Electric Cable Depths In Ground

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.

Electric cable depths in ground.

Decide how much digging you re prepared to do which determines the type of wire you need to use. Underground electrical cable burial depths building safety division. Underground utility depths for water gas and electricity supply pipes and cables. Burial depths vary depending on the location and type of conductors installed.

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. When wiring is installed at dwellings in approved non metallic raceways the minimum cover can be reduced to 18 inches. The generally applicable depth is 12 inches or you can reduce it to 6 inches if you protect the. Keep in mind though that any uf cable used in above ground applications should be run through conduit where it can be damaged.

Electrical cable depth options. Wiring in pvc conduit must have at least. This table shows the minimum depths to top of apparatus a within the diagram above minimum apparatus depth unmade ground verges and footway mm carriageway road mm agricultural mm lv cables 450 600 1000 11kv cables 600 750 1000 33kv cables 800 900 1100. Wiring buried inside rigid metal rmc or intermediate metal imc conduit must have at least 6 inches of earth cover.

The greater of the depths required. Electrical wire encased in pvc conduit. Sizing the conductors. Table of underground electrical service cable sizes amps how to detemine the electrical service size or ampacity entering a building step by step illustrated instructions how to use a dmm digital multimeter or analog voltage meters to determine or estimate service voltage and electric service and electric panel drawings for visual inspection.

Type uf cable is the most commonly used nonmetallic cable for residential outdoor wiring runs. National electrical code nec 300 5 generally cables approved for direct burial shall have a minimum cover of 24 inches. In order to protect the public and prevent damage to underground electrical infrastructure the california electrical code prescribes burial depths for underground cable wire installations. For a 6 in deep trench use galvanized rigid metal electrical conduit with individual conductors inside.

To the point of termination above ground. The national electric code nec sets the required burial depth of electric wire in rigid non metallic conduit such as pvc at 18 inches. If your cables are operating a 120 volt circuit protected by a circuit breaker rated at 20 amps or less and have a ground fault circuit interrupter to protect the underground segment of the cable you may reduce the burial depth of your cables.