Outdoor Cable Conduit

Outdoor electrical systems need far more protection than indoor installations. Electrical systems must deal with weather elements and other hazards in this environment. Since some of these hazards are hard to control, it is better to invest in special outdoor systems. 

Outdoor cable conduits have a tough exterior, offering better wiring protection. If you plan to install wiring externally, here are a few things to keep in mind. 

What Are Electrical Cable Conduits?

Before we learn more about outdoor conduits, it’s essential to know what they are and how they work. Cable or electrical conduits are plastic or metal tube structures holding essential electrical wires and cabling. These systems are often called trunking as well. 

The conduit’s structure can be rigid or flexible depending on where it’s installed. The purpose of a conduit is to protect wires from any hazards. You can also use them in unfinished or exposed indoor and outdoor settings. 

To fit various installations and demands, cable conduits come in various sizes, shapes, materials and styles. The most common material for the conduit is a metallic style. But you can also find conduits in plastic, fiber and fired clay.  

With so many options, many electricians classify cable conduits according to their wall thickness, the type of material used and the mechanical stiffness. This makes it easy to recognise which conduit is needed.  

All cable conduits should meet the national electricity requirements before installation to ensure the material works best for your wiring system. Most cable conduit materials are chosen for their corrosion resistance, mechanical protection and overall cost of the installation process. 

A great thing about cable conduits is that they reduce the need for an electrical box or other similar equipment. If you go for a metal conduit, you can carry out the function of a grounding wire without needing a separate component.         

Factors To Consider When Getting An Outdoor Conduit

With so many options to choose from, you must create a list of factors to help you find the right conduit. Here are some important factors to consider when choosing an outdoor conduit. 

Environment And Location

Think about the specific environmental condition where you will place your outdoor conduit. Consider factors such as sunlight, moisture, temperature changes and potential physical exertions. Pick a conduit that protects against all these hazards and is durable in any outdoor environment.    

The Installation Process

With any construction project, you want to ensure smooth and easy installation. With outdoor conduit, the ease of installation depends on your type. 

Rigid and tough conduits require expertise and more effort, whereas flexible conduits such as PVC are easier to place. Remember to consider the installation time and availability of skilled labor before choosing a conduit. 

Durability And Material

Since your conduits stay outdoors, they need better resistance and durability to any potential hazards. Each type of conduit brings its’ own set of benefits. 

Metallic conduits such as RMT or EMT offer robust protection, while flexible conduits are excellent at providing corrosion resistance. Choose a conduit material that endures harsh outdoor conditions and provides protection. 

The Cost

When it comes to any construction material, you need to factor in the cost. Weigh the benefits of every conduit type with your budget. 

In some cases, building regulations might ask you to choose a specific type of conduit which can get pricey. Still, you can make do with variations to keep your budget low.

What Is The Best Outdoor Cable Conduit

As we’ve mentioned before, outdoor cable conduits come in varying options, sizes and styles. While the choice makes it easy to find your ideal conduit, it can also make it difficult to narrow it down. If you’re looking for high-quality cable conduit systems, visit Meteor Electrical. 

At Meteor, you can browse through a wide variety of cable management systems, including plastic, metal and flexible cable conduits. These options are available in numerous sizes to fit any specification. 

Our galvanised conduits have a tough exterior that maintains the integrity of your wiring and keeps it safe from multiple hazards. This ensures that you keep using your cable for a long time. If you want a lighter cable management system, go for plastic trunking. 

Depending on your needs, you can choose between a 20mm or 25mm length. With the galvanised electrical conduit, you get a uniform wall thickness, so all parts of the wiring system remain safe. 

The continuous weld and free inner surface in a galvanised steel conduit ensure ample protection in the long run. The hot-dipped coating provides a tough exterior and anti-corrosion properties. 

We offer highly durable plastic trunking from Cablecraft to ensure quality in every installation. These conduits come from Cablecraft’s Betaflex range which offers more flexibility with your cable management. 

Designed with corrugated polypropylene material, Cablecraft’s conduits are easy to manoeuvre and fit into any location. 

This material is halogen-free and self-extinguishing for added benefits to reduce any chance of electrical fires. Because of this high-grade construction, Cablecraft’s conduits are ideal for commercial and industrial spaces. 

What Are The Different Types of Outdoor Cable Conduits?

Not all conduit systems are built the same, as each has its own benefits and disadvantages. While many conduits work well indoors, they might not fit outdoor external cables well. Here’s a look at some of the best external cable conduits. 

Electric Metallic Conduits

An electrical metal conduit is your best option if you want a flexible conduit system. Even though EMTs are ideal for indoor residential and light commercial installation, they work well outdoors too.

If you’re using this conduit with external cables, you need to assemble them with watertight fittings. This component has a thin wall structure of galvanised steel, commonly used as a non-flexible option. 

Even though this conduit comes under the rigid category, you can bend its shape with a conduit bender tool to fit any installation. The lightweight material is malleable enough to contort into any desired shape. 

Due to its manufacturing, electrical steel conduits can be applied in many locations. However, if an area experiences several physical damages, you should not use this material as it will get damaged easily and ruin your wiring system. 

