Pulling 16mm SWA through 150 M of conduit?

[1Justin]

Would you attempt to pull 16mm SWA through 150M of existing underground conduit?

A potential job I have taken a look at. I would need to be very sure I could get it through before shelling out £££ on that much cable! (- I already advised the Customer it would have made much more sense to install a cable before filling the trench!).

Facts:
-Conduit was laid about 1 year ago. It is 50mm dia corrugated plastic type, laid in 3 sections of 50M. - I have no idea of the quality and continuity of the two joints, but the Customer will ask the contractor who laid it in.
-Conduit ~ 600mm deep through a semi-wooded garden, no special precautions such as gravel layer or warning tapes.
-Laid pretty straight for first ~60M, then takes a gentle curve perhaps 20 foot radius and turns total about 60 degrees before the end.
-String is through already to start proceedings, so I would be investing first in lots of cord, and a damn great length of blue rope.
-150M of 16mm will weigh about 150Kg!
- I also am aware it only takes a little bit of mud to make a nice plug!


Questions:
Termination for cable nose and ways to stop it snagging?
Friction being the enemy, - so Lubrication?
Best way to fix cable to rope?
Will I need a tractor ...??? (- AKA how hard can you pull safely?)
I haven't seen any longer than 100M from distributors. - Can longer single lengths be got?

Homework:
Ongoing decision as to whether I can get away with 16mm anyhow, but that's work in progress, and not my question here.

 

[JD6400]

If a couple of labours can get enough purchase on a bit of rope to stretch that piece of armoured I will eat my hat !!! I am not talking about yanking the hell out of it , and assume a modicum of sense is being applied to the pull and the cable is correctly secured , having said that .

 

[iamelectric]

i would say the water pipe is a major problem as ur draw rope was prob pulled in with the pipe its more than likely wrapped round the pipe throughout the ducting if it is u will have no chance of pulling the swa thru

 

[DPG]

i would say the water pipe is a major problem as ur draw rope was prob pulled in with the pipe its more than likely wrapped round the pipe throughout the ducting if it is u will have no chance of pulling the swa thru

Same trench, not same ducting. Edit: At least that's what I assumed. Perhaps not. Daz

 

[Octopus]

Yes please do. - Provided you bring your running spikes and leather gloves.

I was thinking more of a thermos of coffee and something to read!

 

[Silly Sausage]

I was thinking more of a thermos of coffee and something to read!

and a video camera!

 

[1Justin]

Edited- I was talking nonsense but can't delete this message. Blah Blah.
Mine is black no sugar. Ta...

 

[HandySparks]

Since the cable will be down there in 100% humidity anyhow, maybe not a practical problem...

OK, since water's been mentioned, if the ducting is lying at low level or the ends are upturned and not capped, there's a fair chance of some water in the duct. This leads me to ask whether anyone's tried deliberately filing a duct with water before pulling a cable through. It would provide some lubrication (although not as good as a proper lubricant) and, maybe more importantly, it would reduce the effective weight of the cable. Any thoughts?

 

[telectrix]

OK, since water's been mentioned, if the ducting is lying at low level or the ends are upturned and not capped, there's a fair chance of some water in the duct. This leads me to ask whether anyone's tried deliberately filing a duct with water before pulling a cable through. It would provide some lubrication (although not as good as a proper lubricant) and, maybe more importantly, it would reduce the effective weight of the cable. Any thoughts?

sounds a bit wet to me.

 

[Guest55]

not read the whole thread , understandably at 5 pages long , but i'd want an access point left dug open every 20-30 mtrs.
trying 150mts in a single pull would be insane.

 

[High Tower]

If a couple of labours can get enough purchase on a bit of rope to stretch that piece of armoured I will eat my hat !!! I am not talking about yanking the hell out of it , and assume a modicum of sense is being applied to the pull and the cable is correctly secured , having said that .

Unroll 150m of 16mm 3 core on a carpark, get hold of one end and pull like hell, feel the give and back lash in the cable, that's with only one person try then a couple. It's easily possible to destroy the cable in this situation.

 

[chronyx]

I'm in Surrey too, on the basis that you try and pull the SWA through can I come and watch?

Me too

 

[JD6400]

Unroll 150m of 16mm 3 core on a carpark, get hold of one end and pull like hell, feel the give and back lash in the cable, that's with only one person try then a couple. It's easily possible to destroy the cable in this situation.

I must be getting cable from a different source to others then because I can honestly say that I have never seen a cable of that size " give " apart from when it is on the end of digger while being ripped out again for salvage ?

 

[JD6400]

Don't get me wrong , I agree it is easy enough to stretch the sheath on even the largest of cables , but I just can not see how a couple of men sensibly pulling with the correct gear , can ever manage it .

 

[HandySparks]

Me too

Looks like we might have a (cable) pulling party? :smile5:

 

[chronyx]

Looks like we might have a (cable) pulling party? :smile5:

Well this week's work has fallen through so far so yeah why not, always up for a bit of grunt work