Conduit for New house

[Pulsar]

I am looking for an extremely inexpensive FLEXIBLE conduit to wire a new house for ethernet. The drywall is not in yet. I do NOT want to put in any solid type PVC or metal conduit. Is there an option out there for this sort of conduit to be purchased inexpensively in bulk?

 

[Matthias99]

maybe something like a dryer vent (don't know the technical name for the stuff)? Dirt cheap and flexible...

That said, why does it have to be flexible? I'd think PVC would hold up better, and it's pretty damn cheap too...

 

[ZeroNine8]

There is plastic electrical conduit (the electrician called it "Smurf tube" since it was bright blue) but it is basically about 3/4" diameter and fairly rigid (ribbed plastic sort of like vacuum cleaner hose). You can get fittings that will connect it to standard outlet boxes and everything. This sounds like pretty much what you're looking for, I'd check at any hardware or home improvement store back with electrical wiring and conduit.

 

[Kwatt]

Originally posted by: LsDPulsar
I am looking for an extremely inexpensive FLEXIBLE conduit to wire a new house for ethernet. The drywall is not in yet. I do NOT want to put in any solid type PVC or metal conduit. Is there an option out there for this sort of conduit to be purchased inexpensively in bulk?

ZeroNine8 Called it.


Smurf tubing if you need flexible. It comes in 10 ft. sections. If your using boxes try to use 4 11/16's sq.
Think about 1" instead of 3/4". I never heard anyone say "I wished I had used smaller conduit".

It can be difficult to get a cable or a "fish" steel in smurf tubing if the runs are very long or have a lot of bends.
So use "duct" tape on the coulpings and connectors. To help make the tubing as airtight as possible.


If you want flexible metal you can use "greenfield" rolls of 25ft. ,50ft. ,100ft....etc.

I think putting conduit in the walls is a good idea if you ever get fiber optic to your house you'll be ready.
I would use 1' EMT conduit in my house if I were building or doing a major remodel. But thats just me.


Kwatt

 

[JCROCCO]

A conduit is not needed, and no code requires it. If your trying to protect it, even plastic can be cut or nailed into.

I would just run it like phone wire. As long as your not exerting more than 20psi when pulling/routing, it will be fine.

Buy the kind where you install the connectors yourself, very easily doable. Before terminating, check wires for continuity first.

Even if a nail was near it, it usually will move out of the way as long as its not "sandwiched", just route carefully.

 

[JackMDS]

General info about home Wiring.

Link to: Wiring - I would like to wire my Networked Computers (Home Wiring).

 

[dnoyeb]

Why are you using conduit if you are putting the wiring in the walls? Conduit is for exposed wiring.

 

[ScottMac]

Conduit makes it easy to add / change cabling later.

Smurf is a good way to go.

Something like this

Ends, boxes, clamps, etc...

There are a number of manufacturer's of this stuff. If you're pulling around a lot of corners, the corrugated stuff ( the "vacuum cleaner hose") works best ... it has less contact area, resulting in less drag.

If at all possible, get stuff with pull-tape ("mule tape") already installed; it'll save a bunch of headaches with a fish tape.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[Pulsar]

Thanks guys!

Oh, and for giving me a hand, I'll give you guys one. If you ever build a house, RUN CONDUIT. You will NEVER need to fish a line again.

Inflate a balloon to just fill the conduit, and tie a piece of high test fishing line to it. Then go to the other end of the conduit, and use your shopvac to suck the balloon through.

=).

 

[ScottMac]

Badmitten shuttlecocks work too (the "Birdies").

The orange stuff in my links already have mule tape installed. The important this to remember is when you pull the cable through PULL ANOTHER MULE TAPE WITH IT (for the next "upgrade")

FWIW

Scott

 

[Marty22]

FYI - maybe before you do so.. You should check with city and state codes. I cable for a living, some places are more strict then others. I find the cheapest way to run cable is not to put in anything. If later when the drywall is in place and a cable isn't working. I use that cable as a pull string and pull a new one(or more) in place. Best of luck.. :light:

 

[tricon23]

I am A Master Electrician and use ENT all the time. The 10' lenghts and boxes are available at Home Depot. But if you need longer runs 250' + 1000' spools are availiable at your local electrical supply house. Here is the wesite.

http://www.carlon.com/Home.html