Underground Electrical Wire Types

Copper wire has lower resistance than aluminum wire but chances are good that you ll be using copper in any case.

Underground electrical wire types.

There are several different methods for safely running the underground wiring but the 12 in. 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. Smaller diameter wires have more resistance than larger diameter wires. In these cables each core is insulated with impregnated paper and provided with seperate lead sheaths.

When it comes to underground wire the longer the wire the greater the voltage drop. This type of cable is combination of h type and s l. 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. 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.

The product meets the useb 90 cable requirements of csa. 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. The jacketed wire is sun and uv resistant.

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. Wire size is another factor. 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. Deep direct burial of type uf underground feeder cable is another easy alternative. 10 2 uf b wire can be used outdoors underground and in wet areas. For a 6 in deep trench use galvanized rigid metal electrical conduit with individual conductors inside.

The copper wire serving is the neutral. A second method 12 in.