If you construct a new building, you must need a conduit to convey your electric wires from one place to another.
It’s the safest way to transfer the electric cables under the ground or the walls. It will take most of the external threats and weights and safely transfer the wires.
Although most of the wires are suitable for the conduit, you cannot use external or all the wires. Therefore, you must know what types of electric cables are better for the conduit.
Can you use URD in conduit?
You can use the URD in the conduit. It is suitable to operate under the ground and rated for both external uses. It has some quality features that make it compatible with the conduit and become a great fit. Although the manufacturer discourages using it in conduit, you can use it.
As per the manufacturer’s instructions, you cannot put the urd in the conduit. They claim that the wire is not 100% safe for use underground or in the conduit.
But people have been using it for a long time, both above and under the ground. So far, there is no objection, or no occurrence has been incurred due to the urd in conduit.
You can also use your under-constructed building without any issues. The URD has some quality features that help you use it everywhere without any electrical risks. Significantly, the URD can resist the sunlight and bear the external pressure.
For which it is perfect to use underground or in the conduit. Since you’re not directly using URD under the ground, it will be safe for years like other compatible wires. Another notable feature would be the underground compatibility.
URD is specially manufactured for using it under the ground. It will also help the secondary power distributor.
That means you’re not going to face any internal or external issues in using the URD in your conduit. Instead, it will be your wise decision to use it there.
So, the conduit and URD will be a great combination. Users, who start using URD in conduit, never want to change their wire and go for the instructed one. They are getting the best service from the URD and are highly satisfied too.
Do you have to put urd wire in conduit?
You do not have to put URD wire in conduit. URD is a direct bury cable that does not require conduit other than where it is exposed above ground. However, you cannot run it inside a structure because URD does not contain fire-resistant insulation.
URD cannot enter the building, so it will not be able to reach the panel if the panel is located within the building, whether through a conduit or not.
You would need to construct a connector outside the building and connect it to something else to connect it to the control panel.
Therefore, there is no coordination between the URD wire and the conduit. That’s why putting urd wire in the conduit will not be that much beneficial.
Is urd cable permitted in conduit above ground?
URD cable is permitted in conduit above the ground. It will be safe though it is mainly for underground use. Using it above the ground will still be fine and won’t be a bad idea anymore.
If you go through the reasons, you will know why you can use the urd cable in conduit above the ground. It will protect the cable from the direct sun and bear the extra weight. If you use it above the ground, it will not create any issue.
You know that only the UV-protected wire cables are suitable for above-the-ground use. And the URD cable already has this feature included in it. Therefore, using the conduit above the ground won’t be any big issue.
Manufacturers try to give all the features in the URD cables so that you can use the underground and above the ground. It will convey the electricity safely and dedicatedly without damaging the conduit and creating electric risks.
What is URD wire used for?
URD stands for Underground Residential Distribution Wire is mainly used for underground electricity transferring.
It is made with special aluminum made wire that can bear the extra pressure and help the electric flow reach its destination without any issues.
It will also become a helpful wire to use above the ground purpose. If you have a conduit and you’re not sure which cables you should use above the ground, URD wires would be your best choice.
Therefore, the URD wire is used underground and above the ground conduit. It has high-quality features that won’t damage anything and will convey the electric flow safely. You can also use it for your under-constructed building to ensure the best electric wire.
5 reasons why you can use urd in conduit
You will mostly find these 5 reasons behind the URD wires. These reasons will tell you why you should use it in your conduit and why it is suited for underground and above-ground uses. Finally, they will help you make a sound decision about the cables.
Power Carrier:
Ground-level residential distribution wire (URD), sometimes known as underground residential distribution cable (URC), is a specialty aluminum wire you can use in home construction and light to medium-duty commercial applications.
This long-lasting cable is frequently used to carry power from a pad-mounted transformer to a particular structure’s service entry or meter. Therefore, it is perfect for using the URD cables in the conduit.
Internal Usage Benefit:
It will benefit you from burying directly in the ground or installing a duct in both wet and dry places, depending on the application.
And, it will help you to use the URD in the conduit without any issues. Also, the material URD is made with 8000 series compact aluminum conductors and is allowed for indoor use.
Secondary Distribution and Service Entrance:
With a voltage of 600 volts or less, you will be tempted to use this underground electrical wire for subterranean secondary distribution and service entrance applications.
You can also bury them directly or install them in ducts (with a reduced permitted ampacity). The URD will be your best choice if you plan to use the conduit for secondary power distribution.
Sunlight Resistant:
If you are looking for a cable with sunlight resistance, this might be one of the best choices. This feature will allow you to use the URD above the ground conduit.
Durable:
The last reason you can use the URD in conduit is because of the durability.
One of the significant benefits of URD is that you may utilize it in work environments where a high level of scratch and abrasion resistance is a critical criterion for success.
This wire is also permissible in locations that are susceptible to water and moisture and in dry environments. The majority of URD cultivars can withstand temperatures as high as 90°C.
Is there any type urd cable rated for installation in underground conduit?
A special type of URD cable is rated for installation in an underground conduit, the Secondary Underground Distribution Cable.
It will provide you with the benefit of installing the cables in an underground duct or immediately burying them in the ground.
Triplex and quadruplexes are two of their most common types. Secondary underground distribution cables offer excellent insulating properties to deliver great strength, adaptability, and dependability in their applications.
It is made of concentric stranded or compressed strands of aluminum conductor, then connected. The conductor is composed of an alloy from the 1350 class. Twisted cords are made up of phase conductors and neutral conductors assembled.
Another component is cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), which is black in color and serves as insulation. The conductors are isolated, and the surface is printed with neutral triple yellow striping to distinguish them from one another.
Can you direct bury URD wire?
You can directly bury the URD wire underground. It will be safe, though; it is recommended to use any inducts or conduit. It will increase safety and ensure there are no electric risks.
If you have options to use any conduit or in-ducts over the URD cables, you should never skip the idea. You should use them as the protector. Although the URD cables are made with high-quality aluminum, they will not last long under the ground.
Therefore, it is better not to bury the URD cables directly. It will not become 100% safe. If you have a budget and the conduit is not a big deal to buy, go for it. Cover your URD cables with a conduit or place them in the conduit.
Final Thoughts
Although manufacturers don’t suggest it, you can use the URD wires in the conduit. It will be safe and will last for a long time. It will transfer the electricity better than anyone else and become an excellent choice. You can use URD both under the ground and above the ground conduit.