A back to back bend in electrical conduit is a specific type of bend involving two ninety-degree bends in a single piece of conduit, typically forming a "U" shape.
According to the provided reference, a back-to-back bend is defined as:
Back-To-Back: Two ninety degree bends in one conduit, usually with both stubs turned up on the same plane forming a “U”.
This definition specifies the core components and common result of this bending technique.
Understanding the Back to Back Bend
Let's break down the key aspects of a back to back bend:
- Two Ninety-Degree Bends: The fundamental requirement is the presence of exactly two bends, each precisely angled at 90 degrees.
- In One Conduit: Both bends must be performed on a single, continuous piece of conduit, not separate pieces joined together.
- Both Stubs Turned Up: The "stubs" refer to the ends of the conduit after the bends are made. "Turned up" means they are pointing in the same direction relative to the bend plane.
- On the Same Plane: The two 90-degree bends occur within the same flat plane. This ensures the resulting "U" shape lies flat.
- Forming a “U”: The common outcome is a shape resembling the letter "U", where the two bent sections are parallel and pointing the same way.
This type of bend is frequently used in electrical installations to navigate obstacles or change the direction of conduit runs effectively, bringing the conduit back alongside its original path.
Conduit Types
The reference also defines a common type of conduit used for such bends:
- Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT): conduit made to protect conductors and cables, also known as thinwall.
While back to back bends can be made in various types of conduit, EMT is one common material where this technique is applied due to its relative ease of bending compared to rigid conduit types.
In summary, a back to back bend is a precise bending technique that creates a parallel U-shape within a single conduit stick, crucial for efficient and neat electrical pathway installations.
