The history of electricity is a fascinating subject. When we see a light go on or an appliance fire up, it is hard to imagine the thought processes that went into making that possible. In this article, we will look at the history of electricity from its very beginnings to how it has evolved over the years.

Benjamin Franklin flying a kite during a thunder and lightning storm. Franklin tied a key to the end of the kite string. The electricity from the storm clouds flowed down the wet string and ended up giving him an electric shock. This would serve as the first form of evidence that electricity existed. But it would be a long time until people could actually figure out how to use electricity in a practical sense.

One of the first breakthroughs in the history of electricity occurred when British scientist Michael Faraday discovered its basic principles. He discovered he could create an electric current by moving magnets inside of coils of copper wire. This revolutionized how we use energy. Faraday’s basic theory still comes to play on how we produce power today. Although now, we have the capability of doing this on a much larger scale.

Rural Electric Administration that ensured the availability of electricity in rural areas. By 1939, the number of rural homes with electricity had risen by 25%. Farmers were able to access electrical appliances like stoves and washing machines which made life much easier for them.

An electric conduit is electrical tubing used for protection and routing of electrical wiring. They can be made from a variety of materials, such as: plastic, metal, fiber and fired clay, all depending on the purpose it is being used for. It is generally installed by electricians at the electrical equipment’s installation site. The regulations governing the conduits’ use, form and installation details are specified by the US National Electrical Code (NEC).

Conduit is used as a general term to describe any system that contains electrical conductors. The conduit systems are installed for the following reasons:

To operate as pull outlets for the conductors that are being installed Make 90° bends in conduit runs

Types of Conduits

Conduit systems are classified based on the material used to make the tubing, mechanical stiffness and wall thickness. The material is selected for mechanical protection and corrosion resistance after taking into consideration the cost factor. There are special guidelines to be followed for wiring equipment in hazardous areas that need prior approval. Based on these factors, we examine a few prominent conduits:

Form 35/5/85 ex. Appleton LB400M

The Form 35 is used for malleable iron unilets as they have high tensile strength and ductility along with high corrosion and shock resistance. With the easy inbuilt rollers of type C (1-1/4” thru 4”) and type LB (1-1/4” thru 4”), these type of conduits help eliminate the damage when cable is pulled through the hubs. Form 5 has inbuilt rollers on all 11⁄4 to 4 C and LB bodies to facilitate wire pulling.

Form 7 ex. Crouse hind LB37

The Form 7 ex. Crouse hind LB37 is compatible with rigid and intermediate conduits for indoor as well as outdoor installation. It is made of cast iron or cast aluminium for a long life. It is extremely suitable for compact installations with rigidly threaded conduits of various shapes and sizes. The Form 7 has an exclusive snap tight and wedgenut cover attachment to provide clear, unhindered cover opening.

Mogul ex. Appleton BLB400m

The Mogul ex. Appleton BLB400m has a large body size that facilitates pulling of large and heavy conductors and are used as cast covers for providing additional wiring area. These are best used for pulling straight, 45° or 90° angle turns as well as for making taps and splices.

Form 8 ex. Crouse LB38

The Form 8 ex. Crouse LB38 is a 1” rigidly threaded conduit without cover and gasket made of Feraloy iron alloy. It is useful for indoor and outdoor use and comes in sizes ½” through 4”.

Form 9 ex. Crouse LB39