I'm trying to fit five 3/0 wires to connect to my 18kPV setup through three LBs, and honestly, it seems like an uphill battle. I'm looking for tips or tricks to manage multiple 3/0 wires while running them from the panels to the inverter, especially when dealing with walls and bends. Any advice or strategies would be super helpful!
3 Answers
When I had to pull three 250's through multiple 90's and over 150 feet, I hired an electrician with a wire puller machine. Those wires were tough to bend by hand, and I was really worried about damaging my conduit, but they managed to get it done! Sometimes it’s just worth bringing in the pros for these kinds of jobs, especially if it's a lot of wire to work with.
Don't forget to derate your cable ampacity! If you're running multiple cables in a conduit as a bundle, it’s crucial to account for that to avoid safety issues. Just a little FYI while you’re managing your setup!
We recently tackled a similar project with 4/0 building wire, fitting three of those plus a 6 AWG ground into a 2-inch conduit with multiple LB's. For the long runs, it definitely helped to have two people working: one to push the wire, and another to pull it using fish tape. Definitely use wire lube to make the process smoother. When pulling, make sure to tie the wires together to get them through the LB, and be cautious of kinks or curls in the wire. A cable bender bar was a lifesaver for leverage, let your legs do the work instead of your arms!
This guy pulls wire.