Discussion:
Repairing a pipe with a wire in it
(too old to reply)
MiamiCuse
2007-10-07 15:44:50 UTC
Permalink
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex). It runs under the pool deck from one side of
the house, deck is a concrete slab and brick tiles on top.

It runs under a small planter area about 3'x3' in size. My wife wants to
plant some herb in there so I asked the landscape guys to remove all the
existing fern looking plants in the planter area, they pulled them out
quickly but had to use a pick axe to get to the roots. In the process they
broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.

Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.

The only thing is, I can cut out a 6" section of this pipe, there is a wire
running through it, so it is in the way of me putting in a new section of
the PVC pipe "sleeve". I cannot think of a way to repair it without cutting
this wire, then insert the sleeve, the move the sleeve to one side, then
mend the wire, the put the sleeve back.

I kept thinking, there must be a gadget I am not aware of that can do this.
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half pipes
that you can fit and glue together or something like that?

Thanks,

MC
Wayne Whitney
2007-10-07 15:50:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex).
It shouldn't be Romex, as that is not approved for underground use.
So double check the cable type--if it is Romex, you need to replace
the whole cable, in which case your conduit repair problem is much
easier.

Cheers, Wayne
Edwin Pawlowski
2007-10-07 15:56:30 UTC
Permalink
Post by Wayne Whitney
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex).
It shouldn't be Romex, as that is not approved for underground use.
So double check the cable type--if it is Romex, you need to replace
the whole cable, in which case your conduit repair problem is much
easier.
True, but if it is gray and looks like Romex and is marked UF, it is the
right wire for underground work.
MiamiCuse
2007-10-07 16:26:02 UTC
Permalink
Post by Edwin Pawlowski
Post by Wayne Whitney
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex).
It shouldn't be Romex, as that is not approved for underground use.
So double check the cable type--if it is Romex, you need to replace
the whole cable, in which case your conduit repair problem is much
easier.
True, but if it is gray and looks like Romex and is marked UF, it is the
right wire for underground work.
Thanks,

It looks like romex color is black. I cannot see any markings due to the
short section it's broken off and I hesitate to break off more just to see
where it may have markings.
dpb
2007-10-07 16:28:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by MiamiCuse
Post by Edwin Pawlowski
Post by Wayne Whitney
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex).
It shouldn't be Romex, as that is not approved for underground use.
So double check the cable type--if it is Romex, you need to replace
the whole cable, in which case your conduit repair problem is much
easier.
True, but if it is gray and looks like Romex and is marked UF, it is the
right wire for underground work.
...
Post by MiamiCuse
It looks like romex color is black. I cannot see any markings due to the
short section it's broken off and I hesitate to break off more just to see
where it may have markings.
I wouldn't sweat/worry about it -- being as you're in an area w/ code,
I'd assume proper material would have been used...

As noted in another reply to Edwin who says he saw repair fittings for
plastic, go to your local electrical distributor and get what you need...

--
MiamiCuse
2007-10-11 01:22:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by MiamiCuse
Post by Edwin Pawlowski
Post by Wayne Whitney
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex).
It shouldn't be Romex, as that is not approved for underground use.
So double check the cable type--if it is Romex, you need to replace
the whole cable, in which case your conduit repair problem is much
easier.
True, but if it is gray and looks like Romex and is marked UF, it is the
right wire for underground work.
...
Post by MiamiCuse
It looks like romex color is black. I cannot see any markings due to the
short section it's broken off and I hesitate to break off more just to
see where it may have markings.
I wouldn't sweat/worry about it -- being as you're in an area w/ code, I'd
assume proper material would have been used...
As noted in another reply to Edwin who says he saw repair fittings for
plastic, go to your local electrical distributor and get what you need...
--
Thanks!
dpb
2007-10-07 15:54:31 UTC
Permalink
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex). ...
broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.
Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.
...
Post by MiamiCuse
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half pipes
that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
I'm not aware that there are any manufactured for the purpose, but that
doesn't say there aren't and someone else may point you directly to one.

For electrical conduit, though, that doesn't have to be pressure-tight
as plumbing, I would make my own and glue it in place rather than
introduce a splice into the buried conductor (assuming they didn't break
it as well which I gather from the post they didn't or you wouldn't have
the problem as stated... :) ).

You should be able to split a couple of connectors closely enough that
with some work can make a couple pieces fit adequately and with liberal
glue it would hold well enough. Note that plastic electrical conduit is
_not_ the same material as plumbing so you'll want to get the proper
fittings from the electrical section, not plumbing.

