Question About Burying Wire

[alpine5575]

I am going to run a 50 amp service in my new pole building by running wire threw conduit from garage that's attached to my house out of a junction box underground to my new pole barn. My question is exactly how deep should I bury the conduit and wire, does it really matter 1 foot to 4 foot. I know I don't want it to shallow, but does it have to be below frost line or not ??

 

[jeff000]

Is the conduit running under a walkway or driveway at all? Code will dictate how deep depending on what the ground is used for.

 

[Big-Foot]

Well in MN to get below the frost line youre looking at 4+ feet down. When I did mine in MPLS the code was 2' down with direct burial cable as long as it did not pass under a driveway. As Jeff said above - Check you local code ordinances..

 

[Gary S]

Electricity doesn't care about frostline. It doesn't freeze. Check your local electrical codes.

 

[pattenp]

PVC conduit needs to be buried 18 inches, the same applies if under single family dwelling driveway.

 

[alpine5575]

It is not going under any walkways or driveways. I just wanted to know what everybody thought about how deep it should be. I will have to look inti what sort of code they have in my area. Thanks for the reply's.

 

[PugetDude]

Here in the People's Republic of Western Washington, it's 2' deep...just talked to an electrician about extending service for a 40 amp subpanel to my garage.

 

[pattenp]

The 18" is US national electrical code.

 

[pattenp]

Here in the People's Republic of Western Washington, it's 2' deep...just talked to an electrician about extending service for a 40 amp subpanel to my garage.

Is the 2' for PVC conduit or direct bury?

 

[MrMark]

The 18" is US national electrical code.

Isn't that US code for direct burial wire too?

Perhaps this is one of those rare things where local customs and "codes" may vary from NEC, like the municipalities want it deeper because of local conditions?

Edison, who doesn't play by the NEC by the way, required 3 inch conduit at 36" for us for our underground feeder. This seems to be standard SoCal Edison requirements.

 

[pattenp]

NEC for direct bury is 24". If under 2" of concrete, such as walks and driveways it's 18".