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Conduit runs

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4.1K views 24 replies 10 participants last post by  Easy  
#1 ·
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I’m looking for suggestions on routing conduit out of R3 panel boards. I have posted a photo to aid in explaining what I need to accomplish. The 480 volt panel on the right of the photo will have six-3/4” runs and one-2” run. I figured that the small runs of ¾” would come out the sides of the panel below the buss using LR’s and LL’s. The 2” run is the problem. It needs to go left past the transformer and 208 volt panel on the left and will feed a boiler that will be positioned about 10 ft. to the left of the 208 volt panel. I was thinking to use a 2” or 2-1/2” LR and come out of the bottom of the panel. A gutter might have worked but to get enough bending space for 3/0 cables would be limited. The transformer sits about 13” off the wall so I have space to go behind it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
#4 ·
The trough is a better idea.

I like to draw the panels on paper. Draw the panels and the transformer. Also draw the boiler. Nothing fancy. Rectangles and squares.

Now put x’s in the sides of the panels that you can’t use.

Next draw the conduit as you would run it. Just use a single line connecting the rectangles and squares.


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#5 ·
I agree. It's always good to plan ahead. I thinking now to just run the 2" straight out of the left hand side with no LR and place it as low as possible and run the flex feeding the transformer above it. Thanks for your help. You guys went over this with me before about top feeding a r3 panel. The contractor who is installing the service is doing a good job so far. They ran the feeds into the top but really I don't see how else they could have done it.
He used myers hubs and went into them with RT EMT conns and you can see how the treads did not go in all the way and the washers are not compressed.
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#8 ·
That's exactly what I plan on doing. It would have been a MF trying to feed 3/0 through a conduit body. If I use a 90 out the bottom it may end up kind of low to the ground. I want to try and make it look good but also want it to be functional. Less wire than going overhead and less work.
 
#12 ·
This is all a bit disturbing.
WTF didn't you place the panelboards next to each other and have the TX on the left side of the 120/208 volt panelboard.
That tiny azzed line side-feed would be very cheap to install, the load side would be on the breaker side, the second panel should have the main on the bottom.
All of this misplacement is going to cause you to run your branch circuits past the feeder. The load side is now several feet longer than it should be.
If the panelboards were next to each other, you could have used one piece of unistrut to make at least two, maybe three wall-mounted supports.

If you were concerned with penetrating the top of those panelboards, you could install a gutter over the top of them.
Make sure to order the rain shield for that TX.
 
#15 · (Edited)
I tend to agree with @Southeast Power, I think the set-up is wrong and the transformer should be off the ground; it is taking up valuable floor / wall space.

In your current setup I think you need to come straight out of the side for your boiler, about 12" off the floor behind the Xmfr. Now that will get in the way of your feed for your Xmfr, so you will have to come out a little higher and bump over the feed to the boiler.

A trough on the side of each panel is the answer to maintain your 3R rating in the panel; the original installer should not have come in the top like that on the 480 panel in my opinion.

Cheers
John
 
#25 · (Edited)
Thank's Navyguy...You guys trained me well. There have been some great discussions about proper use of fittings and the best options for laying out panels and transformers. In the real world if I was younger and had a helper I would probably go full guns and put together a much cleaner service than the contractor. It takes planning, man power and $$ to do thing right. By the way I got up super early. 7 am. Drove to the job sight and asked the contractor to come in to the transformer a bit higher. on the primary so I can get my 2" in. Plenty of room. :smile:
 
#23 ·
I'm not the one installing the panels but I did suggest that the contractor should go with rain tight panels and transformers. They started to install Nema 1 equipment and I questioned them on it because it's a brewery and there are some tanks that might get water sprayed on them could splash into the panels. The group here at ET thought Nema 4 would be the way to go as it could be considered a wash down area. After long debate between the city, the contractor and the customer they decided to go with 3R stuff. I will be installing all the branch circuits and hook ups to the equipment.

I was going to wait for the inspector to pass off the service and if they used myers hubs and RT fittings and it pass I would just follow suit. Now Im not so sure. I just want to do a good job. I would have went with Myers Hubs and Rigid out on the first 10 feet up and then gone to EMT.

I researched the hell out of this and came across a spec sheet from the manufacture that said not to penetrate the top pan of the panel under any circumstance unless it had provisions for a factory provided hub.