|
1 members (Scott35),
369
guests, and
38
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,233
Member
|
Talk about memory lane, when TW was just about over and THHN was the new wire on the block, 1 supply house I knew put all of it's TW wire on sale to get rid of it. My boss (who could never pass up a bargain", bought all the TW that they had. It was about 100 boxes. There were some #14 and #12 ga wire but most was #10 ga and I believe he bought that back in the 80's. I bet he still has some. I had to move those boxes more times than I want to remember.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
|
wewire, thanks for the link. Those look like a great way to solve the problem...and they're available at the ECN Store too! Talking about memory lane, when landed my first job with an EC, the very first 2 weeks I spent alone untangling a mountain of boxed TW that the crew had grabbed the wrong end to pull. If you didn't pull from the center, it ended up with a rat's nest within a few feet. I was hungry to learn, and about the only thing I learned from that chore was my colors, and to always pull from the center 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 244
OP
Member
|
Speaking of boxed TW, On direct orders from the wife I just
sent 2 boxes to the local building materials resale charity
along with other items that have been sitting in my shop for
ages. I always thought it was #10 or 12 but upon inspection it turned out to
be #14. Forgot about that amazingly THICK insulation!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,273
Member
|
The last TW I saw -- installed, it was -- was so thick I thought I was looking at off color #10 THHN.
Nope.
Just Orange #12 TW.
That panel must be sixty-years old, by now.
Tesla
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,498
Member
|
You still get H07V wire (single PVC isolated conduit singles) either in cardboard boxes or just in shrinkwrap here. If the boxes fall apart, God help you!
Only last week I untangled a huge rats nest of blue 1.5 mm2 wire (the two ends had gotten tangled during the pull).
Cords and cables are usually sold shrinkwrapped (50 and 100 m rolls) or on heavy wooden spools (500 m).
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,233
Member
|
Talk about the old TW wire. Many years ago when I was an apprentice, I had to do a very long underground pull with about 8-12 #10 TW wires. My old boss was determined to use that old wire. Well, I almost lost the family jewels trying to pull that crap through a 1" PVC pipe. ( I am trying to remember cause this happened in the '80s.)
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,931 Likes: 34
Member
|
Did you have plenty of "soap"? I notice when pulling cat 5 and coax with a similar PVC jacket that the "77" really makes a huge difference. Compared to that the nylon jacket on THHN is real easy to pull.
I have found that if you use your vacuum to suck some lube through the pipe from both ends before you start helps a lot.
You usually jam at the turn up it seems, so sucking some lube in from the far end is handy.
Greg Fretwell
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,233
Member
|
Greg, I think we went through a gallon or two of lube. However pulling almost a dozen #10 ga wire. (Which I forgot to mention was solid, not stranded)through the pipe was pretty tough.  We were at a beach and we were wiring up light poles for the swim lanes. We also had to be very careful, because we were working over water. One slip and you dropped your pliers down into the lake.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,382 Likes: 7
Member
|
On the subject of lube, the guy who came up with the 'SimPull' coating hit a real homerun.
Guys over here love the parallel reels, the made-up pull head, the ease of the pull. Multi solid color insulation. Heck, they even had 750KCMil Green. Really looks impressive when neatly installed in cable tray.
Gave me thoughts of getting my tools out!!
John
|
|
|
|
Posts: 4,294
Joined: December 2000
|
|
|
|
