Why? Is metal conduit so thick

[Dustydazzler]

I have been given a short length of Emt tube from America , which is basically their ‘go to’ produce for surface wiring.
It is thinner than our version and much easier to bend than our version.
I would say it’s not much thicker than copper plumbers pipe.
But imo offers good mechanical strength (I have jumped on it and hit it with a small hammer and it stands up just fine)

So why don’t we use something much similar which can g manipulated and bend by hand using a small hand pipe bender

Thoughts ?

 

[static zap]

Why so thick ,
My take on this is Iron / steel resist aprox 10 x worst than copper ... so it was needed for a Low Resistance (E)/cpc !
(and also gives a DIYer something to find with his drill )

@telectrix was that Spit / or split --bendy stuff !

 

[ipf]

we have 2 types of conduit. older stuff is imperial (3/4" or 1") later stuff is (ach, spit,) metric.1 fits and 1 does not.

...Used to use quite a few 3/4''/20 conversion couplers, still have some somewhere.

and to DD......it's not thick, it's clever.

 

[davesparks]

Different grades of conduit are available, it's just unusual to find anything other than class 4 at most wholesalers these days.

I had the misfortune of having to pick up a couple of lengths from CEF a few months ago, it seemed incredibly soft to bend and thread, when I looked a bit closer at the writing on it I found that it was class 3 conduit.

 

[Megawatt]

Different grades of conduit are available, it's just unusual to find anything other than class 4 at most wholesalers these days.

I had the misfortune of having to pick up a couple of lengths from CEF a few months ago, it seemed incredibly soft to bend and thread, when I looked a bit closer at the writing on it I found that it was class 3 conduit.

Why so thick ,
My take on this is Iron / steel resist aprox 10 x worst than copper ... so it was needed for a Low Resistance (E)/cpc !
(and also gives a DIYer something to find with his drill )

@telectrix was that Spit / or split --bendy stuff !

Are you sure it’s conduit and not some other kind of pipe

 

[MJPD29]

Different grades of conduit are available, it's just unusual to find anything other than class 4 at most wholesalers these days.

I had the misfortune of having to pick up a couple of lengths from CEF a few months ago, it seemed incredibly soft to bend and thread, when I looked a bit closer at the writing on it I found that it was class 3 conduit.

I have had the same happen to me. Also at CEF. Probably charged the same as class 4 also.

 

[Megawatt]

I have had the same happen to me. Also at CEF. Probably charged the same as class 4 also.

Do y’all measure inside diameter or intrude for example 1 inch or 25.4mm

 

[Megawatt]

Are you sure it’s conduit and not some other kind of pipe

What kind of bender are you using?

 

[ipf]

Do y’all measure inside diameter or intrude for example 1 inch or 25.4mm

20mm/ 25mm OD is for steel conduit.

Hilmor stand vice with conduit bender and interchangeable formers.

 

[Megawatt]

20mm/ 25mm OD is for steel conduit.

Hilmor stand vice with conduit bender and interchangeable formers.

I don’t know if many people that like bending ridged conduit.

 

[MJPD29]

Do y’all measure inside diameter or intrude for example 1 inch or 25.4mm

It's the overall diameter as far as I know

 

[KennyKen]

Hilmore or the Hockey stick. I prefer Hilmore. Here in Aus it’s mostly Hockey stick. My pipe work has gradually got smaller to 3/8 stainless piping J.I.C or swagelock for Instro

 

[davesparks]

Are you sure it’s conduit and not some other kind of pipe

Yes, I'm pretty sure I can tell the difference.

 

[ipf]

Yes, I'm pretty sure I can tell the difference.

Me too....but I wonder how many of today's 'electricians' can.

Please, nobody take that as an insult. Remember there are tens of thousands throughout the country. I've seen plenty of indication that those who've done particular installations can't even bend conduit and, on one occasion, a lack of reaming causing a direct short circuit.

 

[Megawatt]

Me too....but I wonder how many of today's 'electricians' can.

Please, nobody take that as an insult. Remember there are tens of thousands throughout the country. I've seen plenty of indication that those who've done particular installations can't even bend conduit and, on one occasion, a lack of reaming causing a direct short circuit.

I was at a plant on one job and sent a worker to go across the street and get us some 3/4 pipe at the other plant and he came back real excited and had 20 foot pieces of water pipe. We give him a hard time