Do any of you electrically savvy fellows have suggestions on how to properly repair the broken bend in this 40 year old metal conduit? This post rotted off at the ground and fell over when I bumped it with the mower deck. I'm pretty sure the conduit got opened up when the post fell over, but it is broken at the bend almost completely in two. I'm going to replace the box and outlet, which are also probably 40 years old, as part of this project. Is there a proper legitimate way to attach a new piece of conduit at the break?
Conduit repair
- Thread starter Jamie
- Start date
Break it all down to the conduit break. Expose the electrical wire. Check the outer insulation for damage. Repair and/or extend with new. The conduit, I would cut a clean end, then acquire a rigid compression female adapter, add a new all purpose underground weatherproof electrical rated junction box, Pickup 1" or whatever is the appropriate size PVC schedule 80 preferred, however get what you get without special order, and run new wire conduit to the new electrical boxes/devices. Get a roll of 3M Scotch Super 33+ or 88 and tape the crap out of the new splice connectors you have or need, (kearnes) , Close up the new underground junction box, bury, done.
www.hubbell.com
Good luck!
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www.hubbell.com
Good luck!
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Another option is to shorten the circuit, which means, move your post towards the electrical source (panel) and reconstruct with whatever you have, or again, go with PVC out of the ground. This would most likely be your least costly solution.
Hope you get it figured out, take it easy!
Hope you get it figured out, take it easy!
I don't think there is anything wrong with the wire, but it is still in the conduit, so I'm not 100% sure yet. I'm not going to demolish what is here until I figure out how to fix and have all the pieces. Is there a way to join the existing EMT with flexible metal conduit or PVC, assuming I don't need to splice on new wire and use a box?
Yes, but usually are specialty items. They make a transition adapter from metal conduit to a male or female end, or even compression. Not sure you'll find that in your local supply house or not, but they make them. I don't have time to track one down for you otherwise I would. I'm heading out the door.
LIke I said, there out there, just need to track down who has them in stock for you. Good luck!
PVC out of the ground is your safest bet when dealing with old, potentially damaged underground distribution/electrical circuits. That is why I recommend PVC out of the ground, schedule 80 for strength & durability above mower decks, which is usually spec/code for most places that require inspections/standards.
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P8riot
Active Member
Wrap the crap out of it with duct tape and cover it over with dirt. Out of sight, out of mind! 
Disclaimer...do not do that!
Disclaimer...do not do that!
That ain’t off the table yet…Wrap the crap out of it with duct tape and cover it over with dirt. Out of sight, out of mind!
Disclaimer...do not do that!
If inside wire isn't punctured, I'd just wrap and bury too lol.
Spray it with the stuff that makes screen doors float 
Get some Gorilla tape from @Dustinb80 and call it a day. If the wire is good of course. I'd probably size up the PVC so I could "sleeve" it over the metal, then use plumbers putty to seal the gap, then wrap it with tape and bury it.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Am I right in saying you will never keep water out of the conduit anyway so a patch job would be just as good?? Isn't it just for protecting the line from damage should someone dig around it?
My question would be along the lines of, what is the purpose of the fix?
I personally don't think spending money on it will gain much purpose/use. But it if not being fixed correctly is something that'll keep you up at night, go down the path denny suggested.
If you don't much care and just don't want the problem to get worse. Give it a couple shots of spray foam and put some dirt on it. The foam will keep the wires from chaffing. That is the only real issue here IMO.
I personally don't think spending money on it will gain much purpose/use. But it if not being fixed correctly is something that'll keep you up at night, go down the path denny suggested.
If you don't much care and just don't want the problem to get worse. Give it a couple shots of spray foam and put some dirt on it. The foam will keep the wires from chaffing. That is the only real issue here IMO.
This is one electrical outlet in the middle of the yard, and I have already over-thought this and spent too much time on it. If Nancy would just use a longer extension cord for the damn Christmas lights in the back yard, I would not have even replaced the post. I would have cut off the conduit, capped the wires and buried the whole damn thing. I'm not cutting up the conduit. I'm going to repair it, replace the outlet and box with new and call it done. the break in the conduit is right at ground level, so it isn't under dirt, anyway. I took a good look with a flashlight at the wire I could see and it is just fine. I think I'll fill the hole with some commercial grade sealant, put a piece of heat shrink tubing on it, tape it up and call it done. If it fails against moisture, then I'll let Nancy find, hire, and pay a real electrician to fix it properly. Painter ain't getting paid enough to spend real money or time on this, and I won't lose a wink of sleep either way. Much appreciate all the input, brothers. 
P8riot
Active Member
Dang, you have to cut and weewhack around that post 4+ months out of the year for just Xmas lights. Cut it, cap it and cover it!
Round up 2x/year, 5sec each time.
Well, I did actually use it once to plug in a circular saw, and the post doubles as one clothesline post. And it makes my wife happy. I win.