--
Edwin Pawlowski
2007-10-07 16:12:14 UTC
Permalink
Post by dpb
Post by MiamiCuse
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half
pipes that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
I'm not aware that there are any manufactured for the purpose, but that
doesn't say there aren't and someone else may point you directly to one.
Yes, do a Google search for conduit repair and you will find them. I was
looking for a repair of a 2 1/2" metal conduit connector but could not find
one but I did see material for underground plastic. This is going to be a
real PITA for me with 300 feet of conduit on a wall with 480V 3 phase in it.
.
dpb
2007-10-07 16:18:54 UTC
Permalink
Post by Edwin Pawlowski
Post by dpb
Post by MiamiCuse
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half
pipes that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
I'm not aware that there are any manufactured for the purpose, but that
doesn't say there aren't and someone else may point you directly to one.
Yes, do a Google search for conduit repair and you will find them. I was
looking for a repair of a 2 1/2" metal conduit connector but could not find
one but I did see material for underground plastic. This is going to be a
real PITA for me with 300 feet of conduit on a wall with 480V 3 phase in it.
Sounds like...what happened?

I should have added for Miami to go to his local "real" electrical
distributorship -- they'll undoubtedly have just what he needs in stock.

--
Jeff Wisnia
2007-10-07 16:08:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex). It runs under the pool deck from one side of
the house, deck is a concrete slab and brick tiles on top.
It runs under a small planter area about 3'x3' in size. My wife wants to
plant some herb in there so I asked the landscape guys to remove all the
existing fern looking plants in the planter area, they pulled them out
quickly but had to use a pick axe to get to the roots. In the process they
broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.
Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.
The only thing is, I can cut out a 6" section of this pipe, there is a wire
running through it, so it is in the way of me putting in a new section of
the PVC pipe "sleeve". I cannot think of a way to repair it without cutting
this wire, then insert the sleeve, the move the sleeve to one side, then
mend the wire, the put the sleeve back.
I kept thinking, there must be a gadget I am not aware of that can do this.
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half pipes
that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
Thanks,
MC
I'd think it best to avoid cutting the existing wire.

Can you see any markings on that wire?

If so, check it out, it may be a type rated for direct burial
underground use, in which case it wouldn't matter if the repair does not
end up completely waterproof.

I don't think you'll find a "split pipe" repair piece like you described
as an "off the shelf" part.

But, you could do this:

Go to a local Auto Zone or similar car parts place and find the body
repair area.

Buy some fiberglass cloth and some of the fiberglass resin/hardner which
is used with it. Bondo is one brand of such stuff.

Dig out the hole to give you good working access. Wash the dirt off the
broken pipe and wipe the outside down with acetone.

Stuff and/or tape something like pieces of corrugated cardboard into the
gaps in the pipe to bulk it out to somewhere near it's original diameter.

Pretending you are a medical technician, use the fiberglass repair
materials to "wrap a cast" over the area, building the fiberglass cloth
up to about 1/4" thickness and overlapping the unbroken parts of the
pipe by three or four inches.

Wait for the resin to cure, backfill the hole, and try not to think too
ill of your landscapers, who likely weren't warned about that pipe.

HTH,

Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.98*10^14 fathoms per fortnight.
BobK207
2007-10-07 16:19:20 UTC
Permalink
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex). It runs under the pool deck from one side of
the house, deck is a concrete slab and brick tiles on top.
It runs under a small planter area about 3'x3' in size. My wife wants to
plant some herb in there so I asked the landscape guys to remove all the
existing fern looking plants in the planter area, they pulled them out
quickly but had to use a pick axe to get to the roots. In the process they
broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.
Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.
The only thing is, I can cut out a 6" section of this pipe, there is a wire
running through it, so it is in the way of me putting in a new section of
the PVC pipe "sleeve". I cannot think of a way to repair it without cutting
this wire, then insert the sleeve, the move the sleeve to one side, then
mend the wire, the put the sleeve back.
I kept thinking, there must be a gadget I am not aware of that can do this.
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half pipes
that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
Thanks,
MC
MC-

How big is the damaged area? Cracked? Puncture?

