Underground Electrical Wire Types

Typically white wires are neutral wires green or bare wires are ground wires and any other color is a hot wire that carries an electrical current.

Underground electrical wire types. The jacketed wire is sun and uv resistant. Useb90 useb 90 underground service entrance cable consists of two compact aluminum conductors individually insulated with rw90 xlpe insulation laid in parallel with a helical plain copper wire serving and an overall pvc jacket covering. The individual electrical conducting wires inside the cable are encased in a solid thermoplastic sheath that seals out moisture and protects the conducting wires within. When it comes to underground wire the longer the wire the greater the voltage drop.

This type of cable is combination of h type and s l. Smaller diameter wires have more resistance than larger diameter wires. The copper wire serving is the neutral. There are several different methods for safely running the underground wiring but the 12 in.

Nec 300 5 underground wiring conduit movement protection where subject to movement direct buried cables or raceways shall be arranged to prevent damage to the enclosed conductors or connected equipment. Deep pvc conduit method we show is about the easiest and most practical for running a typical 15 amp line. Typically considered neutral but can sometimes be used as a hot lead in certain situations such as switch loops. A second method 12 in.

The jacketed wire is sun and uv resistant. Underground cable for running electrical power to a remote location can be installed at different depths depending on the type of conduit and type of wire used. Copper wire has lower resistance than aluminum wire but chances are good that you ll be using copper in any case. For a 6 in deep trench use galvanized rigid metal electrical conduit with individual conductors inside.

Wire size is another factor. Type uf b cable is made for direct burial underground without the use of conduit or other piping and is also gray in color and is marked as type uf b cable to denote the difference between it and the regular type uf cable which is not suitable for direct burial outside of conduit or the proper piping material. Deep direct burial of type uf underground feeder cable is another easy alternative. The product meets the useb 90 cable requirements of csa.

10 2 uf b wire can be used 500 ft. 10 2 uf b wire can be used outdoors underground and in wet areas.