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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 106
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Hello everyone. I have a quick question. I have at work a 1200 amp buss that is fed with 500 mcm cables in 3" conduit. 3 cables per phase. This install was put in about 2 years ago by a contractor. Last week one of the wires all of a sudden went to ground between the tap box and the switch gear. My only theory is that it must of been nicked during the install, and as we loaded the buss over time it finally broke down. Would anyone agree with this theory. Now I have to pull out all 3 cables of the B phase which is 190 feet, 2 90's, and 2 30 degree offsets!! Any suggestions or tricks to make this easy. I do have a pull box right before the switch gear. I am not looking forward to this!! Any advise will help. I am going to rent a tugger!!!!
Never trust an electrician with no eyebrows!!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,390 Likes: 1
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A nick is possible. A defect in the wire is possible. Degradation over time is possible.
No point in trying to fix it ... cut to the chase, and replace ALL the conductors in that pipe,
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 947
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Pull out all three cables of the B phase? Hopefully, they're not in the same conduit.
Anyway, if a conductor is pressed very hard against a wall of a box or edge of a conduit, it can compress the insulation to the point of failure.
My advice for the pull is to use lots of lube and get lots of help.
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 812
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Hmm, maybe Scott/Electure can lend 'ya an elephant.   Ian A.
Is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 421
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B phase is bad? are you just saying that the center pipe is the problem ?.
..if this is in the slab pour some lube into the pipe at both ends..then pull only one cable at a time. pick a cable, serve on a clove hitch and several half hitches close to the pipe take the free end of the cable and make a loop in it to keep the rope from flying off..now the hard part.
someone will have to make sure the now looped cable stays looped, use an open, gloved, hand to do this, slowly put pressure on the pulling rope with the tugger, release the pressure, re-apply pressure, release ..until the cable starts to move..keep the loop closed..DO NOT STAND in front of the rope.be sure you are to the side ..pull the cable out as straight as possible. make sure that everyone involved is on the same page !
You may only need to rig the tugger once, after the first cable is out the others might just come out by hand
Tom
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 106
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No, what I mean is the B phase in one of the pipes is shorted. I will have to pull all 3 cables out of the EMT.
Never trust an electrician with no eyebrows!!
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 421
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Ok. so this run is above grade
try to put as much lube on the first wire you pull out, years ago we would use Ivory Snowflakes and a bit of water, but now that's frowned on
Tom
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Lostazhell
Bakersfield, CA (Originally Orange Co.)
Posts: 1,438
Joined: February 2004
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