sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Fiber and cable pullys

I'm installing a 3-pair indoor/outdoor fiber 600' run in a warehouse ceiling. The v-bars are parallel to the run, so we're installing J hooks down the route.

The problem I foresee is where we start the run - I need some sort of pully to support and help feed the cable at the beginning of the run with a 36' clear ceiling height.

Caddy has their 'CableCat' pullys, but I'm not sure if these are best to maintain minimum bend radius or if there is something better to use. Any suggestions?

GMP Has THIS that will give you what you need, but be prepared to crack that check book wide open to buy one. They are designed to mount on a strand, but in a warehouse ceiling, you should be able to find some form of attachment for it.

remember the old telco. adage "turn on two", use 2 pulleys to form a slow 90 degree turn.

Greenlee had a whole line of pulleys and sheaves that we used with and without their Cable Pullers (Super Tuggers).

There was another company that had something called a "3rd man" or something like that. I'll try to look it up when I get home.

Sam

Have conduit and pullboxes installed!

Mike Sandman has you covered: https://www.sandman.com/pdf/page30.pdf

I bought six of these 10+ years ago and still have most of them. They are surprisingly strong. You could just use a couple of tywraps to support them from the trusses

That "3rd man" is a Leviton 49001-JOE. I've actually got one in the dreaded basement. PM me if you're interested.

Here's what it looks like:

https://www.tiptopelectronics.com/pdfs/leviton_tools_accessories.pdf

Or go for one of the other options that people have listed. Sandman's 2nd man is like the Greenlee Pulleys only smaller & cheaper. For a 6 strand fiber I'm sure it would be fine.

And there's nothing better then conduit & boxes. Go with 1.25" and you won't have a problem with a bend radius. Actually with 6 strand you could probably go with 1 inch.

Sam

I'm going to have to disagree with you there Larry. I bought a few of those years ago too and when I got them my first impression was that they looked like they were made from recycled milk containers. They are all plastic and broke very easily. They are worth maybe a dollar or two, certainly not 13. Certainly not what I would expect from Sandman either.

Sam, I think your "3rd Man" has too small a bend radius for fiber but I really can't get an idea of it's size from the picture.

I'm with Ed, get one of those pulleys and you won't regret it. Once you have it you'll always use it if you are going to be pulling wire or fiber.

-Hal

Hal -

With the "3rd Man" completely closed the space inside (measured roller to roller) is 2.75" in each direction. Two opposing sides are double rollers and two are single rollers.

Would you think that is too tight a radius for a 6 strand indoor/outdoor fiber?

Sam

The Cable Joe and the Extra Man are not going to keep the bend radius for fiber.

I would look for a 6" snatch block pulley, similar to this:


We use one when pulling multiple Cat-5's to transition from the boxes to the main part of the pull, then Cable Joes to make the corners (Cat-5 only, not fiber)


If you've got the bucks, and have a future need, do it the right way:


See the complete line here:
https://www.gmptools.com/nf/index_Fiberoptic.htm

We must have gotten a different batch. We've used them to pull 7-8 Cat 5e's at a time and they have never broke. However, a couple have miraculously disappeared...

Are they worth $13/each? No, but where else can you readily find them?

Why worry? Install innerduct, attached to the "red iron" and go for it. The duct makes the required bend radius.

My 2 cents.

Experience would tell me that it is not too tight of a radius. However, the specs would probably say differently.

You're suppose to maintain a minimum bend radius of 15x diameter of the cable. So, if the 6 strand is about .25", then it would need a bend radius of 3.75." Which would mean that my suggestion would be technically incorrect as well, if the fiber is being pulled at a 90-degree angle at the pulley.

Are they worth $13/each? No, but where else can you readily find them?

Exactly. That's why I bought them too. Been down this same road and that GMP stuff was expensive but if you have a need you only have to buy it once.

-Hal

I think you're missing the point of the "3rd man" aka Cable Joe. The wire goes through the CENTER of the frame, and the rollers along all sides allow you to make turns without getting snagged. So the spacing of the rollers is irrelevant


Just used 2 of them today to make a 400' run through a construction site to bring dial tone to the construction office.