How to Safely Bury Electrical Wires in Your Yard

Introduction

Burying electrical wires in your yard can be a great way to provide power to outdoor structures like sheds or landscape lighting without unsightly above-ground wires. However, it's crucial to bury wires properly to avoid electrical hazards. In this guide, I'll walk you through the complete process of safely running underground electrical wires on your property.

Planning the Wire Route

The first step is deciding where you want to run the buried wire and what you'll be powering.

• Consider how far the wire needs to travel from your electrical panel to the end point. The longer the run, the thicker gauge wire you'll need.

• Plan where any junction boxes need to be placed along the route. Junction boxes allow you to connect multiple wires and are required every 100 feet.

• Decide how deep to bury the wire. For safety, all underground wires should be buried at least 18 inches deep. Local codes may require a minimum burial depth of up to 24 inches.

• Contact your local utilities to identify any existing underground pipes, cables, or gas lines along your planned route so you can avoid them when digging.

Gathering Supplies

For a professional quality installation, you'll need:

• Direct burial electrical wire: Use only wire rated for underground use, like UF-B wire. The wire gauge should match your voltage and distance.

• Conduit: Non-metallic PVC conduit protects wires and makes pulling wires easier.

• Junction boxes: Use weatherproof outdoor boxes.

• Cable staples: These hold wires in place until the trench is filled.

• Warning tape: Special colored tape alerts anyone digging to the presence of buried wires.

• Outdoor disconnect box: This allows power to the wires to be switched off.

• Proper tools: Shovel, pick axe, wire cutters, conduit bender, etc.

• Personal safety gear: Goggles, work gloves, etc.

Digging the Trench

Digging a trench for your electrical wires takes planning and care:

• Outline the trench path first using marking paint/flags. Make it 6-12 inches deep and 6-12 inches wide.

• Use a shovel to break up and remove any hard packed dirt or surfaces along the path.

• Use a pick axe to break through any large rocks or roots in the planned route.

• Slope trench walls if soil is loose to prevent cave-ins. Shore up as needed.

• Pile excavated dirt to one side of trench to keep it back from edge.

Running & Protecting the Wire

With the trench dug, it's time to install the wire:

• Run PVC conduit sections down into the trench, joining them with proper cement.

• Thread your direct burial wire through the conduit using wire pulling lubricant.

• Every 100 feet, install a junction box flush with ground level and pull up wire slack.

• Use cable staples every few feet in the trench to hold wire in place at bottom. Don't pierce insulation.

• Run orange warning tape 6-12 inches above wire, stretching between junction boxes.

• Coil up some extra wire length at each end to allow slack for connections.

Backfilling the Trench

Once wires are positioned properly, backfill the trench:

• Partially fill the trench around and above wires, walking along to tamp it down firmly.

• Lay down a layer of sand above packed dirt to fully encase wires before finishing fill.

• Mound remaining dirt over trench slightly to account for settling. Pack flush with ground.

• Dispose of any leftover debris like rocks/roots properly. Scatter extra dirt evenly.

• Allow a few days for disturbed soil to settle before using wires.

Connecting the Wires Properly

The final step is making safe wire connections:

• Shut off main breaker before working. Use PPE like gloves and goggles.

• Run wires into disconnect box near panel and into any junction boxes.

• Carefully strip wire insulation properly usingdesignated strippers. Avoid nicking copper.

• Make tight, secure connections using proper sized wire nuts. Wrap tape around nuts.

• Anchor wires inside boxes so connections aren't strained.

• Label all wires clearly indicating their run path.

• Attach box covers securely. Turn breaker back on to test.

By following these key steps, you can safely run underground power anywhere on your property. Just take careplanning the route, digging cautiously, protecting the wires, and making solid connections. With patience and proper materials, burying wires is a project a dedicated DIYer can absolutely tackle.