Installation Practices

Determining Conduit Sizes

Conduits or ducts should be properly constructed having smooth walls and of adequate size as
determined by the overall cable diameter and recommended percentage of fill of conduit area.
.
Dimensions
of conduit
Nominal size Internal diameter Area
conduit inches inches square inches
.... 1 1.049 0.86.......
....1 1/4 1.380 1.50.......
.... 1 1/2 1.610 2.04.......
....2 2.067 3.36.......
....2 1/2 2.469 4.79.......
....3 3.068 7.38.......
....3 1/2 3.548 9.90.......
....4 4.026 12.72.......
....5 5.047 20.00.......
....6 6.065 28.89.......

For groups or combinations of cables it is recommended that the conduit or tubing be of such
size that the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the individual cables will not be more than the
percentage of the interior cross-sectional area of the conduit or tubing as shown in the following
tables.

Maximum percent internal Maximum percent internal

area of conduit or tubing diameter of conduit or tubing
Number of cables Number of cables
1 2 3 4 Over 4 .... 1 2 3 4
Cables Cables
53 31 40 40 40 72.8 39.3 36.5 31.6
(not lead-covered) (not lead-covered)
Lead-covered Lead-covered
55 30 40 38 35 74.2 38.7 36.5 30.8
cables cables

PROPIEDAD DEL ING. RAUL HERRERA

 Maximum allowable diameter
(in inches) of individual cables
in given size of conduit
Non-metallic jacketed cable —
all cables of same outside diameter
Nominal Number of cables having same O.D.
size
conduit 1 2* 3* 4*
..1/2 0.453 0.244 0.227 0.197
..3/4 0.600 0.324 0.301 0.260
..1 0.763 0.412 0.383 0.332
..1 1/4 1.010 0.542 0.504 0.436
..1 1/2 1.173 0.633 0.588 0.509
..2 1.505 0.812 0.754 0.653
..2 1/2 1.797 0.970 0.901 0.780
..3 2.234 1.206 1.120 0.970
..3 1/2 2.583 1.395 1.296 1.121
..4 2.930 1.583 1.470 1.273
..5 3.675 1.985 1.844 1.595
..6 4.416 2.385 2.215 1.916

NOTE: To determine the size conduit required for any number (n) of equal diameter cables in

excess of four, multiply the diameter of one cable by .

This will give the “equivalent” diameter of four such cables and the conduit size required for (n)
cables may then be found by using the column for four cables.

* These diameters are based on percent fill only. The Jam Ratio, Conduit OD to Cable ID, should
be checked to avoid possible jamming.

ENGINEERING TECHNICAL CENTER

PROPIEDAD DEL ING. RAUL HERRERA