cables blocked in corrugated tube  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: mike_mike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 04:56:19 pm
content: Hello! My problems is the following: I have a 25mm diameter and 5m length corrugated tube installed into concrete. I tried to introduce from one end to the another end of the tube 3 cables: one UTP cat 6, one coaxial cable for tv and a 3x1mmp cable for powering a router. When I installed the cables into the tube, the cables blocked and I used wd40 to lube at both ends in order to pull out the cables.If I install now only 2 cables: the UTP cat 6 one and the coaxial one, then the WD40 that remained into the tube can harm the 2 cables ?

author: strawberry
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 05:03:42 pm
content: insert wire puller wire

author: mike_mike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 05:22:51 pm
content: Quote from: strawberry on October 17, 2022, 05:03:42 pmI used wire puller wire. But the cables blocked at the tube bend.Now I managed to pull them out, but I don't know if WD-40 does any harm to coaxial cable (triple shielded) and UTP cat 6 ?I found that the coaxial cable (triple shielded) have Polyvinyl chloride coating and the UTP cat 6 have fire retardant pvc coating.

author: strawberry
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 05:54:22 pm
content: WD-40 may evaporate. dont know what it will do to plastics(oils might make softer). not saw problems with it... except acetone, gasoline,..

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 06:26:56 pm
content: I would not use WD40. What you want is cable pulling lubricant available at every home improvement store. It is basically a soap emulsion. Some leave a residue, which is no big deal. I typically use the Ideal brand or a yellow paste for which I don't remember the name. Most recently, I tried a spray foam by Klein tools. It worked OK for pulling Romax through holes in rafters, but when I pull wires through conduit (as you are doing), I think I would go with a gel or paste.Remember it is easier to pull cooked spaghetti than to push it. Same goes for wires.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 06:31:32 pm
content: OP, you're supposed to use cable soapWD-40 is mostly kerosene (jet fuel) and no good for many plastics. But it does evaporate fast, so if the conduit has some airflow allowing it to evaporate. It does have a tiny amount of some mineral oil in it as I recall.If you bolt on the covers and trap the liquid in there, it will attack the cable's plastics.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 07:22:57 pm
content: Quotewhich of course we all use,never a bit of fairy liquid or the tallow we use when cutting conduit

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 08:10:37 pm
content: use SCH 40 1.5" conduit, 45..90 deg sweep at bends.The gradual curve allows many cables to turn the corner.jon

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2022, 09:20:09 pm
content: Quoteor ,as we do in the uk have a minimum bend radius of 2.5 x the pipe diameter

author: SmallCog
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 02:24:33 am
content: I'd use a draw sting to pull some fabric wadding through, try and remove a bunch of the WD40Use the correct cable lube when you do it again.If you have trouble you could consider using PoE to power the router rather than having to pull the power cable through.Around here you're not permitted to run power cables and data cables in the same conduit although standards obviously differ throughout the world

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 02:36:53 am
content: klein tool sells a cable pulling gelI would not worry about residual WD40 in the tube, but you can flush it with alcohol or something if you really need toWill it really attack cables? I never heard of a small amount of grease deteriorating plastics. If its clear plastic maybe, but I thought it was PVC safe.ima coil up a piece of PVC wire and leave it in a vial of WD40 and see what happens.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 04:19:39 am
content: Another issue is that Ethernet cable can get damaged if pulled on hard. Apparently the twists get stretched and ruined which causes problems with data errors.I've read it shows up on long runs and nobody really notices the errors, just slower data rate and lots of retries but you have to dig for those stats.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 06:02:45 am
content: "sweep" is a larg radius bend tube eg 1.5" dia tube with 15" bend rad.In USA NEC, telco etc you may NOT combine mains power 120/240 in same condut as signal, cable, telcoCheck you local electr code, go to an electrical distrub for SCH 40 sweepsj

author: Terry Bites
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 06:33:02 pm
content: Tallow. Mmmmm

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 06:53:37 pm
content: Think of the bugs. It's for the ants and cockroaches to eat lol. Funny that mice and rats eat car wiring (soy-based insulation) nowadays.

author: mike_mike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 06:54:46 pm
content: I tried using a piece of cloth tied up to the puller wire, and I pulled the piece of cloth from one end to the another end of the tube. Then I changed the cloth and repeated the process 2 more times.The first time, the piece of cloth was a little wet with wd40, the second and 3rd time was not so wet.How many days should I wait for the wd40 to evaporate until I can pull again the wires ? This time I will pull only 2 wires the coaxial one and the cat6 network cable.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 06:58:45 pm
content: You can blast compressed air in the conduit to increase airflow for the stuff to evaporate.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 08:43:38 pm
content: Sorry i am just curious how using WD40 became an idea to pull cables through a conduit...

