Please read the entire article to help you decide which method will work best for you! It provides for hot s , neutral and grounding conductors all inside a durable, sunlight and moisture resistant encasement or "jacket". UF type cable looks very similar to "NM" Romex cable, but differs in that the individual conductors are "flooded" with the jacket material found on NM cable.
Thus, there is no thin, easy-to-remove outer jacket like NM cable, but rather the conductors and their insulation must be removed from the "jacket" learning to do this may take a little time - practice with left over cable before attempting on installed cable.
Direct burial cable requires at least an 18 inch Most trenches should be dug to a depth that is below the frost line. Check with your inspector in your area to determine the minimum depth required. It does not need to be supported in the trench. This cable must be supported when run over concrete.
This can be accomplished by securing wood pressure treated if exposed to outdoors to concrete and then securing the cable to the wood. If the cable may be subjected to physical damage, it should be "sleeved" in "Schedule 80" PVC pipe and terminated with proper pipe fittings couplings, "LB" fittings, clips, expansion joints, etc.
A GFI is an electronic device that supplements conventional circuit breakers or fuses. The device electronically compares amperage flowing through the hot wire to amperage flowing through the neutral wire.
If the circuit is not leaking current, amperages will be equal. This can save your life. Type UF is covered by heavy plastic sheathing. The cable is designed for placement in the ground without being encased in protective metal conduit. Type TW wire has a thin thermoplastic insulation that provides the wire with some measure of moisture resistance. However, for maximum protection, the wire has to be encased in conduit.
Heavy cast metal is used for switch boxes that will be mounted outdoors. Cover plates for the boxes are made from the same material and are outfitted with weatherproof gaskets. These boxes possess the same characteristics as boxes for outdoor receptacles.
To inhibit moisture, there is a gasket made of the same material as the gasket in an outdoor receptacle installation. This seals the joint between the fixture box and the fixture box cover plate.
Also be sure to use weatherproof bulbs. They resist shattering when the temperature drops. LB fittings are right angle connectors that are used with conduit to bring cable through the wall of a house.
The connectors are fitted with thick gaskets and metal cover plates so that they are impervious to moisture. Box extenders are used when tapping an existing outdoor receptacle or fixture junction box for power.
The extenders may be outfitted with a nipple and degree elbow so that wires may be brought from the fixture, through conduit, to the point where power is wanted. Three kinds of conduit are made for outdoor use. Rigid aluminum and rigid steel conduit provide equivalent protection to the wires that go through them. Rigid aluminum is easier to work with, but if it is going to be buried in concrete, first coat it with bituminous paint to prevent the conduit from corroding.
Rigid plastic conduit is made from either polyvinyl chloride PVC which is normally used above ground, or high-density polyethylene, which is suitable for underground.
Is encased wiring to an outer garden building allowed to lie on the ground along a boundary fence? Wiring in conduit MUST be supported or buried. The conduit may be any approved method - but the easiest for most people is Schedule 40 PVC. How could I install a new electric box outside the house for new floodlights on the front of the house?
Find a convenient location inside the house for taking the wires from an existing circuit through the outside wall, whether it's in the attic, basement or at the top or bottom of an existing interior wall.
Drill a hole for the cable and attach an exterior-rated junction box on the outside end of hole. Either attach your lighting to that box or run conduit or UF cable to another exterior-rated box at the desired location. Add a switch to the circuit inside the house to control the outside floodlights. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Circuits for use in garages and outdoors will most likely require Ground Fault protection.
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Some jurisdictions permit shallower trenches for rigid metal conduits -- perhaps as little as 6 inches Backfill surrounding conduit or cables must typically be smooth granular material without rocks. You may be required to place a "warning" indicator, such as marked plastic tape, on top of your buried wiring, beneath the top surface of your backfill, to serve as a warning to future excavators.
UF cable is most often NOT allowed to serve a pool pump and filter assembly. Check with your inspector. The PVC pipe method is however, suitable for pool pumps.
UF cable generally is rated like its NM counterpart. Remember to pull an insulated grounding wire with EACH circuit. Most typical residential services are volts, a ground is required for any single volt circuit and each volt circuit.
Use electrical pipe and fittings only. Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 PVC have the same outside diameter, and use the same fittings. The difference between the two types there are additional schedules, too , is their density. The Schedule 40 PVC has much less resistance to breakage from impacts, etc. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published.
Ask your inspector what depths are required for trenches in your area. Helpful 5 Not Helpful 3. Helpful 3 Not Helpful 6. Swimming pools and the like have special considerations and as a result not covered in this wiki. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 4. Show your inspector plans for aerial spans. Include drawings that show locations of windows, roofs and heights above grade. You Might Also Like How to. How to.
Co-authors: Updated: May 6, Categories: Cabling and Wiring Connection. Many of the rules applying to outdoor receptacle outlets are aimed at reducing the likelihood of shock, which is a notable risk anytime a user is in direct contact with the earth. The principal rules for outdoor receptacles include:. The rules for outdoor lighting are principally about using fixtures that are rated for use in damp or wet locations:. Even though standard NM cable has a vinyl outer jacket and waterproof insulation around the individual conducting wires, it is not intended for use in outdoor locations.
Instead, cables must be approved for outdoor use. And when using conduit, there are additional rules that must be followed. The applicable rules for outdoor cables and conduits include:. This is not an NEC requirement, but it could save your life, not to mention prevent considerable trouble with your service providers. Call , the national "Call Before You Dig" hotline, at least three days before you plan to dig anywhere on your property.
The hotline personnel will notify all utility providers in your area.
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