Running 120v through water hose ??

[pony]

OK this is probably going to give a few of you a chuckle if it's a stupid as it sounds But if it can be done it'll save me a lot of work.

I need to bring power to the end of my driveway to light up some decorative “where the heck the driveway start??" type light along the dark road. Running along the side of my driveway, just under the lawn is a 4” perforated drain pipe to catch the lawn run off, as it slopes toward the driveway, and to drain my down pipe from the front of my house.

It would be so easy to run a suitable wire from the house, down the perfectly straight buried pipe to my destination rather than trench another line to bury cable or string it from tree to tree.

Some people who step outside their world of expertise are at times simply dangerous; I try not to be this way. Is this concept feasible, something that has been addressed - up to code? Or do I need a tradesman to come over with a stick and

Thanks

 

[logical]

No. No way.

Bury it in some sched 40 conduit.

 

[Donzi4me]

simply dangerous; I try not to be this way. Is this concept feasible,Thanks

NO......

water & electricity =

 

[Brian]

Use UF (underground feeder) wire without the garden hose. It is rated for direct burial in the ground and therefore would be waterproof. Now since you live up in the 51st state I'm not sure the same wire ratings are used but it is likely they are. You should verify.

 

[CraigFL]

I'm not sure why everyone is saying no? You don't think that there are commercial underwater power line applications like maybe swimming pools? You would have to research NEC to see what is legitimate for use-- NEMA 6P enclosures and special sealed conduit, I would expect.

 

[sberry]

I might buy that idea, you might even be able to hang it in the top of the pipe with tie wraps. It wouldnt meet the letter of the code but could be made safe, it must be ran gfci before it leaves the house.

 

[Bill K]

Why not use the low voltage landscape lights. you can bury it a few inches in the ground along the drive. Way less chance of
I wouldn't run any 110 unless it is buried at least 18' down, Think about the next homeowner who does'nt know it's there and starts planting flowers

 

[REFLEXX]

Anyone digging this up in the future might not expect a LIVE wire being attached to a DRAIN pipe!

Shovel goes in, electricity comes out!!!

 

[pony]

OK it is sounding risky regardless of complexity. I'll look into Bill K's suggestions of the low wattage lights. I wouldn't expect the next home owner to anticipate power down that pipe, or have someone dig it up.

So much for finding a lazy mans solution.

Thanks, hope you enjoyed the chuckle

 

[Stuart in MN]

You'd still have to get the wire into and out of the drain line somehow and keep it protected, either in a conduit or by using direct bury cable so it wouldn't be practical anyway. At least you're thinking outside the box!

I'd say use a buried conduit, UF direct bury wire, or as others have suggested the best solution would be a low voltage wire as it's easy to install and is safe.

As far as water and electricity not mixing, there are actually some cases where it IS done...electric induction furnaces used in the steel industry use water cooled power cables; they're basically large rubber hoses with a braided copper inner liner, the copper carries the current and water is run through them to keep them cool. It doesn't sound like it will be safe, but the electricity will follow the path of least resistance, and since copper is a better conductor than water it all works without electrocuting anyone. Some years ago I worked on the design of a plasma arc torch, and I used the same kind of power cable; it was a little scary the first time we turned the thing on but no one got zapped.

There are a number of companies that make water cooled cable, this is one example: http://www.alpha1induction.com/wtrclcb.htm

 

[sberry]

I believe you only have to bury UFB a foot to make a legal install if it is gfic before it leaves the house.
The existing raceway would make great physical protection for the wire. It sounds like something I would do,,, hahaha,, dont tell.

 

[TOMWELDS]

What happens when 'roto-rooter' snakes the leaves and **** that clog the pipe? Better have GFI protection..LOL

 

[Darren M.]

Simple solution would be stand along lights w/ "sun cells" on top. This would negate ALL the issues and still show you where the drive started/stopped. I have a couple I picked up from Lowes for cheap. Work great, literally plug and play.
Just my 2¢.