Underground Power Cable Conduit

Metal electrical boxes must be used with metal conduit.

Underground power cable conduit.

Push a length of uf underground feed electrical cable into the conduit then feed the end of the cable through the hole in the house wall. For a 6 in deep trench use galvanized rigid metal electrical conduit with individual conductors inside. However keep in mind that no cable or conduit is protected from digging by construction equipment such as trench diggers or backhoes. Prewired conduit or armored cable offers an all in one solution with the wires already running through it.

Secure the cable to the overhead joists with cable staples. There are several different methods for safely running the underground wiring but the 12 in. Electrical wire in rigid metal conduit. Sizing the conductors.

Attach a plastic conduit outlet body to the end of the conduit. The national electrical code nec recommends a maximum voltage drop of 3 percent for individual household circuits known as branch circuits this is a good goal to shoot for when sizing the conductors for an underground cable the following are the maximum lengths of cable you can use while still maintaining a 3 percent voltage drop for the given wire size awg and. From inside the basement pull the cable all the way to the main electrical panel. Running uf cable through metal or pvc conduit.

Conduit cable fill chart this chart for conduit size for cable is based on the 2017 nec and uses common conduit types and wires. Although not commonly done it is allowable to run uf cable but not nm cable through metal or pvc conduit in an underground application. Decide how much digging you re prepared to do which determines the type of wire you need to use. If you re using electrical metal tubing emt conduit you ll see that the closest size that you need is a 1 in conduit which gives you a 39 fill.

Flexible metallic conduit bends and twists easily allowing turns at corners without the use of elbow joints. Owing to the durability of rigid metal conduit you can bury electrical wire in this conduit at a shallower depth. Electrical cable depth options. Deep pvc conduit method we show is about the easiest and most practical for running a typical 15 amp line.

Attach a plastic conduit outlet body to the end of the conduit. Nec 300 5 underground wiring conduits emerging from the ground conductors emerging from underground shall be installed in rigid metal conduit. But it can be difficult to fish cable through conduit unless the conduit is at least 3 4 inch in diameter. Find the type of conduit that you want to use in table 4.

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. Underground cable for running electrical power to a remote location can be installed at different depths depending on the type of conduit and type of wire used.