Check out this product

http://www.interlock-cpt.com/

Click on the Snapper button (~ mid page, lefthand side)

cheers
Bob
Jeff Wisnia
2007-10-07 16:40:31 UTC
Permalink
Post by BobK207
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex). It runs under the pool deck from one side of
the house, deck is a concrete slab and brick tiles on top.
It runs under a small planter area about 3'x3' in size. My wife wants to
plant some herb in there so I asked the landscape guys to remove all the
existing fern looking plants in the planter area, they pulled them out
quickly but had to use a pick axe to get to the roots. In the process they
broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.
Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.
The only thing is, I can cut out a 6" section of this pipe, there is a wire
running through it, so it is in the way of me putting in a new section of
the PVC pipe "sleeve". I cannot think of a way to repair it without cutting
this wire, then insert the sleeve, the move the sleeve to one side, then
mend the wire, the put the sleeve back.
I kept thinking, there must be a gadget I am not aware of that can do this.
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half pipes
that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
Thanks,
MC
MC-
How big is the damaged area? Cracked? Puncture?
Check out this product
http://www.interlock-cpt.com/
Click on the Snapper button (~ mid page, lefthand side)
cheers
Bob
Applause please!!!

Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.98*10^14 fathoms per fortnight.
dpb
2007-10-07 16:44:53 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jeff Wisnia
Post by BobK207
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it
carries an electric wire (looks Romex). ...
broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.
Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.
...
Post by Jeff Wisnia
Post by BobK207
How big is the damaged area? Cracked? Puncture?
Check out this product
http://www.interlock-cpt.com/
Click on the Snapper button (~ mid page, lefthand side)
...
Post by Jeff Wisnia
Applause please!!!
I don't recall...are dimensions for water and electrical pvc same? I
was sorta' thinking they weren't although maybe close enough????

Been too long since did any wiring that used conduit other than EMT...

--
BobK207
2007-10-08 03:36:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by dpb
Post by Jeff Wisnia
Post by BobK207
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it
carries an electric wire (looks Romex). ...
broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.
Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.
...
Post by Jeff Wisnia
Post by BobK207
How big is the damaged area? Cracked? Puncture?
Check out this product
http://www.interlock-cpt.com/
Click on the Snapper button (~ mid page, lefthand side)
...
Post by Jeff Wisnia
Applause please!!!
I don't recall...are dimensions for water and electrical pvc same? I
was sorta' thinking they weren't although maybe close enough????
Been too long since did any wiring that used conduit other than EMT...
--
I have always considered PVC pipe & PVC Rigid Conduit to be
dimensionally identical (at least with manufacturing tolerances).

http://apiplastics.com/pvc_pipe_dimensions.html

http://www.royalpipe.com/pdfs/Conduit.pdf

I suggested the "pipe repair" fitting so that the conduit could be
made watertight to keep water & dirt out of the conduit.

cheers
Bob
MiamiCuse
2007-10-11 01:24:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jeff Wisnia
Post by BobK207
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex). It runs under the pool deck from one side of
the house, deck is a concrete slab and brick tiles on top.
It runs under a small planter area about 3'x3' in size. My wife wants to
plant some herb in there so I asked the landscape guys to remove all the
existing fern looking plants in the planter area, they pulled them out
quickly but had to use a pick axe to get to the roots. In the process they
broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.
Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.
The only thing is, I can cut out a 6" section of this pipe, there is a wire
running through it, so it is in the way of me putting in a new section of
the PVC pipe "sleeve". I cannot think of a way to repair it without cutting
this wire, then insert the sleeve, the move the sleeve to one side, then
mend the wire, the put the sleeve back.
I kept thinking, there must be a gadget I am not aware of that can do this.
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half pipes
that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
Thanks,
MC
MC-
How big is the damaged area? Cracked? Puncture?
Check out this product
http://www.interlock-cpt.com/
Click on the Snapper button (~ mid page, lefthand side)
cheers
Bob
Applause please!!!
Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.98*10^14 fathoms per fortnight.
***** Applause *****
MiamiCuse
2007-10-11 01:23:12 UTC
Permalink
Post by BobK207
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex). It runs under the pool deck from one side of
the house, deck is a concrete slab and brick tiles on top.
It runs under a small planter area about 3'x3' in size. My wife wants to
plant some herb in there so I asked the landscape guys to remove all the
existing fern looking plants in the planter area, they pulled them out
quickly but had to use a pick axe to get to the roots. In the process they
broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.
Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.
The only thing is, I can cut out a 6" section of this pipe, there is a wire
running through it, so it is in the way of me putting in a new section of
the PVC pipe "sleeve". I cannot think of a way to repair it without cutting
this wire, then insert the sleeve, the move the sleeve to one side, then
mend the wire, the put the sleeve back.
I kept thinking, there must be a gadget I am not aware of that can do this.
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half pipes
that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
Thanks,
MC
MC-
How big is the damaged area? Cracked? Puncture?
Check out this product
http://www.interlock-cpt.com/
Click on the Snapper button (~ mid page, lefthand side)
cheers
Bob
This may work. Thank you very much!
RBM
2007-10-07 17:52:21 UTC
Permalink
While they do make split pvc repair kits, If it's just for physical
protection, I would take a short piece of 3/4 PVC a few inches longer than
the broken section, cut it in half lengthwise, then fuse the two halves
together over the broken section
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries
an electric wire (looks Romex). It runs under the pool deck from one side
of the house, deck is a concrete slab and brick tiles on top.
It runs under a small planter area about 3'x3' in size. My wife wants to
plant some herb in there so I asked the landscape guys to remove all the
existing fern looking plants in the planter area, they pulled them out
quickly but had to use a pick axe to get to the roots. In the process
they broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.
Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.
The only thing is, I can cut out a 6" section of this pipe, there is a
wire running through it, so it is in the way of me putting in a new
section of the PVC pipe "sleeve". I cannot think of a way to repair it
without cutting this wire, then insert the sleeve, the move the sleeve to
one side, then mend the wire, the put the sleeve back.
I kept thinking, there must be a gadget I am not aware of that can do
this. Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half
pipes that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
Thanks,
MC
John Grabowski
2007-10-07 18:01:09 UTC
Permalink
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries an
electric wire (looks Romex). It runs under the pool deck from one side of
the house, deck is a concrete slab and brick tiles on top.
It runs under a small planter area about 3'x3' in size. My wife wants to
plant some herb in there so I asked the landscape guys to remove all the
existing fern looking plants in the planter area, they pulled them out
quickly but had to use a pick axe to get to the roots. In the process they
broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.
Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.
The only thing is, I can cut out a 6" section of this pipe, there is a wire
running through it, so it is in the way of me putting in a new section of
the PVC pipe "sleeve". I cannot think of a way to repair it without cutting
this wire, then insert the sleeve, the move the sleeve to one side, then
mend the wire, the put the sleeve back.
I kept thinking, there must be a gadget I am not aware of that can do this.
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half pipes
that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
Here's a couple of links to companies that make or sell conduit repair kits.
You could try going to an electrical supply company as well.

