Bending 4/0

[Mike Heidrick]

Anyone ever use a Greenlee 796 Ratchet Cable Bender? Anyone use a Bend All Cable Bender?

[David G Baker]

Mike, I haven't used the tools you mentioned but I have used tubing and pipe benders to shape heavy electric wires. The Greenlee tools that I have used have always worked great for me, the make good products.

[Rod Sheridan]

Nope, however at work we use a GB hydraulic bender, it makes the nicest tight bends you can imagine.......Regards, Rod.

[David G Baker]

Mike, I visited the Greenlee site that has the bender you posted about, the bender is almost identical to the tubing bender that I use on my heavy wire.

[Mike Heidrick]

I got that greenlee wire bender on the way.

Today I managed to score some greenlee punch and dies including a 2 1/2" and another set. I then bought a hydraulic knockout punch kit from Harbor freight. It was open boxed and I got it for $63 - basicly 20% off the store price without a coupon. everything was theer as new so I thought that was good. The greenlee hyd knockout punch kit is $800. I have about 6 boxes to do and a buddy will have some to do as well so they will be nice toys to play with.

[Bobby O'Neal]

Are we talking about 4/0 copper? What kind of bend? I suppose I haven't ever had trouble bending wire by hand, within reason, so you may be attempting more severe shapes than I ever have.

[Mike Heidrick]

4/0 alum. Coming right out of 320 meter base and into two 200amp disconnect boxes. Also feeding house off one of the disconnects.

[Bobby O'Neal]

Gotcha. In my area those size bases and panels are pretty generous for room so 4/0 isn't a big deal to shape as long as you have some length to leverage with. All the best with it.

[Mike Heidrick]

The greenlee ratcheting wire bender laughed at my 4/0. Holy cow that is an awesome tool for bending big wire.

Also - hydraulic knockout punch and die set - SWEET!!! Makes a perfect 2 1/2" conduit hole in about 15 pumps of that handle.

I know overkill (story of my life) but man do I like using purpose made tools! There is a reason pros have these folks!

[Anthony Whitesell]

Having a brain lapse right now. But if 4/0 Al is the service entrance cable for 200A service, I just used my body weight and a metal bar. I placed the cable on the ground and the bar over it where I wanted to make the bend lifted the cable. To fine tune it after it was in place, I used a 3lb sledgehammer.

[Mike Heidrick]

Beating it to submission is definiately an option.

[Rollie Meyers]

4/0 alum. Coming right out of 320 meter base and into two 200amp disconnect boxes. Also feeding house off one of the disconnects.

4/0 AL is too small for that purpose unless the calculated load is under the rating for 4/0 AL, since the 4/0 is not carrying the ENTIRE load (This also only applies to a residence outbuildings & non-residential do not conform) it does not meet the criteria allowing undersized conductors in Table 310.15(6).