**1. What is the difference between conduit and flexible pipe?**
Conduit is a rigid or semi-rigid tubing system designed specifically to protect and route electrical wiring. Flexible pipe, on the other hand, is used to transport fluids (like water, gas, or air) and is designed to bend or flex to accommodate movement, changes in direction, or connections between components in plumbing, HVAC, or industrial systems. Their core purposes differ: conduit safeguards electrical conductors, while flexible pipe handles fluid/gas flow.
**2. When can you use flexible conduit?**
Flexible conduit is used when:
- Routing wires around tight bends or obstacles where rigid conduit is impractical.
- Connecting electrical equipment subject to vibration (e.g., motors, machinery).
- Linking stationary electrical boxes to moving parts.
- Providing short "whips" at service entrances or between junction boxes.
- Needing a quick, temporary wiring solution.
*Note: It must only be used for electrical protection, never for fluid/gas conveyance.*
**3. Which is stronger, PVC pipe or conduit?**
PVC pipe designed for plumbing/fluid pressure (like Schedule 40 or Schedule 80 PVC pipe) is generally stronger than PVC electrical conduit. Plumbing PVC has thicker walls to withstand internal fluid pressure and external loads. PVC conduit has thinner walls since its primary purpose is protecting wires from physical damage, not containing pressure. Always use plumbing-grade PVC pipe for pressurized liquid/gas applications.
**4. What is another name for flexible conduit?**
Flexible conduit is commonly called **Greenfield** (especially flexible metallic conduit/FMC) in North American electrical trades. Other names include **flex**, **flex conduit**, or specific types like **liquid-tight flexible conduit (LTFC)**.
**5. What is another name for flexible pipe?**
Flexible pipe is often called **hose** (e.g., garden hose, hydraulic hose) or **tubing** (e.g., plastic tubing, copper tubing). The term used depends on the material and application-"hose" implies reinforced flexibility for fluids/air, while "tubing" may refer to smaller-diameter or semi-flexible lines.
