PEX / PVC for use as Electrical Conduit & Static Electricity

[Lee S]

I am not an electrical engineer, nor do I play one on TV. Has anyone who has used PEX or PVC tubing for electrical conduit experienced any issues with static electricity? According to Mr. Google, A&P, PEX, PVC and other non-metallic conduit materials attract and hold static electricity; whereas metal conduit can be grounded and apparently doesn't hold / retain static electricity. I get the whole experimental thing, but in my 'very uneducated" opinion, it would seem strongly advisable to not use plastic conduit in an airplane to avoid a source that holds static electricity, especially a source that is mere inches from the fuel tanks. Any thoughts and/or opinions on this subject? I'm looking to make a conduit material decision soon and plastic conduit does seems very attractive, perhaps in more ways than one.

Thanks everyone for your comments!
Lee

[Untainted123]

I have seen both used, PEX or PVC, and more commonly the corrugated tubing (non-split). My preference is smooth wall PVC, but the very thin walled stuff (Schedule 30?) to save weight. No corrugations make wire much easier to shove down it without getting caught on each rib.

Nothing will "hold" static electricity if it has a place to dissipate (for example static wicks). In addition, there can be no spark from static electricity if there is no potential difference. Meaning, if the plastic tubing is in contact with the structure electrically at any place, they are at the same potential and therefore a spark won't jump. I have seen PVC used quite a bit in RV's, and static "storage" or sparking has never been a concern. I recommend you put a 3/4 piece of conduit anywhere you don't want to have to take apart to put or pull a wire through, for example under the floor to the back, and perhaps down the wings. There is a weight penalty though. There is no need to tie the bundle up if it's captured by the conduit, and doing so defeats the purpose. In our Bearhawks however, there are very few spots that you couldn't get to later, in RV's the rear seat pan and baggage are riveted in place, so a conduit makes more sense there.