What do electricians use to pull wire?

How to Pull Electrical Wire Through Conduit

A conduit mouse, also known as a conduit piston, is a small foam cylinder that is slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the conduit. It can be effectively used with a shop vacuum to pull wires through. Here's how to do it:

Pulling Wire With a Mouse

1. Tie Pull String to Wire: Attach a strong string (pull string) to the loop on the wire running through the mouse.
2. Insert Mouse Into Conduit: Place the mouse at the start of the conduit, allowing the mouse to enter first, followed by the string.
3. Fit Shop Vac Hose Over Conduit: At the opposite end, fit the hose of a shop vacuum over the mouth of the conduit, or inside if the conduit is too large. Turn on the vacuum when the mouse is sucked out at the end.
4. Pull Mouse Out of Conduit: Remove the mouse from the conduit and untie the string from the wire loop.
5. Secure String: Ensure the pull string is secured to the wires at the start of the conduit. Lubricate the wires as needed.
6. Feed Wires Into Conduit: One person should feed the wires straight into the conduit while another uses the pull string to guide the wire inside.

Pulling Wire With a Fish Tape

Fish tape is an electrician's tool made of long, flat metal wire wound inside a spool. It's available in various lengths, starting at 25 feet. Here’s how to effectively use fish tape:

1. Feed End of Tape Into Conduit: Feed the hooked end of fish tape into the conduit.
2. Push Tape Through Conduit: Push the tape through the conduit while unwinding from the spool, stopping when the hook emerges from the opposite end.
3. Strip Insulation: Use wire strippers to strip insulation from the ends of each wire. If multiple wires are used, strip each wire a different amount.
4. Hold Wires Together: Use pliers to twist the bare ends together, aligning the insulation.
5. Bend Wire and Loop Through Fish Tape: Bend the longest wire into a hook and loop it through the fish tape hook.
6. Wrap Fish Tape Hook: Secure the fish tape hook and bare wire ends with electrical tape.
7. Apply Lubricant: If desired, apply lubricant to the tape and wires. Feed the wires into the conduit from the starting end while a partner pulls from the other end using the fish tape.

Tips for Pulling Wire

• Pulling wire by yourself can be difficult and time-consuming. It's best to enlist a helper.
• Avoid using damaged conduits and steer clear of conduits with sharp bends, as these make wire pulling very challenging.
• Tools like a conduit mouse, fish tape, lubricant, and fishing weights can simplify the wire-pulling process.
• Always keep the wire straight while pulling it into the conduit for best results.

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