Do you ever wish to have electricity anywhere you want like a garden or in a shed? Sometimes, when we have a garden nearby our house and we wish to stay there but drop the idea due to no electricity as it is very important.
If you want to know how to have outdoor electrical conduit above ground, then you are at the right place. The process can be time consuming and a little complex but it will definitely be worth it.
What tools would you require for this?
- 4 in 1 screwdriver
- Drill bit set
- Drill
- Hacksaw
- Pipe wrench
- Pliers
- Spade
- Tape measure
- Cutter
- Torpedo level
What other materials would you require?
- Electrical boxes
- Tape
- Duct seal
- Electrical metallic tube
- Fittings
- GFCI
- Pipe bender
- Rigid metal conduct
- Mattock
- Leather gloves
- Switch
- Electrical wires
- Wire connectors
- Two conduit straps
Steps to run conduit through exterior wall: –
- Firstly, drill a hole in a wall
To set up an outdoor wiring, you need to choose the right size of drill bit and drill a hole in the wall. The size of the hole should be enough to hold the conduit.
- Now bend and cut the conduit
You need to bend the conduit with a bender if you want EMT or non-flexible conduit. You can also use fittings with 90 or 45 degree angles if you do not have a bender.
You can use a pulling ell for 90-degree bends as they have a removable cover. You can use a propane torch for heating the pipe so that it can bend to the angle required. This is for PVC conduit.
Measure and conduit- Take the measurement and after that cut the conduct according to that. Use a hacksaw to clamp the conduct.
Use a saw which is circular for thick metal conduit as the cut will become smoother.
You can use a screwdriver and smoothen the edges with its blade.
Use a plier to cut any edges on the outside.
- Now glide the conduct through the hole
Pass the conduit across hole that is there in the wall. You will need an ell puller for this. You need to make sure that the space is enough for the conduit in the drill hole of wall.
Make sure that there is no water before you glide the conduit through the wall. If the water is there near the wires, you should make sure to add a GFCI breaker.
You will need a box extension in case you are using an electrical box for the conduit.
- Attach the conduit support
If you want the conduit running through the walls, then you should make sure that it is supported with conduit hangers.
The hangers need to be at least 10 feet apart. Make sure to measure and mark the place of the hanger. These hangers can be attached using a screw.
- Now you need to drag the wire through conduit
Use a tape to drag the wire through the conduit. The conduit and its connectors along with wires will glide through the hole which is there in the wall.
- Secure the gaps of wall using caulk
You can now use a silicone caulk for securing the connection between hole in exterior wall and conduit.
- Plough a trench
Now this step is optional. You will need to plough a trench in case you are putting a wire underground. You need to contact your municipality before you plough a hole.
Only they will be able to inform you regarding the water and gas lines. Dig a hole around 25 inches in depth using a spade.
You can use a trenching machine in case you want the wire to be longer. You can also rent these from any local store instead of buying them.
- Now when you are done running the wire through the trench, you need to put sand as a layer because it will act as a warning for any diggers trying to dig that area in future.
Also, do not forget to add a red tape over it for caution. Now add soil on the top.
Installing an EMT conduit
- EMT conduit is used for installing electrical conductors in residences. Mark an area which you want to layer with the conduit.
- You need to measure the length of conduit which you will require after you are done with the marking.
- You can use a hacksaw for cutting the conduit. You can use screwdrivers or pliers to smoothen the cut.
- Now attach the fittings to hold the conduit and drag the wires through conduit by using a tape.
Electrical wires are required to be in conduit to protect from sunlight and rain. You can use any form of conduit whether it is made up of metal or plastic according to your requirements.
Electrical wires can cause a lot of harm that is why it is necessary to protect them so you can conduit them. PVC conduit or EMT conduit last longer.
It is good to conduit the wires as they are more organised this way. You can easily locate all the wires for any repair work.
You need to make sure that conduit is grounded with a wire and it is safely connected to the ground.
This procedure may sound very complicated at first but if you have all the right tools and you know the techniques then it is not difficult. However, it can be a little dangerous so you need to follow all the tips and take all the precautions.
In case, you are not confident, then it is better to call a professional or take help from someone who is more experienced then you.
You can also take a help of someone experienced or any employee of a local store for selecting the right tools as tools play the most important role in this process.
It is a good idea to watch some online tutorials before you start with it as they will provide you a practical knowledge about it and you can know better about the whole procedure.