http://www.conduitrepair.com/

http://www.eprcompany.com/home/

http://www.ipexinc.com/Content/EN_CA/2_0_Products/2_2_electrical_systems/2_2_9_EPRkits.asp
MiamiCuse
2007-10-11 01:26:33 UTC
Permalink
Post by MiamiCuse
Post by MiamiCuse
Hi I have a 1-1/2" PVC pipe that goes underground. Inside of it carries
an
Post by MiamiCuse
electric wire (looks Romex). It runs under the pool deck from one side of
the house, deck is a concrete slab and brick tiles on top.
It runs under a small planter area about 3'x3' in size. My wife wants to
plant some herb in there so I asked the landscape guys to remove all the
existing fern looking plants in the planter area, they pulled them out
quickly but had to use a pick axe to get to the roots. In the process
they
Post by MiamiCuse
broke this small PVC pipe with the wire in it.
Now, I have dug up the dirt and wanted to repair this pipe.
The only thing is, I can cut out a 6" section of this pipe, there is a
wire
Post by MiamiCuse
running through it, so it is in the way of me putting in a new section of
the PVC pipe "sleeve". I cannot think of a way to repair it without
cutting
Post by MiamiCuse
this wire, then insert the sleeve, the move the sleeve to one side, then
mend the wire, the put the sleeve back.
I kept thinking, there must be a gadget I am not aware of that can do
this.
Post by MiamiCuse
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half pipes
that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
Here's a couple of links to companies that make or sell conduit repair kits.
You could try going to an electrical supply company as well.
http://www.conduitrepair.com/
http://www.eprcompany.com/home/
http://www.ipexinc.com/Content/EN_CA/2_0_Products/2_2_electrical_systems/2_2_9_EPRkits.asp
Thanks for all your help. I am sure one of those would do the trick or the
one suggested by BobK207.

Joe
2007-10-08 01:00:49 UTC
Permalink
Post by MiamiCuse
snip<
I kept thinking, there must be a gadget I am not aware of that can do this.
Do they have any plastic sleeves or pipes that are actually two half pipes
that you can fit and glue together or something like that?
Thanks,
MC
Easy done. Just get a piece of the next lat\rger size of PVC and make
a long enough sleeve, then slit it lengthwise. Glue one piece on the
bottom, one piece on the top and fill up the small gap (saw cut width)
with any handy sealant. The cable is probably type UF and doesn't need
any other special protection. HTH

Joe
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