Splice Direct Buried Electric Cables
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Is there a way to cover spliced wires and lugs to prevent damage? Repairing Direct Burial Electrical Cables. © By: Dave Rongey |
Splicing Buried Electrical Cables
Electrical Question: Is there a way to cover spliced wires and lugs to prevent damage?
- I am working with a electrical service panel that feeds another service panel.
- I have a 200 Amp panel with a 100 Amp breaker which has three #2 gauge wires running to a secondary electric service box.
- The problem is that the #2 wires are direct buried cables.
- When uncovering them next to the house I found that all three cables have been spliced in the same location.
- My question is how can this be made safe? Is there some way to cover the bare spliced wires and lugs to prevent any kind of short since they are all three buried close to each other?
This home electrical repairs question came from: Ray, from Milton, Florida.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your Electrical Repair question Ray.
Splice Direct Buried Electric Cables
Application: Splicing Underground or Direct Buried Electrical Cables.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced – Best performed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Tools Required: Basic Electricians Pouch Hand Tools and Voltage Tester Ground or Trenching Hand Tools.
Estimated Time: Depends on the personal level experience and ability to work with tools, condition of the soil or environment for access to the cable or electrical wiring.
Precaution: Identify the affected power source, turn it OFF and then Tag it with a Note before performing any wire splicing or cable repairs.
Special Materials: Depending on the final enclosure to protect the splices, Moisture proof or Water Resistant Materials including Properly sized wire connectors, anti-corrosion ointment, electrical tape, shrink tubing or other materials to perform an approved splice method.
Protection for Buried Electrical Cable Splices
- The direct burial splices must be made properly using a corrosion inhibitor and then well insulated.
- The splices should be accessible as well which could be accomplished by installing a concrete box, such as a Christy Box with a concrete lid or a traffic rated lid if this is in a traffic area.
- The concrete box may be placed over the splices after the splices have been made.
- The buried cables should be checked to see if they are properly rated for Direct Burial and the cables should be buried a minimum of 24 inches deep.
IMPORTANT
- Open splices such as this should be repaired right away to eliminate a potential shock hazard!
- The circuit should be turned OFF until the condition has been resolved.
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