Help in pullng wires through 1/2 inch EMT

[Ron]

I'm installing a 20 amp outlet across my garage and I'm pulling 3-12 gauge conductors. I have one square 4 inch box on each side of the garage and a

1/2" pulling elbow in the middle of the 40 foot run---so that the wire is not being pulled through more than 270 degrees plus the box kick.

Do I pull the wires from the pulling elbow by first, pulling the wires through one box and completely out the elbow, then running the fish tape though the other box and pulling the wire through the elbow to the box?

Or, do I just pull the wires from one box to the other directly through the elbow?

I tried the first option and I suspect I stripped some of the insulation off of the wires because the hard, clear plastic sheath surrounding the insulation was scraped up.

Any tips on pulling wire would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance

Ron

[bumtracks]

sounds like you're going it alone and might want to put a plastic bushing on the connector in the feed box and some cardboard funneled/shaped/taped to feed that connector so you don't snag any sharp edges on the box and pull it out the SLB then add some cardboard shaped/funneled/taped to the SLB and pull it out the other end. Probably just shove it through rather than pull it if its solid wire ,,, just take your time and you wont need anything but common sense.

[xrongor]

lube the wire with ky jelly. no, seriously.

randy

[Bryan Berguson]

Do what Randy said (ky jelly) or you can get "wire lubricant" from and an electrical supplier. It's made for pulling wires and won't harm them.

[indago]

040819 2131 - Ron posted:

As long as you didn't scrape the insulation off down to the copper the wires should be OK. The clear plastic is a covering over the actual insulation of the wires.

[Ron]

I forgot to mention that I did use wire lubricant.

Ron

[Greg]

In the last few weeks I have pulled about a half mile of wire in a massive renovation project in my home. There is no single easy answer but it is a combination of pulling, pushing and lub. I have been using a vacuum to suck a piece of jet line in for a pull string and right at the end I squirt a little "Yellow 66" in the pipe, letting the vacuum pull it through. Then connect the jet line to the bundle of wire and start pulling from the far end while your helper pushes and squirts in more lub..

[Zypher]

And quite honestly you should have reamed the ends of the cut EMT, would stop the wire stripping. But a plastic entrance bushing would help. I'd pull to the LB, and then pull again from there. It would be easier to get a helper to feed the wire while you pull the fish tape.

[HA HA Budys Here]

If the run is that short and you're using solid conductors, you shouldn't even need a snake, just push the wires through.

[Ron]

Thanks to all who responded. Bumtracks, your advice to use a bushing worked well and I also protected the edges of the box . I found that the clear coating over the insulation was damaged on the second pull at the pulling elbow, but no damage to the insulation itself.

Ha Ha Budys Here, You were right, I was able to push the wires through most of the run.

Ron

[Childfree Scott]

You are using 3 stranded single conductor wires, aren't you?

That romex crap isn't intended to be pulled through condult, even if you strip off the outer jacket.