How do you snake a wire through a conduit pipe?

Question

I'm trying to install electrical wires for a pool, and I'm having trouble snaking a wire through a pipe. I put a vacuum on one side of the pipe, and the wire I want to suck through on the other. The wire goes down slightly, but even through the suction, it won't move.

Answer 1

if your going to use a vacuum, you need to suck a string with a mouse(or cigarette cellophane) at the end..You cant vacuum the wire.

There is also fish tape (nylon or steel) you send through the conduit, then neatly hook to the end of.

mail me if you need more info

Answer 2

You use the vacuum to install a pull rope, (polyethylene or nylon),

then you pull in the wire with that. Tape the wire to the end of the rope.

Make a sort of cone with the tape so the wire doesn't hang up.

If it's a long run or has turns, you might lube your wire with a

bit of soap to make it slide easier.

Answer 3

Depending how long the conduit is I found a piece of cork tied to a long length of string and a garden hose.

Turn on the hose and the cork will get to the end once that is done tie your wire to the string and pull through.

If water cannot be used a vacuum cleaner may suffice depending on the lenght you may be better using a compressor.

Answer 4

Believe it or not you get a steel coil called a snake. You push it through the conduit first, tie the wire to it and pull it back through the conduit.

Answer 5

If you cannot complete this simple operation, what makes you think you are qualified to wire a pool; a place where water and electricity meet?

Do you even have a clue where to find the requirements for pool wiring? I thought not. (NEC 680)

Do you know how to properly size the required equipment grounding conductor? How large (horse power) a motor can be, and still be protected (legally) by a GFCI device, other than a circuit breaker? Did the pool salesman tell you "Anybody can do this."; and "You won't need a permit for this."?

Do you know the listing requirements for pool pumps? Are you even aware there are such things to be concerned with? Can you tell by looking at the pump power cord if it is Code (and UL 1081) Compliant? (Must be no longer than 3'm must be no less than #12 AWG, and include a grounding conductor, and must have a MOLDED ON twist-lock connection plug.)

Do you know how to determine what pieces of pool equipment must be made a part of the pool bonding grid (equipotential bonding grid), and what clamps/lugs/fittings you must use to accomplish this?

If not, you are not close to being qualified to do this installation. You have 2 choices here (and neither concerns how to pull the conductors through a raceway); either hire a QUALIFIED, Licensed Electrical Contractor, or increase your insurance coverage before you kill anyone.

I inspect pool wiring almost every day; and find that even really good electricians miss things if they do not install pools regularly. Failure rates for these guys are about 25%. Failure rates for home owners (you get EXACTLY the same inspection as anyone else) are almost 100% for the first inspection, and around 75% for the (first) re-inspection.

Don't take a chance on killing yourself, a family member, a neighbor, or a guest. Take this seriously and hire a qualified pro to do it for you.

You'll thank me, and, you'll sleep better.

Answer 6

Use a plastic baggy and tie a string to it. Then use the vac on it, attach a heavier cord to the string to use to pull the wire.  If that does not work, call a qualified professional electrician.  

Answer 7

go to home depot and look in the electrical section, it is a coil of wire called a "fish tape".... a snake is for plumbing

the electrical inspector's response is truly the right response