Direct bury wire question

[sammm]

I'm having a problem with a circuit breaker that feeds some outdoor lights. It will trip intermittently. I'm guessing the wire is getting old (house was built in '92) and starting to fail. We had some good rain recently and the moisture in the ground has made things worse. I recently replaced all the sockets, and they stayed dry with the rain.

There are a series of 6 lights (see picture) that are mounted on the front of my house. They are daisy chained using direct bury wire. I'm going to replace the wire and would like to use conduit (PVC) this time around.

I'm not seeing a 'T' fitting for electrical work, so what's the best way to run my daisy chain with conduit underground, or should I just go back with new direct bury wire?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ForceFed70]

Yeah, you won't see a T fitting as you need to be able to pull cable through it.

The most common solution is 2 pieces of conduit feeding each box.

If all of the lights are outdoors, consider switching to a low voltage landscaping lighting system. The problems you are experiencing are part of the reason why these systems exist.

 

[manwithtools]

Conduit tee's are readily available. I'd replace the whole setup with low voltage LED's - problems are much less with those as opposed to 120 volt outdoor fixtures like yours that ultimately get water in them.

 

[manwithtools]

Home Depot - $2.58 for 1/2" trade size PVC conduit tee.

 

[ForceFed70]

Of course, I've seen them before! My brain was stuck on traditional T.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Another vote for low voltage lighting.

 

[sammm]

Thanks for the quick replies y'all! I'd like to go low voltage, but then I'd have holes in the brick where the current boxes are mounted. I'll have to think about it.

Is that conduit tee OK to be buried?

 

[TurnipTruck]

No. Do not bury tees or junction boxes.

 

[cobratom]

I'm having a problem with a circuit breaker that feeds some outdoor lights. It will trip intermittently. I'm guessing the wire is getting old (house was built in '92) and starting to fail. We had some good rain recently and the moisture in the ground has made things worse. I recently replaced all the sockets, and they stayed dry with the rain.

There are a series of 6 lights (see picture) that are mounted on the front of my house. They are daisy chained using direct bury wire. I'm going to replace the wire and would like to use conduit (PVC) this time around.

I'm not seeing a 'T' fitting for electrical work, so what's the best way to run my daisy chain with conduit underground, or should I just go back with new direct bury wire?

Thanks in advance!

When you replaced the sockets, did you replace the bulbs as well? With the way the bulbs are mounted I would not be surprised if there is moisture in a bulb that is causing the breaker to trip.

 

[sammm]

^I hadn't thought about that, but no, I didn't replace the bulbs. Those floods are pricey!

 

[sammm]

No. Do not bury tees or junction boxes.

Thanks...low-voltage is looking better for long term.

PS - Anyone gone solar?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B3WVTTO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

No. Do not bury tees or junction boxes.

I'd just bring up 2 pipes to each box,use one for in and the other for out to each box.

 

[sberry]

3rd for do not bury boxes. A new cable with no spices should work fine.

 

[cobratom]

^I hadn't thought about that, but no, I didn't replace the bulbs. Those floods are pricey!

Good time to switch them to LEDS...

 

[sberry]

Did they use the right wire? I have simple soil but never had a piece of direct burial fail.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The wire is not likely your problem. Bad connection somewhere or someone hit it with a shovel.

Low voltage is a good idea.

 

[sammm]

Did they use the right wire? I have simple soil but never had a piece of direct burial fail.

It is UF rated wire.

The wire is not likely your problem. Bad connection somewhere or someone hit it with a shovel.

The old wizard is wise! Found a nick in the wire (hot wire) near some sprinkler work I did a few months ago. I plan to wrap the nick with electrical tape, and then wrap the whole thing with Scotch 2228.

Sound reasonable?

PS - I priced out a low voltage, LED system. Around $300 to replace what I have.

 

[Travv]

Just get a direct burial UF splice kit for 10 or 15 bucks and do it right.

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