Wires are pretty much everywhere in our homes. They come in many sizes and shapes and can be seen, or not seen, doing everything from connecting our devices to powering our appliances and fixtures. While wires and cables used around the home are often protected by insulated covers and sheathing, sometimes they need a stronger protective barrier, like an electrical conduit, especially if they’re at a greater risk of being damaged or severed.
Definition
The term electrical conduit refers to a protective tubing that wires and cables are run through to help prevent damage to the conductors. Often found in residential and light commercial use, these tubes come in various sizes and materials for different purposes, such as indoor and outdoor use. Some common types of electrical conduit found around the home are: Flexible conduit ENT (electrical nonmetallic tubing), which is commonly referred to as smurf tube; EMT conduit (electrical metal tubing), which is also called thin wall steel tubing, because of its light but rigid construction; and rigid conduit, or RMC, which is a strong galvanized steel tubing that’s often used for outdoor and workshop type applications.
What Is The Purpose Of Electrical Conduit?
If you find the unsightly mess of wires gathering everywhere near your devices and appliances annoying, then electrical conduit might just be your new DIY best friend. These crafty little tubes are typically required when wires need to be protected against potential external damage. However, some times they are installed to make wiring up devices easier and to have the end results look less cluttered:
- In some cases, they are required by law, such as when you’re burying cables underground or leaving cables exposed. For example, if you’re running wire out to a shed or if you have exposed wire in your garage, it might be necessary to keep everything sealed up.
- In other cases, homeowners may want to install electrical conduit, such as flexible conduit ENT, commonly referred to as smurf tube, or PVC conduit, in order to make future wiring projects neat and simple. Works great for home entertainment and home security projects.
