Conduit

4Cabling is Australia’s leading manufacturer, wholesaler and direct-to-consumer retailer of cabling, server racks and IT management accessories. We specialise in conduit that will help to cover and safely protect wires and cables in most settings. You can find the full selection of conduit, along with surge protectors, power cables and power boards online. Read on to discover for yourself why conduit is an important part of protecting and securing wiring in any situation.

Electrical conduit is plastic or metal casing that encloses electrical wires so they can be protected and secured in a variety of locations. The tubing allows the wires to be routed from one point to another which may be in exterior locations (such as along a wall or underground) or surface-mounted in interior locations so that they’re protected and unobtrusive.

Electrical conduit comes in many different styles and sizes, and choosing the right conduit will depend on the situation and the type of wiring. In the first instance, the size of the conduit tubing will need to fit the wires internally but, equally, it may not be advisable to have conduit that is too large because it may be loose and create tubing that is bulky for the location.

Apart from the size, one of the main differences in conduit is whether it’s a rigid or flexible casing. With flexible casing, for example, the conduit is formed in a corrugated style that allows it to have some movement. Rigid Conduit is fixed and is suitable for locations where the wiring follows straight lines from one point to another.

Conduit also comes in different strength ratings, where medium-duty casing (usually white or grey in colour) is typically suitable for general applications where wiring needs to be concealed but the protection required is limited because there is not likely to be any additional pressure or duress on the conduit. By contrast, heavy-duty conduit, which is usually orange in colour, may be used in locations where additional protections are needed such as in industrial or rugged conditions.

Electrical conduit is a plastic or metal casing that encloses electrical wires so they can be protected and secured in a variety of locations. The tubing allows the wires to be routed from one point to another which may be in exterior locations (such as along a wall or underground) or surface-mounted in interior locations so that they’re protected and unobtrusive.

Electrical conduit comes in many different styles and sizes, and choosing the right conduit will depend on the situation and the type of wiring. In the first instance, the size of the conduit tubing will need to fit the wires internally but, equally, it may not be advisable to have conduit that is too large because it may be loose and create tubing that is bulky for the location.

Apart from the size, one of the main differences in conduit is whether it’s a rigid or flexible casing. With flexible casing, for example, the conduit is formed in a corrugated style that allows it to have some movement. Rigid Conduit is fixed and is suitable for locations where the wiring follows straight lines from one point to another.

Conduit also comes in different strength ratings, where medium-duty casing (usually white or grey in colour) is typically suitable for general applications where wiring needs to be concealed but the protection required is limited because there is not likely to be any additional pressure or duress on the conduit. By contrast, heavy-duty conduit, which is usually orange in colour, may be used in locations where additional protections are needed such as in industrial or rugged conditions.

Flexible electrical conduit will either be plastic or metal, but may not have the same level of protection as rigid cable, although the loss of some robustness is offset with the ability to move or shape the run of the cable to suit the situation. Having said that, it is possible to have strong yet flexible conduit that can fit around bends and even in tight spaces or hard-to-reach areas.

Flexible conduit will need to terminate at fixed equipment such as an electrical box. These boxes come in a range of shapes and sizes and you’re choice will come down to the location, amount of wires and size of conduit, any physical constraints or restrictions and the overall make up of the wiring.

Electrical boxes are usually either plastic (PVC) that is a stabilised high-performance material that is suitable for electrical installations and, where needed, suitable for outdoor locations. A box may also be metal (such as stainless steel), and may also have a rating to designate the level of sealing effectiveness against foreign bodies (such as dirt) and moisture.

To connect the flexible conduit to an electrical box, it’s first necessary to choose the suitable size of casing according to the number and size of the wires that will be enclosed. The conduit will then need to be cut to the desired length according to the installation location. An actual flexible conduit cutter can be used to cut the conduit, but if you don’t have this, then a small saw is needed to cut through the casing.

Now run the wiring into the conduit casing so that it is ready. The next step is to install a connector plug onto the conduit. To do this, the connector is inserted into the conduit end-point and, depending on the style of connector, it may screw into the conduit and then twisted with a screwdriver to tighten the screw that secures it in place. Some may have a press adapter that, once fitted, is tightened to hold in place.

Once the connector is securely in place at the end of the flexible conduit, the next step is to attach the connector to the electrical box. It is inserted into the hole and then the connector is snapped into position to hold it in place.

In Australia, there is a range of electrical conduit sizes. The choice of size of electrical conduit will vary depending on the sizes of the wires and the setting. At 4Cabling the conduit sizes start as small as 20mm and will go up to 50mm across both flexible and rigid conduit in both medium and heavy-duty styles. Conduit should always comply with the relevant standards and all 4Cabling conduit is manufactured in line with the AS/NZS 2053.2:2001 safety standard.

 Some of the more common sizes and styles of conduit are:

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At 4Cabling the flexible conduit comes in 20mm, 25mm, 32mm, 40mm and 50mm sizing in overall lengths of 20 metres, 25 metres and 50 metres. Heavy-duty flexible conduit is available in orange, a safety designation so that it is identifiable if unearthed. Only heavy-duty conduit will be suitable for underground installation.

 It’s important to note that the size designation, such as ‘20mm’ refers to the external diameter of the conduit itself. The internal diameter will be narrower and it’s always advisable to check first to ensure the wires themselves will fit comfortably within the internal casing.