Can still be frustrating though gripping the end when it does come out - probably same for the cable too....?

But cheap oval conduit from Screwfix is a pig to work with I find and bends/crimps itself if not treated with care. Might be worth trying other makes from a wholesaler.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

So.....

How about when you've got 3+ cables, what do you guys use? I guess the vast majority of chases have 1 or 2 cables and will fit into oval, so when you do have 3+ cables you just use capping? Or perhaps larger oval?

 

[littlespark]

Two lengths of oval in a wider chase?

 

[hosepipe]

If your having problems getting cable into conduit -the conduit is too small. Start thinking of other ways around using 2 x 2.5, as suggested make it a spur? reduce cable size along with MCB rating? Or chase out a bit more.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Grow a set of bollox and just push them through a bit of 25mm oval ??

 

[DefyG]

2x 2.5t&e in a 25mm oval should be a breeze over 2m but using shorter lengths sometimes makes life easier.
The key is keeping them straight!

 

[Baddegg]

So.....

How about when you've got 3+ cables, what do you guys use? I guess the vast majority of chases have 1 or 2 cables and will fit into oval, so when you do have 3+ cables you just use capping? Or perhaps larger oval?

Wider chase is my method and 2 lengths of oval

 

[7029 dave]

The art is to keep them straight like off the drum push them down together when it gets tight bash the oval tube against the wall whilst pushing, obviously as the length gets longer you have to stand on steps.

 

[Dustydazzler]

2 x 2.5 easy fits a 20mm oval if both cables are feed through flat

3 x 2.5 easy fits a 25mm oval again cables need to be pushed through flat

 

[Mike Johnson]

Pushed through???? don't any of you use a draw tape?

 

[nicebutdim]

We might not be the smartest people over here, but there's a good reason why our electricians use round conduit for the majority of domestic installations.

It's not expensive, so why not deepen that chase and see the advantages first hand?

 

[DefyG]

Pushed through???? don't any of you use a draw tape?

For a 2m length of oval conduit????

 

[nicebutdim]

The argument over capping and oval conduit is like arguing whether triangular or square wheels are best.

 

[Mike Johnson]

If it makes it easier why not? banging the conduit against a wall and standing on steps does not sound like a 2m length.

 

[7029 dave]

If it makes it easier why not? banging the conduit against a wall and standing on steps does not sound like a 2m length.

Wonnar bet.

 

[Mike Johnson]

7029 dave my reply was to a previous post that questioned using a draw tape.

 

[mattg4321]

No need for a draw tape. 2x 2.5mm2 t&e goes in 25mm oval extremely easily in my experience. Cut it to the correct length and push cables through should take 30 seconds or so. Probably including pushing the conduit back into the chase and cables into box.

 

[Zerax]

If it makes it easier why not? banging the conduit against a wall and standing on steps does not sound like a 2m length.

Yes... but he's only 4'8" !

 

[Pete999]

Yes... but he's only 4'8" !

Use shorter lengths of conduit, say for a 6 ft run use 3x 3ft pieces, you will never rewire in PVC conduit at that sort of length so a joint wont hinder you in any way.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Use shorter lengths of conduit, say for a 6 ft run use 3x 3ft pieces, you will never rewire in PVC conduit at that sort of length so a joint wont hinder you in any way.

I have managed to yank twin & earth cable down existing oval conduit...

 

[Pete999]

I have managed to yank twin & earth cable down existing oval conduit...

Yank being the operative word I guess

 

[westward10]

33 posts on sliding some cables into a tube.

 

[littlespark]

33 posts on sliding some cables into a tube.

Which is half the number of plug vs plugtop

 

[7029 dave]

33 posts on sliding some cables into a tube.

Something to talk about lol

 

[goasis]

Having never used oval tube, just capping, I can't really see the appeal? What's the advantage, sounds like a hassle.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Oval conduit installed neatly is re-wirable and also offers a bit of protection all round the cable

I only use cable capping on new block work

 

[Ziggie]

Who me jesting never, whatever makes you think that.

Your nickname “jester” was a clue

 

[Mike Johnson]

Your nickname “jester” was a clue

And it took you three page's to think that up. ?