Manifold Advantages of Using Electrical Conduit NZ Wiring

As and when you have plans to install conduit electrical wires and cables in your home, garage shed, or barn, you first have to take a call on what type of wiring to be used for the chosen job. Certain types of wires may come enclosed with a sheath coating. This means that these can be fixed on the wall studs. Such kinds of electrical conduit NZ wires that are enclosed in the same sheath are risk-prone to damage if it comes in contact with anything sharp.

For such applications, the available option is using single strands of electrical wire that can be pulled in metal conduit. Single strands of wires thus attached with the conduit can add numerous wires from one electrical box to the other. However, you will have to choose the correct option for a specific application as per the National Electrical Code as electrical conduit nz come in different styles, from fairly strong construction to extremely rigid.

Conduits that are used to run electrical wiring in exposed locations in and around your home come in many types and their selection is application-specific. For your homes you could have a requirement of conduit to the inside of the walls to facilitate pulling additional circuits through the existing conduit runs at later times, choice of a conduit has to be specific to application.

Stranded or solid wires, either THHN or THWN are usually pulled through the conduit. The size of the conduit electrical wires chosen for a specific application may vary, depending on the amount of amperage needed to supply the point you are feeding, and this, in turn, determines the specifications of the conduit to be used.

The electrical conduit NZ used for outdoor applications must be rated for that purpose. Different varieties of conduits in use are as follows:

PVC conduit is preferred for underground and wet location applications. Such conduits are equipped with PVC fittings, connectors, couplings, and elbows since these are easy to attach with a cleaner and PVC glue. Moreover, the PVC conduit being non-conductive, these could be installed to run a green ground wire in the conduit for proper grounding methods at connection points.
Flexible metal conduit is preferred to be used in areas that have restricted bends and limited space since it would be difficult to use regular conduits in such enclosed areas. Water heaters and attic vents are good examples of places where the flexible conduit installation can be most useful.
EMT conduits are easy to carry, easy to bend, and can be installed within the walls. However, they are prone to easy damage, unlike IMC or rigid conduit.
IMC conduit is galvanized and thicker that makes it a better choice for outdoor installations. Such conduits are also a good choice for exposed walls in basements, garages, outbuildings, and in those areas where the conduits are prone to damage easily.
Rigid metal conduit, the most robust and heaviest of all conduit electrical wires can be used to run them under driveways and numerous other areas with extreme conditions. Rigid conduit threaded on the end is pricier as compared to other categories of conduits. Rigid conduits are the preferred choice of many utility companies since their use could ensure much better protection to the wiring and will also be able to withstand any natural condition including problems because of harsh wind, falling branches, and storm damage. Many applications require such electrical conduit Auckland to run through the roof for a safe and secure installation.

Suitability of PVC Electrical Conduit NZ for Outdoor Applications

Can we even think of our life without electricity? Of course not. It is so normal for us to plan the availability and distribution of electricity at all desired points while designing any commercial building, home, office, factory, or any shop, etc. Electric cables and wires are installed in a manner to ensure the availability of power at all points of service. Since it is cumbersome and difficult to run these cables and wires all over the building, it is best to fix appropriate conduit electrical over the surface of the walls to route these cables and wires to the points of service in an organized manner.

Such flexi conduit can either be fixed over the surface of the walls or run through inside of the walls. Besides these functional advantages obtained using these conduits, another major benefit of these is the maintenance of the aesthetics of the building. It is to be noted that the specifications of the conduits to be used are determined by the size and weight of the electric wires to be used.

The number of options available in Electrical Conduit NZ includes:

PVC conduits: This category of flexible cable conduit is considered best for outdoor applications since these are light in weight and versatile in applications. PVC conduits are available in different grades and suited for direct burial or above groundwork. These conduits are also used for different electrical requirements because they are flexible, durable, and corrosion-resistant.

Flexible PVC conduit systems are available at electrical stores with special fittings and are suitable for an extensive range of applications. While flexible conduit offers great protection from dampness because of its inbuilt mechanical properties, yet they are preferred to be used in dry places. Normal flexible conduit fittings are not as watertight as fittings for rigid PVC conduits. Flexible PVC conduits are also of the lighter gauge than rigid wall conduit and that calls for their use in above-ground applications.

