Book it
- Wire Pull Kit (Cannon 6K + 2 ropes + spool stands)Puller, two 300 ft ropes, spool stands. $1,250 deposit.From $245/dayBook the Wire Pull Kit (Cannon 6K + 2 ropes + spool stands)
- Cannon 6K Wire Puller (3K/6K)4-speed dual capstan, no anchoring. $1,000 deposit.From $175/dayBook the Cannon 6K Wire Puller (3K/6K)
- Pull Rope, 300 ft300 ft pulling rope. 2 available.From $30/dayBook the Pull Rope, 300 ft
- Wire Spool Stand Set (reel stands + spindle)Two reel stands plus spindle.From $35/dayBook the Wire Spool Stand Set (reel stands + spindle)
- Kubota U27-4R1 Mini ExcavatorTight-tail-swing mini excavatorFrom $335/dayBook the Kubota U27-4R1 Mini Excavator
Free pickup in Pierce County; exact location sent after booking. Delivery is $200 each way; your job-site address is checked at checkout.
Which pull is yours?
The wire is the last step. The route, the bends and the permit decide how the pull goes. Common jobs:
- Feeder to a detached shop or garage: Usually a long underground run between two buildings. Dig the trench and lay the conduit first, then pull once the conduit is in and clear.
- ADU subpanel: A feeder from the main panel to a subpanel. Count the bends on the route as well as the length, since both make the pull harder.
- EV charger run: A run from the panel to a garage wall or driveway charger. Short runs can still have a lot of bends, so plan a pull point where the route turns.
- Service upgrade pulls: New conductors for a bigger service. The serving utility has to be in the loop when power is disconnected and reconnected.
- Long or multi-bend commercial pulls: Shop, warehouse and equipment feeders. Plan pull points, rope length and where the spools sit before the crew shows up.
Still need the trench? Start with the underground conduit trenching guide; the Kubota U27-4 digs it.
Plan the pull
Count the bends between pull points
- The NEC raceway rules limit the total bends between pull points, offsets included, to 360 degrees (Mike Holt). That is the same as four quarter bends.
- An offset is two bends, so it counts twice. A box or conduit body is a pull point, and the count starts over there (ElectricalToolbox).
- Too much bend in one section makes a pull hard and can damage the conductors. If the route needs more, add a pull point. L&I inspects to the 2023 NEC, so confirm the route with your inspector.
Clean and prove the conduit
- Polywater says to clean the conduit with stiff brushes and prove it with a mandrel before you pull. Debris, ice or a crushed section can stop a pull cold.
- Remove sharp edges at conduit joints, and tape any sharp points on the pulling hardware.
Lube the whole pull
- Have enough cable lube on hand to finish. Polywater says once a pull starts, it should not stop, because the cable is hard to get moving again.
- Lube applied by hand is the most common method. Coat the whole cable as it enters the conduit, and keep applying it during the pull.
- Check that the lube is compatible with the cable jacket, and wipe off the extra at the end.
Set up the spools
- The spool stand set holds the wire reels at the feed end. Line the reels up so the wire feeds straight into the conduit, and help it off the reel so it doesn’t drag (Polywater lubricant guide, PDF).
- Southwire says the wire should feed in one smooth arc with no reverse bends, with a person feeding it straight into the conduit by hand.
- Pulling through a box on the way? Southwire says to pull the wire all the way out of one side, then feed it into the other side and pull that section (Southwire Power Cable Installation Guide, PDF).
Measure the rope and pick a direction
- Measure the whole run and add a margin, then compare it with our 300 ft pull ropes (2 available). The steps are in the rope section of the wire puller guide.
- For a hard pull, Southwire lists options: fewer bends, pulling from the other end, pulling in stages or a shorter pull.
- Adding wire to a conduit that already has wire in it? Southwire says that is generally not recommended.
Rope and safety details are on each product page. Read the Cannon 6K, pull rope and wire pull kit pages before you book, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and your permit.
