Identifying Direct Burial Telephone Cable

Direct Burial Telephone Cable: This type of cable is a commonly installed and used for telephone service in areas such as yours. The wire is buried at least 18″ underground with out any conduit pipe.

Direct Burial Telephone Cable – aka Gopher Resistant Cable
Electrical Question I recently found some wire on my property that came out of the ground near a utility pole.

• The pole is a drop for my well. The wire has a black sheath with 10 conductors that are approximately 16-20 gauge.
• The wire is buried at least 18″ underground with out any conduit pipe.
• What could the wire be used for possibly? the wire is not hot so at least the previous owner was kind enough to kill the power to it.

This electrical wiring question came from: Kevin Collins, a Homeowner from Ramona, CA., San Diego County.
Additional Comments: website is very informational and greatly appreciated.

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Kevin.

Direct Burial Telephone Cable

• You have discovered a direct burial telephone cable.
• This type of cable is a commonly installed and used for telephone service in areas such as yours.

The Following will assist you with Telephone Cable

Telephone Wiring

Telephone Wiring

This telephone wiring diagram with photos and instructions will show you the direct steps to correctly wiring a telephone jack.

Electrical wire

Electrical Wire for the Home
Complete listing of electrical wire types and parts used for home projects with electrical code information serves as selection guidelines.

For more information about Electrical Wiring
Electrical Wiring

Electrical Wiring
Home electrical wiring projects with pictures and wiring diagrams.

This link is helpful as a Homeowner
Do-It-Yourself Electrical

» You Can Avoid Costly Mistakes! « Here's How to Do It: Wire It Right with the help of my Illustrated Wiring Book Great for any Home Wiring Project. Complete Guide to Home Electrical Wiring Perfect for Homeowners, Students, Handyman, Handywomen, and Electricians Includes: Wiring GFCI Outlets Wiring Home Electric Circuits 120 Volt and 240 Volt Outlet Circuits Wiring Light Switches Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Electric Range Wiring 3-Wire and 4-Wire Dryer Cord and Dryer Outlet How to Troubleshoot and Repair Electrical Wiring Wiring Methods for Upgrading Electrical Wiring NEC Codes for Home Electrical Wiring ....and much more.

Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.

Electrical Tip The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wiring! The Non-Contact Electrical Tester This is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester, [amazon.com], I use for the detection of Standard Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.

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Home Electrical Wiring and Electrical Repairs Please Note: Unless otherwise posted, please refer to the following Guidelines when working on Electrical Projects: Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced - Electrical Repairs and Circuit Wiring is Best Performed by a Certified Electrician or Licensed Electrical Contractor. Electrical Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch of Hand Tools, a Voltage Tester and a Multi Meter. Estimated Time: Depends on personal level experience, ability to work with tools, work with electrical wiring, and the available access to the project area. Precaution: Identify the project circuit, turn it OFF and Tag it with a Note before working with the wiring. Important: Modifying existing electrical circuits or installing additional electrical wiring should be done according to local and National Electrical Codes, with a permit and be inspected.

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