steel conduit help

[h901]

hi everyone

i've recently started using steel conduit and so far most of the jobs where i've used it have been fairly simple (straight runs). i've got a job that requires quite a few 90 bends to be made (i've bought a hilmor bender and have been practising using it) i've just got a few questions which i'm hoping the members with more experience than me can help with. any other tips and tricks will be very helpful too

1) should the saddles be installed first?

2) how would one connect conduit with a 90 bend to a straight piece, if for example the run is quite long - something like - I________I
is this done before or after fitting it to the wall, as i tried doing it once when it was already fitted to the wall and couldn't get the couplers to hold (before fitting to the saddles), as i was screwing one side on, the other side of the coupler was screwing off the other conduit

3) what are conduit nipples used for exactly?

4) when trying to make a 90 bend at around 1.5m in the conduit, i wasn't able to do it with the hilmor shorty as the conduit hit the floor before the bend reached the correct angle, so instead i cut off the top of the conduit and then re-attached it later with couplers (was this correct)

apologies for the long questions and thanks in advance

 

[Pete999]

hi everyone

i've recently started using steel conduit and so far most of the jobs where i've used it have been fairly simple (straight runs). i've got a job that requires quite a few 90 bends to be made (i've bought a hilmor bender and have been practising using it) i've just got a few questions which i'm hoping the members with more experience than me can help with. any other tips and tricks will be very helpful too

1) should the saddles be installed first?

2) how would one connect conduit with a 90 bend to a straight piece, if for example the run is quite long - something like - I________I
is this done before or after fitting it to the wall, as i tried doing it once when it was already fitted to the wall and couldn't get the couplers to hold (before fitting to the saddles), as i was screwing one side on, the other side of the coupler was screwing off the other conduit

3) what are conduit nipples used for exactly?

4) when trying to make a 90 bend at around 1.5m in the conduit, i wasn't able to do it with the hilmor shorty as the conduit hit the floor before the bend reached the correct angle, so instead i cut off the top of the conduit and then re-attached it later with couplers (was this correct)

apologies for the long questions and thanks in advance

For joining conduit to a piece already in situ, use a running coupler

 

[sam400]

Hello mate

1) yes!
2) spin them together 1st or use a running coupler to join in situ
3) female to female connections
4) bend up!

Hope that helps

Sam

 

[Leesparkykent]

1 saddles should really be screwed to the wall 1st

2 running coupler where it can't be fabricated on the floor then installed or manufacturers bend.

3 1 example is two conduit boxes next to each other. 1 right angle box and a stopend with no conduit in between (two cameras mounted on these boxes side by side for example).

4 turn the stop bar to the bottom and bend upwards.

 

[h901]

Thanks guys, really appreciate the help.

 

[Midwest]

Think that was a have.

 

[Midwest]

For joining conduit to a piece already in situ, use a running coupler

Pete, did you miss this one; pete999 and forum not working - http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/pete999-and-forum-not-working.118581/#post-1240736

 

[Pete999]

Pete, did you miss this one; pete999 and forum not working - http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/pete999-and-forum-not-working.118581/#post-1240736

Missed the one about choice words and going to the bunker, never realised I was that popular

 

[Perci]

I prefer to see a galv through box used instead of a running thread as I don't like seeing any thread on show. This also provides a pulling point to help with wiring

 

[Pete999]

I prefer to see a galv through box used instead of a running thread as I don't like seeing any thread on show. This also provides a pulling point to help with wiring

Neither do I Perci, but there come a time when you have to use a running coupler, why have you stipulated a Galv box?

 

[h901]

Does anybody have a picture of a running coupler? Also where could i get hold of one from. I've searched online and can't find it anywhere. (I usually get steel conduit from TLC or screwfix and can't find any running couplers on their sites)

 

[Flanders]

You don't buy running cupplers you make one. You thred the conduit the length of a coupler plus a lock ring

 

[cliffed]

1 saddles should really be screwed to the wall 1st

2 running coupler where it can't be fabricated on the floor then installed or manufacturers bend.

3 1 example is two conduit boxes next to each other. 1 right angle box and a stopend with no conduit in between (two cameras mounted on these boxes side by side for example).

4 turn the stop bar to the bottom and bend upwards.

I always offer conduit to fixed position,then level up & mark saddles after,& fix.

 

[cliffed]

brill to see conduit back in use,rarely used these days,& I miss it,so much better job,& satisfaction guaranteed.
What job are you using it on,be interested to know.

 

[Pete999]

Does anybody have a picture of a running coupler? Also where could i get hold of one from. I've searched online and can't find it anywhere. (I usually get steel conduit from TLC or screwfix and can't find any running couplers on their sites)

You can't buy the running coupler, you make them yourself as and when you need to.
The running coupler is, if I can explain it in words, as follows. imagine you have to join two pieces of conduit by the running coupler method, and you have a MALE end.
On the piece you wish to join there is also a MALE end, extend this thread by tonjust over the length of a coupler and a locking ring or lock nut.
Run the lock nut on to the long thread until you run out of thread, now run the coupler on, you will be left with a MALE end on the conduit that is fixed to the wall, now install the conduit with the coupler and lock nut until the MALE end and the conduit with the coupler and lock nut meet, now turn the coupler onto the MALE end and then lock it in place with the lockring.

I hope that is understandable

 

[westward10]

Neither do I Perci, but there come a time when you have to use a running coupler, why have you stipulated a Galv box?

Ask for black enamel these days Pete the wholesaler will think you are speaking another language.

 

[Pete999]

Does anybody have a picture of a running coupler? Also where could i get hold of one from. I've searched online and can't find it anywhere. (I usually get steel conduit from TLC or screwfix and can't find any running couplers on their sites)

Mate I seriously hope you haven't been into a wholesaler and asked for one, mind you with some of the Herbert's working in some of them now I doubt if any of them know what a running coupler is, certainly that would be the case in Screwfix, I can just imagine one of the staff running around the stockroom in a panic, "where are the 20mm running couplers kept"

 

[westward10]

I prefer to see a galv through box used instead of a running thread as I don't like seeing any thread on show. This also provides a pulling point to help with wiring

The use of a running coupler is employed because the nature of the system prevents the use of a conduit box.

 

[Wilko]

You can get anything on the net these days

20mm Metal Conduit Coupler - https://quickbit.co.uk/20mm-Metal-conduit-coupler

View attachment 35359

 

[Pete999]

You can get anything on the net these days

20mm Metal Conduit Coupler - https://quickbit.co.uk/20mm-Metal-conduit-coupler

View attachment 35359

Just a bog standard coupler Wilko.