You can use EMT conduits as an exposed or concealed wall installation. You can also use them on floors and ceilings. The metal material allows them to be embedded into concrete or buried in the ground. 

Electrical metal conduits are connected with clamp-style fittings that slide onto the tubing. This configuration is secured with a set screw and locked into your desired area. 

Even though EMTs provide decent protection for inside cables, they should not be used in hazardous locations (such as power plants) where they might experience severe damage. 

Additionally, EMT conduits are unsuitable for wet areas or places with corrosive fumes and vapours. If you want to use EMTs in such locations, you must use corrosive-resistant tubing and gasket clamps. 

Some electricians avoid using electrical metal conduits in critical areas because the set screws in the clamps tend to loosen over time. To prevent this loosening, a torque wrench will provide the correct tension to the screws to help them last longer.    

Rigid Metal Conduit

As the name suggests, these conduits offer the most protection as they are made from a tough and thick exterior.  These are typically used for structural piping in homes to connect to utility service lines. RMCs are often joined with a threaded connection to keep them together. 

Coated with either aluminium or stainless steel, these conduits offer excellent protection against punctures, cuts and other impacts. Apart from these two, you can also choose from other coatings depending on your needs.   

When making this choice, remember where you’ll install the RMC. If you’re using it for outdoor use, choose the coating accordingly. 

One thing to note about RMCs is that they are expensive and difficult to bend. Despite these drawbacks, they are a great option for an external cable conduit system. 

Non-Metalic Liquid-Tight Flexible Conduit (NLFC)

NLFC is typically used in place of a liquid-tight metal conduit. This conduit has a flexible PVC coating embedded into the rigid PVC enforcements. Even though this conduit can bend, it still offers a watertight build and structure. 

Non-Metallic LF conduits provide moderate protection in dry, wet or oily settings. This makes it ideal for external installation. In addition, they also have flame-resistant properties. 

These conduits are highly durable and are ideal for indoor and outdoor installation in commercial and industrial settings. You can also place them in moisture-heavy places such as pools and HVAC systems. 

You can opt for liquid-tight flexible conduits made from polyamide instead of PVC for even more protection. These provide resistance against acid, oil, benzine, flames and other solvents. Polyamide conduits can also self-extinguish, making them suitable for demanding installations. 

PVC Conduits

The PVC conduit is a great choice if you’re looking for a lightweight, flexible option. PVC conduits are a non-metallic conduit system that works well in outdoor installation. This system is corrosion-resistant and easy to use. 

PVC conduits can be installed above ground or underground, and the flexibility makes it easy to manoeuvre in angled or curved pathways. However, this conduit will not work well in areas with heavy impacts or high temperatures. 

What Are The Electrical Standards For Outdoor Cable Conduits?

The best way to ensure your conduits work well is to install them according to electrical standards and codes. Even in outdoor settings, you must follow codes to ensure safe placement. 

The current standard for electrical installations is the British Standard BS 7671. These regulations provide a guideline on how to place them best. 

Here are some critical highlights from the British Electrical Regulations for Conduits.

• All conduits for cabling and their fittings should comply with electrical standards.
• Avoid using plastic conduits when the ambient temperature exceeds 60 degrees Celsius. However, cables with thermo-sheathing can run very hot, so they must be downrated when placed in a plastic conduit. 
• Conduits systems should be designed and placed in such a way as to remove any dust, dirt and moisture. This means they should be closed off with a box lid. Electricians should also create small drainage holes to remove any moisture from condensation. 
• Electricians must take proper precautions against corrosion. Make sure your steel conduits have a galvanised zinc coating. 
• Ensure the conduit system is placed correctly before drawing in any cables. 
• If bends are in the conduit system, ensure that the wiring and cable comply with the bending radius and are not prone to breakage. 

These are just some highlights from the British Electrical standard codes. Electricians must go through the regulations in their entirety to ensure proper installation. 

How Do You Run Cables And Wiring In Conduits?

Pulling cable and wires through a conduit can be difficult, especially if the wires get caught somewhere. 

Sometimes outdoor installations can be tricky because the environment is unpredictable. Here are some ways to run cables through conduits to make installation easier.

The String Method

The string method is ideal for using a short, straight conduit system. In this process, you push a rod with a string on it through the conduit and tie the wire to this string. You must then pull the rod through the conduit and bring the wire. 

A Conduit Piston

A conduit piston or mouse is a special tool that pulls wire through the conduit. Attach the wire to the piston and place it in a vacuum. This will pull the attached wire along the conduit. 

This method works well for conduit systems with bends and twists; however, it might be better for shorter conduits. 

The Fish Tape Method

This standard wiring equipment has a long, flat metal wire wrapped around a spool. To pull the wire through, you need to feed the tape through the conduit and attach the electrical wire to the other end of the conduit.

See similar blogs:

https://www.meteorelectrical.com/blog/electric-conduit.html

https://www.meteorelectrical.com/blog/cable-conduit.html

https://www.meteorelectrical.com/blog/external-cable-conduit.html