An electrical conduit is a name given to durable tubing or some different forms of enclosures, the function of which is to protect electrical wiring conductors while simultaneously providing them with a route.
Conduits are needed in areas where wires could be damaged or are exposed and can be made from either plastic or metal, and be either very rigid or extremely flexible.
If you are intending to have an outdoor location wired for your business, one of the things that will need to be taken into consideration is the underground conduit type that you should use.
These wires often come in a sheath coating that are simple to have secured to joists and wall studs, but which make it far too easy to cut the plastic coating and wires by accident. The good news is there are a number of different options to choose from in regards to underground conduits.
There are a number of traditional choices for underground conduit wiring types, including the PVC Conduit, Electrical Metal Tubing, Flexible Metal Conduit and the Rigid Metal Conduit.
PVC Conduit
PVC conduits are often made use of in locations that are very wet, in addition to underground areas. They come with their own sets of connectors, couplings, elbows and fitters and are simple to put together via PVC glue. PVC conduits are safe because they are non-conductive.
Electrical Metal Tubing
Electrical Metal Tubing is often utilized when working inside walls, being simple to bend and very lightweight. However, it can be risky to use underground or on outside walls as it is quite easy to damage.
Flexible Metal Conduit
Flexible metal installation examples include the likes of attic vents and water heaters, with the conduit best utilized in areas that have tight spaces and narrow bends. It is tougher to bend than is the case with other conduits on account of its physical features.
Rigid Metal Conduit
Rigid Metal Conduits are a great choice for use in more extreme environments. This conduit needs to be threaded in the end, which can make for a more difficult installation as well as adding greater expense than is the case with most other options. Rigid Metal Conduits are a type of tubing made from very heavy duty galvanised steel .This type of conduit can provide protection from most forms of damage and is also able to support the structure of the likes of electrical cables and many other forms of equipment including panels. Rigid Metal Conduits come with both ends threaded and is available in lengths of both ten and twenty foot.
Intermediate Metal Conduit
Intermediate metal conduit is tubing that is manufactured out of a more lightweight and thinner type of rigid metal conduit and can be used in the great majority of the same applications, but is now more commonly made use of within new construction because of it being much lighter and thus a good deal simpler to use.
Fibreglass is The New Option for Conduits
Although the traditional methods are still very much in vogue, a new option for underground conduits has emerged in recent years in the form of fibreglass conduits.
The popularity of this conduit has been growing due to the benefits that are not offered by other types of conduits, including being protected against corrosion and the fact that it will never rot.
Fibreglass is also resistant to fire and extreme temperatures from -40 degrees Fahrenheit all the way up to 230 degrees Fahrenheit.
This material does not include chlorines or halogen and so is non-toxic, and is also non-conductive and chemically inert, making it resistant to most fuels and chemicals and very safe to use.
The thermal expansion rate of fibreglass conduits is similar to that of RMC but unlike RMC has no threading of joints, with the ends able to be used for simple push-fit assembling. It can also come with a full group of fittings and elbows.
The inner walls of fibreglass conduits tend to be very smooth, meaning there is no need for concern over burn-through, even in circumstances where long cables may be being pulled through the underground conduit.
The lightweight nature of fibreglass makes such conduits easier to install, with a rigid metal conduit that is similarly strong weighing almost three times as much. It is also a good deal cheaper to install than is the case with PVC conduits or even rigid metal conduits, and is also less costly in terms of both maintenance and labour requirements.
Underground conduits made of fibreglass are affordable and effective and many experts now see them as being the best choice.
Conduits serve to protect and provide routes for electrical wiring conductors and care needs to be taken over what types to use, particularly in underground locations.