2-2-4-6 Aluminum Wire Repair

[rok_hunter]

This afternoon the village idiot - who only coincidentally looks like me - nicked the buried 2-2-4-6 aluminum wire that's powering my workshop while burying a gutter drain. I had only laid down the wire about a month ago and knew it was there, but thought it was deeper at that particular spot.

Anyway before I call the electrician back out, anyone have good/safe/legal ideas on how to repair? It only caught one of the strands, fortunately, and nicked the insulation just enough to expose the wire. If it's an easy fix for me to knock out tomorrow I'd like to, but if it's a little more involved I've got no problem waiting 2-4 days for my electrician to make it out.

For what it's worth, I'm looking for something a little more legal/safe/secure/professional than just cleaning it up and wrapping with electrical tape.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

There are underground splices you can buy

But this is why its best to put the wire in conduit.

How deep is the wire buried?

 

[Aceman]

Post a pic.

We do quite a few direct burial aluminum repairs every year. Some can be fixed just with tape and scotchkote, others require buttsplices and adhesive lined heatshrink.

Neither method is difficult.

 

[Bert_]

Inline splice and adhesive shrink tube.

I know everybody thinks conduit is great but if the guy hit the conduit he'd be pulling new wire instead of a 15 minute splice.

 

[klassenl]

Inline splice and adhesive shrink tube.

I know everybody thinks conduit is great but if the guy hit the conduit he'd be pulling new wire instead of a 15 minute splice.

The key to understanding is repitition.

 

[cybrdyke]

3M 2234 Jacket Repair Tape. It's not electrical tape. It's really thick and fuses to itself. Made for just what you're doing.
CD

 

[pattenp]

3M 2234 Jacket Repair Tape. It's not electrical tape. It's really thick and fuses to itself. Made for just what you're doing.
CD

He damaged the insulation on the conductor, there is no jacket. I don't think that tape is meant to repair the conductor insulation on a direct bury cable.

 

[dcg9381]

I know everybody thinks conduit is great but if the guy hit the conduit he'd be pulling new wire instead of a 15 minute splice.

Yep. I nicked mine in conduit. It took about 8 hours to dig up and repair the conduit and replace the wire.. And $250 worth of rental equipment. At least it's fixed.

There are good in-line splices (not inexpensive). Anything exposed, I'm sealing and heat-shrinking the whole splice.

 

[theoldwizard1]

My buddy nicked a hot 10/3 while digging with a shovel. It was down about 2" ! His favorite shovel is now missing a bit of metal.

 

[rok_hunter]

Yeah conduit may or may not have protected it; or I may have ended up with a cracked chunk of conduit that I'd have to dig up 115' of to properly repair/replace. It looks like I'm going to press with the in-line splice and throw that in a waterproof junction/access box.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[rok_hunter]

My buddy nick a hot 10/3 while digging with a shovel. It was down about 2" ! His favorite shovel is now missing a bit of metal.

Mine was at about 10" at this spot - I knew it was there, but thought it was deeper (this was near the house, the rest of the run is around 18"-20"). I'm certain I felt the shovel vibrating in my hand when it hit, but don't know if that was legit or just my perception from the "buzz" of the breaker aaallllmost tripping a couple feet away. Suffice to say I killed the breaker before doing any more work there LOL.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[wyliesdiesels]

should be down 24"

 

[rok_hunter]

should be down 24"

18" where I'm at, and it's got to pass through the 10" depth to get there lol.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Bert_]

Yeah conduit may or may not have protected it; or I may have ended up with a cracked chunk of conduit that I'd have to dig up 115' of to properly repair/replace. It looks like I'm going to press with the in-line splice and throw that in a waterproof junction/access box.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

No junction box. Adhesive shrink tube.

 

[Dagny]

If you can get the strands to separate a little i have used rubber tape half lapped 3 layers thick. Can't see cutting the wire when it just has a little nick.

 

[theoldwizard1]

No junction box. Adhesive shrink tube.

Dual wall adhesive shrink tube.

 

[Lucky Llama]

I recently drilled through my barn feed, 4/0. I used **** splices and two layers of heat shrink 18" long. Worked great and all is well.

 

[sberry]

If it didn't damage the conductor then some liquid rubber or some fusing tape, glue it up good.