below grade UF-B no pipe
#1
10-07-15, 08:21 AM
below grade UF-B no pipe
There a re 4 UF-B wires coming from the panel that go into a hole in the cement (plugged with filler or silicone).
I think these come out of the house underground as there are no PVC pipes outside above grade and no conduit junction boxes.
Furthermore, one of these UF-B cables was pulled up by a landscaper digging a while back.
I have to rebury this UF-B cable but it's near the surface now - how deep do I have to bury the cable? I am also worried about digging deeper as I might hit the others. I think some of the cable are in pipe but there's no way of knowing.
Can I just bury it in 6 inches or so of dirt? It will be in the frost zone.
I think these come out of the house underground as there are no PVC pipes outside above grade and no conduit junction boxes.
Furthermore, one of these UF-B cables was pulled up by a landscaper digging a while back.
I have to rebury this UF-B cable but it's near the surface now - how deep do I have to bury the cable? I am also worried about digging deeper as I might hit the others. I think some of the cable are in pipe but there's no way of knowing.
Can I just bury it in 6 inches or so of dirt? It will be in the frost zone.
#4
10-07-15, 08:59 AM
There's no way it's 24" now and to try and put it back down to that depth might be difficult let alone the fact that I might dig into the other cables wherever they are.
There are no GFCI breakers. Out of interest, what difference does that make...the depth to whether it has GFCI or not?
There are no GFCI breakers. Out of interest, what difference does that make...the depth to whether it has GFCI or not?
#9
10-07-15, 10:30 AM
Just remembered, there is also a big rock in front of the wire that can only be lifted by a machine (the guys who put it there and discovered the cable in the first place)
... so I can't even dig in that section.
Best just cover the wire with treated wood and rebury the 3 inches or so that I can access?
... so I can't even dig in that section.
Best just cover the wire with treated wood and rebury the 3 inches or so that I can access?
#10
10-07-15, 10:39 AM
There is also a yellow & red caution tape "ELECTRIC LINE BURIED BELOW" you should lay in the trench about halfway down the trench so hopefully you know where to stop digging.
#11
10-08-15, 08:15 AM
I can't dig in that section now though due to this big rock.
The wire is right up against the house basement concrete that goes below grade.
Would it be best to just lay a section of square wood/plastic over the top of it and bury it as far as I can...about 3 inches or so? Obviously it's not code but short of moving the rock with a machine, digging, re-burying, and putting it back, there's not much else I can do.
The wire is right up against the house basement concrete that goes below grade.
Would it be best to just lay a section of square wood/plastic over the top of it and bury it as far as I can...about 3 inches or so? Obviously it's not code but short of moving the rock with a machine, digging, re-burying, and putting it back, there's not much else I can do.
#12
10-08-15, 08:31 AM
It certainly sounds better than nothing, but code doesn't make a distinction between 1" deep and 23.5" deep. It's 24" or nothing. I still think it's a good idea to use the caution tape.