Solid wall, rigid PVC conduit is suited in applications application that requires conduits for electrical or plumbing applications. The materials used to make a rigid flexible electrical conduit can also be connected with watertight, removable fittings, or glued together using PVC cement. It is the rigidity of these types of PVC conduits that makes it suitable for use in applications, both above and below ground. However, in underground applications, it is advisable to lay a significantly bigger pipe as compared with the required pipe diameter.

Things to consider before the application

Normally, above-ground conduits are used to route electrical wiring and cables to ensure the protection of the wiring against physical damage. It is, therefore, possible to use both flexible and rigid conduits for above ground applications. It is recommended that while using a flexible conduit, the materials should be anchored every 12 to 16 inches to prevent the electrical conduit Auckland from sagging to avoid wires within from getting tangled.

The use of rigid wall PVC conduit implies a higher degree of expansion and contraction with varying temperature conditions. Therefore, for above ground applications, PVC conduit should be mounted with friction fit fasteners to factor movement caused by expansion and contraction.

For underground applications, solid wall PVC conduit electrical is highly recommended. Since PVC materials do not corrode, the materials remain stable at all temperatures. For fixing of communication and power cables, conduits of bigger diameters are required to enable pulling through the buried tubing. Typically below ground conduits are minimum of two inches in diameter.

A number of electrical conduit NZ can be bundled together and directly into the earth for applications that require a large number of wires to be pulled between buildings. For industrial and commercial applications, PVC conduits are buried and encased in concrete.

A Detailed Guide of Electrical Conduit NZ for Homeowners

Conduit is used to give protection channels to the electrical wire. It may come in metal or plastic as per the choice. The channel that joins the conduit pieces is known as the Raceway. In a typical domestic wiring system, the cables are generally insulated and go through the walls or ceilings without a conduit. One of the main objectives of the electrical conduit Auckland is protection from physical damage or moisture so it is commonly used in the places where circuit wires are exposed.

Electrical Conduit Auckland Installation

Usually a conduit electrical contains at least two separate insulated wires. This is a primary factor that determines distinction from the cable, which is protected usually in protective armor. Cables are not run through conduits.

The most common installation for raceway includes the conduit, boxes, connectors, and its fittings. A flexible metal ribbon called a fish tape is used by electricians to install individual wires. It is normally a pull or fish technique.

Every type of conduit has its own characteristics, which consists of fittings and connectors. Fittings include components that are more like plumbing fittings like elbows, tees, and couplings. It supports to extend or change the direction of the conduit run. Some of the fittings consist of pull points which nothing but access provided to the conduit’s interior to easily pull wires when required.

Electrical Metallic tubing

EMT or more commonly known as electrical metallic tubing is the most common type of conduit used in exterior or exposed installations. It is generally done in basements, garages, or workshops. It comes in ½ inch diameter and is also referred to as a thin wall because it is very easy to bend with a conduit bender.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) also permits the use of EMT in wet locations but with waterproof fittings and connectors. When properly installed, the EMT raceway can very easily serve as a circuit ground path can be used in place of a separate ground wire running inside the conduit.

Rigid metal conduit and Intermediate metal electrical conduit NZ

For more rigid outdoor structure applications the rigid metal conduit and the intermediate metal conduit are used. If your home has overheard service wires then the pipe extending to the roof must be RMC or IMC. These types of electrical conduit nz are responsible to protect the wiring going in and out of the breaker box.

Both RMC and IMC can be used interchangeably. But being light and flexible to work makes IMC a preferred choice over RMC these days. NEC permits the use of both RMC and IMC conduits in conditions ranging from dry, wet, and corrosive in nature. In general, they are joined with connectors and fittings.

Flexible metal conduit

Flexible metal conduit (FMC) is also known as “Greenfield”. It is used primarily used in residential circuits like for the connection of garbage disposers and hot water heaters. FMC can only be used in dry locations only and has to be supported on every 4 ½ feet within 12 inches of the electrical box. It can only be applied as a ground path only with certified fittings where the system is flexible even after installation.

Rigid polyvinyl chloride

Rigid polyvinyl chloride (RPC) is another type of conduit much similar to the PVC used in plumbing available at electrical stores. The major difference is that it is a bit thinner than the latter. It is very flexible and heat can be applied to it to change the route of the fitting. Similar to PVC connections in RPC is also glued with a solvent which further helps in waterproofing of the raceway. This quality makes it possible for use in both outdoor and underground applications. Being non-conductive this type of electrical conduit A is not suitable for the ground path.