Background
A leading US fuel and convenience store chain, with locations spanning the entire East Coast, operates hundreds of fueling sites in diverse climates. Many of their locations are built in cold-climate regions with high water tables, where underground infrastructure is constantly exposed to moisture that is prone to freezing and thawing. As part of their fueling operations, the company relies on a network of underground electrical conduit to protect communication wiring for dispensers, sensors, and power distribution. Maintaining reliable dispenser communication is essential for seamless transactions, accurate fuel monitoring, and overall operational efficiency.
Challenge
The marketer originally installed traditional 10 ft. sticks of PVC electrical conduit for dispenser communication, data, and sensor wiring. These conduits required glued joints at every connection, making them susceptible to failure as the ground expanded and contracted due to seasonal freeze-thaw cycles. Within as little as a year after installation, water intrusion through cracked joints led to electrical shorts, disrupting communication between dispensers and the store. This resulted in frequent dispenser outages, costly emergency repairs, and the need to break concrete to access and replace compromised conduit. The recurring failures created a cycle of downtime, operational inefficiencies, and high maintenance costs.
Implementation
The company transitioned to CableTight™ Electrical Conduit for their critical dispenser wiring, replacing traditional PVC conduit with seamless, flexible HDPE conduit designed to withstand
underground environmental changes.
CableTight™ Installation
Seamless conduit runs up to 1,500 ft. long eliminated the need for glued joints, preventing water intrusion.
Flexible, yet strong, HDPE construction allowed the conduit to move with soil shifts without cracking.
Increased durability protected dispenser communication wiring from seasonal expansion and contraction.
Press-Fit Connectors
CableTight™ Press-Fit Connectors allow watertight conduit connections to be made by hand with no specialized tools, either to extend flexible conduit runs or make watertight threaded connections with rigid metal conduit.
The deployment of the CableTight™ Electrical Conduit System led to significant improvements:
Eliminated Water Intrusion:
CableTight™ provided a completely sealed system, preventing water from entering and damaging dispenser communication wiring.
Faster Installation:
Continuous HDPE conduit runs eliminate laborious glued joint work every 10 feet, making wire pulls smooth and easy while the press-fit connectors facilitate time-saving connections during install.
Reduced Maintenance Costs:
With no more conduit failures, the marketer eliminated the need to break concrete and replace failed wiring, significantly reducing maintenance expenses.
Improved System Reliability:
Dispenser communication remained intact, ensuring uninterrupted operations and reducing downtime at fueling stations.
Conclusion
By switching to the CableTight™ Electrical Conduit System, this major East Coast fuel marketer resolved recurring issues with water intrusion, eliminated costly repairs, and improved the long-term reliability of their fueling operations. The seamless, flexible, and durable construction of CableTight™ has become the go-to solution for protecting dispenser communication infrastructure in high water table environments.