Washington permit notes
Who issues the permit
- L&I says an electrical permit is required for most electrical work. Whoever does the work buys it before starting, and you can’t use a permit someone else bought (L&I permit basics).
- Some cities issue their own electrical permits. L&I’s city list includes Milton and Federal Way.
- If Tacoma Power serves the property, Tacoma Power sells the permit and does the inspection. L&I lists its area as Tacoma, Fircrest, University Place, Fife, Lakewood, parts of Steilacoom, and unincorporated Pierce County down to Roy. Outside a listed city or that area, the permit comes from L&I (L&I permits and inspections).
Doing the work yourself
- RCW 19.28.261 lets owners skip the electrical license for work on their own property, unless it is a new building for rent, sale or lease, or property offered for sale within 12 months after getting it.
- L&I’s property owner permit application (PDF) includes a signed affidavit, and your name or your company’s name must be on the deed.
- An owner’s permit covers only the owner’s own work. L&I strongly encourages hiring an electrical contractor instead, and the contractor then buys the permit (L&I purchase permits).
Post it, inspect it, call the utility
- Post the permit at the job site, or post the permit number at the panel feeding the work, before you start and until the inspection is done (WAC 296-46B-901).
- Request inspection before you cover anything, and no later than 3 business days after you finish or 1 business day after any part is energized, whichever comes first.
- Service upgrade? L&I says to contact your serving utility if power has to be disconnected and reconnected, or connected for the first time.
- Trenching first? Contact WA 811 before you dig. Utilities don’t mark private lines, like power to an outbuilding.
Summaries for planning only; follow the official text. Town pages: Puyallup · Bonney Lake · Sumner · Auburn · Enumclaw.
Rates
| Item | Day | Week | 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wire pull kit | $245 | $700 | $1,640 |
| Cannon 6K puller | $175 | $525 | $1,250 |
| Pull rope, 300 ft | $30 | $90 | $225 |
| Spool stand set | $35 | $75 | $120 |
Deposit: $1,000 for the Cannon 6K, $1,250 for the kit; deposit terms are on each product page. Prices are before WA sales tax and the 1.25% heavy equipment rental tax where it applies. Your exact total shows at checkout.
Questions
What do I rent to pull a feeder through conduit?
The wire pull kit has the Cannon 6K wire puller, two 300 ft pull ropes and the wire spool stand set. It is $245 a day, $700 a week or $1,640 for 4 weeks. Each piece also books on its own.
How many bends can a conduit run have between pull points?
Mike Holt's summary of the NEC raceway rules says the total bends, including offsets, between pull points can't exceed 360 degrees. A box or conduit body is a pull point, and the count starts over there. Confirm with your electrical inspector.
Who buys the electrical permit for a shop feeder or EV charger?
L&I says whoever performs the electrical work buys the permit before starting, and you cannot use a permit someone else purchased. If you hire an electrical contractor, they buy their own permit.
Can I pull the wire myself on my own property in Washington?
RCW 19.28.261 says owners don't need an electrical license to do electrical work on their own property, unless it is a new building intended for rent, sale or lease, or property offered for sale within 12 months after getting it. You still need the permit and inspection, and L&I strongly encourages hiring an electrical contractor.
When do I request the electrical inspection?
L&I says to request inspection before you cover any electrical work, and no later than 3 business days after you finish or 1 business day after any part is energized, whichever comes first. If a city issued your permit, ask the city inspector.
Is 300 ft of pull rope enough for my run?
Measure the whole run and add a margin, then compare it with our 300 ft ropes (2 available). The rope section of the wire puller rental guide walks through it. If you need more, call or email us before you book.
Do you include cable lube or a swivel?
No. The kit is the Cannon 6K, two 300 ft pull ropes and the spool stand set. Bring your own cable lube and swivel.
More guides: all rental guides. Kit vs pieces and pickup: wire puller rental guide. Digging the trench: underground conduit guide and mini excavator guide.