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 08:47:41 pm
content: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fdullhunk%2F7214525854&psig=AOvVaw2FWtcCAATwolL2MirVm8BR&ust=1666212421884000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAgQjRxqFwoTCNisoIzT6voCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 09:11:33 pm
content: Quote from: floobydust on October 18, 2022, 06:58:45 pmJust don't try using a vacuum cleaner.

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 09:17:44 pm
content: The cables are through. Call it a day and live with it. Worst scenario is that you need to replace cables in a few years. By then it will be easier as you just use the existing cables to pull the new ones. These should be excessively wetted in liquid soap as used for manual dish washing. Never had problem with that and it really helps.Next time you build a house, use a bigger tube!

author: richnormand
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 09:22:35 pm
content: Quote from: Gyro on October 18, 2022, 09:11:33 pmWD-40 fumes can be explosive so vacuum cleaner is a no-no unless in reverse mode (blowing).If a leaf blower is available I would put it against the conduit for a few minutes. Whatever is left from the wd-40 would be quickly vapourised and diluted.Just give it a smell test afterwards.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 09:32:27 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on October 18, 2022, 08:43:38 pmI remember an episode of the American animated comedy "King of the Hill" where Mr Hill had difficulty using the wrong key to open a lock.He tried to open his spray can of WD-40, but it was stuck, so he pulled out his pocket bottle of WD-40 to unstick the lid on the big can before spraying the key.There is a theory that any mechanical problem can be solved with a Vise-GripsTMpliers, a hammer, duct tape, and WD-40.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 09:46:49 pm
content: And, "if a hammer doesn't work, you need a bigger hammer." Said a carpenter friend of mine.

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 09:54:36 pm
content: Sometimes, in the past, I've had to pull things through buried regular standard conduit both straight and corrugated combined with various types of sweeping bends. What can happen is the person who places the pipe can be heavy handed with the pipe glue and a big bubble of glue lays inside the pipe near a joint.When you come along later to rod the pipe, you awaken the skinned glue and then smear it along the inside of the pipe and on whatever is being poked through. Not nice.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 10:06:44 pm
content: Quote from: richnormand on October 18, 2022, 09:22:35 pmThis forum definitely needs an international humour emoji.

author: Messtechniker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 10:11:17 pm
content: My experience with cable conduits:they are never big enough.Even when planned by professionals.See for example, the new Berlin Brandenburgairport (BER) amongy many others.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 10:18:13 pm
content: My experience with conduits embedded in concrete floors for radiation cells is that the builders are perfectly capable to fill the conduit pipes with concrete before we had a chance to pull cables.

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 10:25:11 pm
content: Quote from: TimFox on October 18, 2022, 10:18:13 pmYou put on temporary risers, you tape it all up and secure it back."There's no way they'll get concrete in that.."

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2022, 11:53:35 pm
content: Quote from: Ed.Kloonk on October 18, 2022, 10:25:11 pmFools are infinitely ingenious.

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2022, 02:35:21 am
content: Quote from: TimFox on October 18, 2022, 11:53:35 pmOne concreter I knew, with that hose, I've wondered if he thought he was putting out fire with it.Back when video pipe inspection was still fairly new and cumbersome, I got asked by a home owner to hire and supervise a pipe inspection of a failed ducted vacuum system installation.These are 2" pipes and sure enough somewhere under the floor the pipe was 1" off-center at a join and there was concrete in the pipe. The ducted vacuum company had sub-contracted the placement of the ducting during construction stage so that the company boss could just come in, prance around, finish off the outlets and hang the machine itself. Very lazy.Long story short, when we tracked down the fitter fellow, he said "who the Hell uses primer on joints anyway?" Up in the roof we found a joint we could easily get to, wrenched both ends and sure enough, fell apart. When they poured the concrete, the pipe in the ground didn't stand a chance.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2022, 03:00:08 am
content: I have seen evidence of insulation degradation by oils/greases on very old equipment that got generously lubed at some point in its life. The type of degradation varies with the materials involved and includes softening and swelling, getting hard and brittle and simple discoloration. But this is in gear that has been aging for several decades. And in spite of the visual evidence of degradation the equipment was still working fine. I strongly suspect that you won't see any issues in your application before the cable becomes so obsolete that it is abandoned or replaced.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2022, 05:07:31 am
content: yeah but that applies thick, how thin is a layer of WD40 ? That stuff trickled down and left a very thin film. I think you would need a strong contact layer.. its like waterEven 3-in-1 oil is alot thicker then WD40 and thats way too thin for machinery applications