Everything You Need to Know About Conduits

When you stop to think about it, any commercial, industrial, or residential setup has wiring of some kind. After all, there is a need for power to keep just about every facet of our life going strong.

That’s where the electrical conduit becomes the hidden MVP. If you are unfamiliar, there are probably a few things that you might not know about that mystery conduit that connects seemingly everything.

What is a Conduit?

It helps to know what conduits are in the first place before you go buying them from this site. Whether it be a business or residential application, electrical conduits supply power to the structure in question. Electrical conduits come in a wide array of materials like steel, galvanized steel, PVC, nylon, plastic, steel spring wire, and polypropylene. The material used depends on the application but ultimately the conduit becomes a channel to run either a single or multiple cables.

A cable conduit is a form of tubing that is meant to provide better support, protection, structure, and management for wires and cables. One of the best things about cable conduit is that it is totally versatile. It’s great for running underground applications, protecting electrical cabling, or running wires through walls. Basically, anywhere that you have wires that require protection, cable conduit is going to be there.

Different Conduit Types

Before you can start using cable conduit, you need to know the different types available. Each of them has their own uses and benefits to be had. Here are the primary conduit types to be aware of.

Liquid-tight flexible metal conduit. Also known as LFMC, this type of conduit is excellent for providing great flexibility and cable protection. Even better, it creates a watertight seal, making it ideal for any outdoor protection requirements.

Flexible metallic conduit. This is one of the stronger conduit materials you will find. It is great for protecting cables while also providing a bit more flexibility. The only major downside here is that this type of conduit isn’t waterproof, so you need to keep it in a dry, indoor location.

Electrical metal conduit. This is a form of electrical conduit pipe that has thinner walls, making it perfectly flexible to use for different applications. As one of the more versatile types, it can be used for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Rigid metal conduit. These conduits are made from galvanized steel and require threaded fittings. Because of its heavy-duty nature, this kind of conduit is more ideal for providing indoor and outdoor protection to not only electrical cables but other equipment as well.

Rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is rapidly becoming a material of choice in many applications. Since it is so flexible, it can be bent easily using heating tools, while still providing excellent rigidity.

The Major Advantages of Using Conduits

There are more than a few things to like about using conduit wiring. For starters, it’s one of the most reliable wiring methods out there. When you involve electrical currents, the last thing you want to do is put yourself or a technician at risk. With conduit wiring, you know what you are getting.

Depending on the type of conduit you use, it can be one of the most versatile materials you use. Some types of conduit are even rated for outdoor use, in cold or wet spaces. The easy maintenance means that you don’t have to dedicate too much time to keeping it up. Finally, the lifespan is something to be appreciative of. Cable conduit lasts a long time, meaning less money spent over time.