Underground Electrical Wire Types

The jacketed wire is sun and uv resistant.

Underground electrical wire types.

Typically white wires are neutral wires green or bare wires are ground wires and any other color is a hot wire that carries an electrical current. 10 2 uf b wire can be used outdoors underground and in wet areas. A second method 12 in. Direct burial cable is a special type of electrical wiring or cable that is designed to be buried in a trench underground.

Useb90 useb 90 underground service entrance cable consists of two compact aluminum conductors individually insulated with rw90 xlpe insulation laid in parallel with a helical plain copper wire serving and an overall pvc jacket covering. The individual electrical conducting wires inside the cable are encased in a solid thermoplastic sheath that seals out moisture and protects the conducting wires within. Nec 300 5 underground wiring conduits emerging from the ground conductors emerging from underground shall be installed in rigid metal conduit intermediate metal conduit or schedule 80 rigid nonmetallic conduit from 18 inches below grade or the minimum cover distance to the point of. In these cables each core is insulated with impregnated paper and provided with seperate lead sheaths.

There are several different methods for safely running the underground wiring but the 12 in. When it comes to underground wire the longer the wire the greater the voltage drop. The copper wire serving is the neutral. Nec 300 5 underground wiring conduit movement protection where subject to movement direct buried cables or raceways shall be arranged to prevent damage to the enclosed conductors or connected equipment.

Deep direct burial of type uf underground feeder cable is another easy alternative. The jacketed wire is sun and uv resistant. The product meets the useb 90 cable requirements of csa. Smaller diameter wires have more resistance than larger diameter wires.

Type uf b cable is made for direct burial underground without the use of conduit or other piping and is also gray in color and is marked as type uf b cable to denote the difference between it and the regular type uf cable which is not suitable for direct burial outside of conduit or the proper piping material. Typically considered neutral but can sometimes be used as a hot lead in certain situations such as switch loops. 10 2 uf b wire can be used 500 ft. This type of cable is combination of h type and s l.

For a 6 in deep trench use galvanized rigid metal electrical conduit with individual conductors inside. Deep pvc conduit method we show is about the easiest and most practical for running a typical 15 amp line.