Polyester "Mule Tape", never heard of it but glad to get updated!
I never ever pull wires anywhere and fail to leave at least a stout
string in the run to be able to pull a pull rope through in future when,
as is often the case, more conductors are needed. I need to investigate
mule tape. Thanks for the update.
Patrick
On 1/29/2018 9:04 AM, Dick Blumenstein wrote:
One slight mod on Patrick's feedback...
Instead of a rope or stout cable, I would use polyester mule tape
(maybe about 1/2" to 3/4" wide) attached to the end of your old
cables, so when your old cables have been pulled through, you can then
attach the end of that to pull the new cables in, while allowing
additional mule tape in parallel to the new cables to be pulled in,
too. I've read the mule tape has less chance of melting any turns in
the PVC piping. That's what I did when I ran my cables. Also, I left
about 2 feet of mule tape sticking out each end of the tubing when I
was done, so that in the future, I could pull additional cables
through the piping if need be without having to pull out the new
cables I just installed.
Dick, K0CAT
=================================
Patrick Greenlee wrote on 1/29/2018 8:40 AM:
Yes there are wire pulling lubricants available at your local big box
store. Use plenty, be lavish, it won't hurt your wires or conduit
and it will make the job easier. You don't have a real tight fit
(cables to ID of conduit) but you can cause yourself a problem if you
make a bulge where you connect the old to the new if you use the old
to pull the new.
If it were me I would consider using the existing cable to pull a
stout string which in turn would pull a stout rope or wire cable
which would be used to pull the new cable. Another consideration is
wether to leave the old 14-2 in the conduit or to remove it and put
it back with the new coax. I recommend removing the 14-2 when
removing the old coax and re-pulling it at the same time as the new
coax. Why, you say?
Pulling the coax into the conduit with 14-2 already in it has
friction between the irregular 14-2 and the new coax that can cause
problems pulling the new coax. When re-pulling the 14-2 at same time
as coax there is no relative motion between the coax and 14-2, only
between the coax plus 14-2 vs the ID of the conduit which is much
smoother than the 14-2. Is this last bit of "finesse" required?
Maybe. You might be lucky and not need to use the above approach and
have everything just go easy and smooth. Doesn't happen often for me,
hence the "self defense" strategy.
I recommend the Chinese finger grabbers to connect pulling ropes or
wire cables to the coax and 14-2.
Best of luck to you.
Patrick NJ5G
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