Conduit

As wires run from one connection point to another, they should be placed in some type of conduit to protect them from physical damage that can result from abrasion, contraction and expansion, the sun, rodents or chemicals. The term conduit refers to a variety of different types of plastic or metal forms of protection that can be used. The appropriate type of conduit will vary based upon:

1. Where the wire/conduit will be located. What will offer the best protection given the conditions. For example, if conduit will be located outside, it is necessary to choose a conduit that is appropriate for use in wet conditions.

2. Building construction. Will the conduit/wiring be run inside a wall? If it is to be run inside a wall, an appropriate conduit should be chosen. On the surface of a wall? Various conduit types may offer sufficient protection, but some may be more aesthetically pleasing than others.

3. The local electrical code/local practices. It is the best practice to follow the electrical code in any given location, but local practices may dictate a different approach.

4. Local availability of materials. Some components and materials are not available in all locations.

Conduit types

Different conduit types shown with a crosssection and coupling. 1. Metallic conduit 2. PVC conduit 3. Flexible metal conduit 4. Flexible non-metallic conduit 5. Cable tray

There are several broad categories that most types of conduit fit into. The actual appearance of the conduit, connectors, and couplers may vary from place to place. Connectors are used to connect the conduit to a junction box. Couplers are used to connect sections of conduit together as they typically come in 3m or 10' sections.

Metallic conduit

Metallic conduit offers excellent protection under appropriate conditions but may not be the cheapest, simplest, most widely available option. That being said, metallic conduit will result in a high quality installation if used appropriately. Should not be buried. It can be bent into angles with appropriate bending tools or sections can be bought that are pre-bent to specific angles (15°, 30°, 45°, 90°). There are a few different types of metallic conduit available which are classified based upon the thickness of the walls of the tubing:

• Electric metallic tube (EMT): The thinnest options which is intended for use indoors - on walls or inside walls.
• Intermediate metal conduit (IMC): A thicker-walled option that offers more durable protection. Can be installed outdoors with appropriate connectors/couplers/junction boxes.
• Rigid metal conduit (RMC): The thickest-walled option that is the most durable. Can be instsalled outdoors with appropriate connectors/couplers/junction boxes.

PVC plastic conduit

PVC conduit offers excellent protection under nearly all conditions, is cheap, simple and common. PVC conduit is frequently used inside walls and on the surface of walls in many parts of the world. PVC conduit can used in wet locations or buried underground as it does not corrode and can be made watertight by using appropriate fittings and sealants. It is possible to bend PVC by heating the conduit, but this can pose challenges in some locations, therefore pre-bent sections are typically used to make bends (15°, 30°, 45°, 90°).

Flexible metal conduit

Flexible metal conduit (FMC) is simple to work with and commonly available. It has the advantage of being flexible, meaning that it is often possible to avoid many of the challenges that come with putting bends into other types of conduit. Traditional FMC is rated only for indoor use, but there is a rubberized version called Liquidtite FMC that (LFMC) that can be used outdoors, in wet locations, or buried in short sections if necessary.

Flexible non-metallic conduit

Flexible non-metallic conduit (FNC) is simple to work with and commonly available. It is only rated for indoor use and does not offer as durable of protection as the other options, but is typically fine in most locations.

Cable tray

Cable tray is a term that refers to many different types of products, but the most commonly used is made out of a rectangular PVC channel with a removable lid. It may come with an adhesive backing as well. This type of cable tray is commonly used in many locations to install lighting and outlet circuits on the surface of walls. This is a common practice in many locations as it minimized installation time and can keep costs low, but cable trays do not offer the best protection and do not last as long as the other options.

Conduit size

It is necessary to choose a size of conduit that is appropriate for the number of wires that will be installed in the conduit.