Newhouse Electric 3-in Universal Pipe Strap for Strut Channel Accessory, Silver

Why I reached for this strap

I pulled the PC3 strap into rotation on a retrofit where we were adding a 3-inch line to an existing strut rack over a mechanical room. Space was tight, time was tighter, and I wanted hardware I could set with one hand while hanging onto the ladder with the other. On paper, this strap ticks the boxes: a captive square nut to lock into the channel, a combination slotted/hex bolt head so I’m not married to one driver, and a simple, electroplated finish that should hold up fine in dry interior spaces.

Design and build

The PC3 strap is a classic two-piece strut clamp for 3-inch pipe or conduit. It’s silver electroplated steel, so you’re getting basic corrosion resistance comparable to standard zinc hardware. The bolt head is a hybrid slot/hex, which is more useful than it sounds; I’ve had moments where the only thing in my pouch that fit was a flat blade, and this hardware still closed the loop. The square nut sits captive on the shoulder, which allows you to position the strap in the strut channel and start the bolt with one hand. That design saves time, especially when you’re working overhead or reaching around obstructions.

Material thickness feels serviceable for light to medium-duty support, but it’s not the heaviest-gauge strap in my drawer. If you’re used to heavy hot-dip galvanized clamps, this will feel lighter. That’s not automatically a problem—lighter hardware is easier to manipulate—but it does inform how much torque you should apply during tightening and what loads you assign to it.

Installation experience

Set-up is as straightforward as it gets for strut work:

• Seat the captive square nut in the channel.
• Wrap the strap around the conduit.
• Hand-start the bolt into the nut.
• Snug it with a nut driver or flat screwdriver, then finish with a wrench.

The “one-handed start” claim holds up. Working off a step ladder, I could hold the conduit with one hand and get the bolt set with the other without fighting a loose nut or juggling parts over my head. The hybrid bolt head also made it easy to finish tightening with whatever driver I had handy.

One tip: don’t crank on this like a U-bolt. It’s a strap, and the metal will deform if you overdo it. I had the best results with a “snug-plus-quarter-turn” approach—tight enough to secure the conduit without flattening the strap or dimpling the pipe.

Fitment realities

Here’s where expectations matter. My sample was stamped for EMT, and that’s exactly where it fits best. On 3-inch EMT, the strap seated cleanly and closed without drama. On rigid conduit and Schedule 80 PVC, the fit was not as forgiving. I could persuade it onto rigid with effort, but the contact looked pinched, and I wouldn’t call it a proper fit. For Schedule 80 PVC, I passed; the geometry just wasn’t right without forcing it.

If you need one strap to cover EMT, rigid, and thicker-wall plastics at 3 inches, this isn’t that unicorn. As an EMT strap for strut channel, it’s fine. For truly “universal” coverage, look to a strap specifically rated and shaped for rigid/IMC or consider a cushioned clamp with a wider arc.

Strength and stability

Once set on EMT and mounted properly to the strut, the PC3 strap held solid. I loaded the rack with a reasonable cable tray share and gave the conduit a few good shakes to simulate vibration—no slippage, no dramatic loosening. That said, the strap will start to curve out of shape if you bear down too hard on the bolt. The metal is not flimsy in a cheap way, but it does have a point where it deforms before you see any sign of thread strain. Respect that, and it performs as intended.

For long runs with thermal expansion or areas with constant vibration, I prefer cushioned clamps or heavier-gauge alternatives. For typical interior mechanical or electrical installations where the strut rack carries most of the load and the strap retains placement, the PC3 is adequate.

Hardware quirks and consistency

Two nits from my time with it:

• Bolt head sizes weren’t consistent across the pack. Some heads took a 3/8-inch driver, others wanted 7/16. Not a showstopper, but it’s an annoyance if you’re standardizing tools for a crew or trying to move fast.
• One of the straps arrived missing the nut. That’s a quality control miss you don’t want to discover after climbing a ladder. I keep spare square nuts on hand, so it didn’t cost me time, but it shouldn’t happen.

If you’re buying multiples, open the box and check that each set has its nut and that your drivers fit the hardware before heading to the site.

Corrosion and environment

The silver electroplating is typical for indoor applications. In conditioned spaces, dry basements, or protected mechanical rooms, it’s enough. Outdoors or in corrosive environments (pools, wastewater, coastal), I’d step up to hot-dip galvanized or stainless hardware, and likely a clamp style with a beefier saddle. The PC3 doesn’t pretend to be that; it’s an economical, interior-grade strap.

Where it shines

• Fast one-handed starts in strut channel. The captive square nut is genuinely helpful.
• Flexible tooling. The slot/hex bolt head saves you when you don’t have the exact driver nearby.
• Clean fit on 3-inch EMT in interior environments.
• Budget-conscious installs where you need a lot of clamps quickly and don’t need the heft of heavy-duty supports.

Where it falls short

• Not truly universal. My sample matched EMT geometry and struggled on rigid and Schedule 80 PVC.
• Inconsistent bolt head sizing across sets can slow you down.
• Light enough to deform if over-tightened; requires a measured touch.
• Electroplating is fine indoors but not meant for harsh conditions.

Alternatives to consider

• A rigid/IMC-specific 3-inch strut clamp if your job is heavy steel conduit or thicker wall plastics.
• Cushioned strut clamps for vibration isolation and better grip on mixed materials.
• Hot-dip galvanized or stainless options for outdoor or high-corrosion locations.
• U-bolt with a backplate for high-load or high-vibration scenarios, accepting the slower install for greater robustness.

Practical tips

• Pre-stage the straps in the strut channel before lifting conduit into place; the captive nut keeps them from falling out.
• Use a torque-limiting nut driver or go by feel—snug, then a quarter-turn. Watch for strap deformation as your stop sign.
• Label your driver sizes on the cart if you find mixed bolt heads in your batch.
• Keep a few extra square nuts in your kit in case a strap arrives incomplete.

Verdict and recommendation

The PC3 strap is a competent, easy-to-install strut clamp for 3-inch EMT in indoor applications. The captive square nut and combination bolt head genuinely improve speed and ease of use, especially overhead. Build quality is acceptable for light to medium-duty retention, provided you don’t over-torque the hardware. Where it disappoints is in universality claims and consistency—my experience points to EMT-only fitment, occasional variation in bolt head size, and a missing nut in one set.

Would I recommend it? Yes, with clear boundaries. If your workload is primarily 3-inch EMT inside conditioned spaces and you value fast, one-handed install, the PC3 does the job efficiently and economically. If you need guaranteed fit on rigid conduit or Schedule 80 PVC, or you’re working in corrosive/outdoor environments, choose a heavier, properly rated alternative.